Intriguing field of 14 heads to elections
Published on March 3rd, 1999
STONEHAM, MA - The candidates are all but set for the annual town elections on April 6 with 14 residents putting their names forth in hopes of taking the 10 available town seats.
The Town Clerk's Office got a flurry of activity on the final filing day two weeks ago, setting the stage for some interesting, if not crowded, races.
Among the late entries was Annamae Arsenault who has thrown her hat into the ring in hopes of overthrowing Town Moderator Michael J. Rotondi. Arsenault, who stepped down from her long-time position as town clerk last spring, was narrowly defeated last April in her bid for a seat on the Board of Selectmen.
Another late entree who spiced up an otherwise quiet race was Mary Pecoraro, a resident of Walsh Avenue, who is vying for a seat on the School Committee. Pecoraro pulled papers on the last day possible, February 12, and will run against School Committee mainstay Jeanne E. Craigie and Charles Street resident Thomas Noonan.
Two seats are up for grabs on the School Committee due to the expiration of Craigie's and Paul Melkonian's three year terms. Melkonian has decided not to run for another term.
In the race for the one available seat on the Board of Selectmen, Emery Court resident and current Selectman John Biggio has filed for re-election while Whipple Avenue resident Darin Leahy has begun his campaign to usurp the position.
Seward Road resident Gordon Perks had tendered his name as a candidate for both the Board of Selectmen and the Planning Board, but recently withdrew his bid for the posts.
This action reduces the number of candidates to two for the lone available seat on the Planning Board. In this race, current board member Kevin Dolan is attempting to maintain his seat, running against Summer Street resident Kathleen Danieli who is attempting to make her first appearance on a town board.
In a race which is likely to be won by a narrow margin, Rocco Ciccarello, a DiNanno Road resident, will attempt to fend off former Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Patricia Kilty. Ciccarello is attempting to win another three year term on the Board of Library Trustees. Kilty, a Hill Street resident, made it known that she was interested in the post when she filed on February 16.
The three remaining seats on town boards will be uncontested.
William Jordan of Martin Louis Way filed for the only available seat on the Board of Assessors on February 2.
On the Housing Authority, Amelio Morrocco faces no opposition in his attempt to maintain his seat.
Board of Health Chairman Michael Rolli, likewise, faces no competition in his attempt to maintain the current board make-up.
According to Town Clerk John Hanright, the list of candidates isn't as lengthy as one would hope, but is varied in terms of newcomers.
"You always hope for more (applicants)," he explained. "You'd hope that there would be more interest in these town offices, but this isn't a big year in terms of elections."
Hanright said that the interest from candidates like Leahy, Noonan, Pecoraro, Danieli, Kilty and Jordan - all first-time candidates for public offices -shows that the influx of "new blood" is steady.
"Those are all new people to the political scene," Hanright explained. "It's good to see that."
The final day to withdraw names from the ballot is Thursday, March 4. The last day to register to vote in the town election is Wednesday, March 8.
"We'd like to see a lot of people at the polls," Hanright concluded.
In the next four weeks, the Stoneham Independent will profile each of the town races.
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