Town candidates debate twice
Published on March 29th, 2000
STONEHAM, MA - Candidates played to the crowd, the cameras and the voting public at the televised, annual League of Women Voters Debate.
On March 22 in the Town Hall Hearing Room candidates for four of the five contested races sat before a full house of interested citizens.
Incumbent Cosmo Ciccarello, incumbent Anthony Kennedy, Gordon Perks, and Robert Sweeney are competing for two seats on the Board of Selectmen. All four men were present.
The three candidates for the two School Committee seats were there: incumbent Marie Christie, Marc Grimaldi and incumbent Stephen Gucciardi.
Incumbent Stephen Catalano is one of two candidates running for a five-year term on the Planning Board (Matthew Kilty is running unopposed for a one-year term). Catalano was present, but his opponent William Sullivan could not make it.
The four candidates vying for three positions as Constable attended the debate; they are Robert Freedman, Michael Germano, Frederic Kranefuss and incumbent Robert Moreira.
Candidates for the Board of Health, John Scullin and Robert Weisbrod, did not attend the debate.
In addition, unopposed candidates Craig Celli for Board of Assessors and Fran Akell for Board of Library Trustees seized the opportunity to address the public.
Maureen Houghton of the League moderated the discussion in which candidates answered questions from the audience, the press and Houghton.
Selectmen
Ciccarello said he plans to continue his tradition of helping people. Ciccarello listed off at least 10 committees on which he has served over the years, including 15 years on the Board of Selectmen.
"You've seen me in action," Ciccarello said. "...My ambition in life is to help people."
Kennedy said his MBA from Babson and previous service on the Stoneham Finance Board prepared him to deal with the complexities of the town budget.
"Serving as a selectman is equivalent to being on the board of directors of a large company; you need to be qualified," Kennedy said.
He also spoke of the pride he felt for working with the MDC to open Spot Pond to recreational use.
Kennedy and his wife are raising a family of five in Stoneham.
"I thoroughly enjoy the town, and...I think I have helped (Stoneham)," Kennedy said.
Perks said he wanted to focus on renovating and using more space around town, "especially the Stone Zoo," and "getting control of the sewer rates."
Perks said his years in the insurance industry qualify him for working with large budgets.
"I am an individual who will work hard, listen to both sides of a debate, and be honest," Perks said.
Sweeney said he is running to help people.
"I have a business in the center of town, and I hear people's concerns," he said.
Sweeney was born and raised in Stoneham, and he and his wife raised their family in town.
"I love Stoneham, and I want to give back to the community," Sweeney said.
School Committee
Christie spoke of her experience as a mother of children who attended and excelled in Stoneham schools.
"I originally got involved because I thought 'if mother takes an interest, the kids will do well,'" she said.
Her kids have grown up, but Christie remains involved. She served on the School Committee's High School Renovation Subcommittee in the early '80s and is now the School Committee representative on the School Building Committee.
She said her years of service on the committee evidence her dedication and qualifications.
Grimaldi said he wanted to "bring a new perspective and watch the budget" to avoid unnecessary tax increases.
Grimaldi is a product of Stoneham schools.
He added that, as an attorney, his "analytical skills" would be helpful in making important school department decisions.
Gucciardi spoke of his degrees in math, education and finance.
"I have children in the school system now," he said.
He responded to Grimaldi's implication of fiscal irresponsibility by saying that Stoneham has five fewer administrators in the school department than the Middlesex League average.
"If cuts have to be made, it is our policy always to cut in the classroom last," said former math teacher Gucciardi.
Planning Board
Catalano said he was proud of his work on the by-law which allows businesses in the Central Business District to use satellite parking to meet parking requirements. The board, he said, is trying to lure more businesses to downtown Stoneham.
Catalano pledged also to work on drafting a sign by-law to improve the aesthetics of Main Street.
In response to a question from the audience, Catalano said he and his fellow Planning Board members hope to attract "a first class office park" to the former Boston Regional Medical Center site.
Constable
All the candidates for Constable spoke of their military or police training. Freedman was an Auxiliary Police Officer and Constable in Stoughton. Germano is a Sergeant in the Worcester County Sheriff's Department. Kranefuss is an Army veteran and a Stoneham Auxiliary Police Officer. Moreira is the longtime incumbent Constable and a retired Stoneham Police Officer.
A second chance
Candidates had a chance to reiterate their positions at a March 27 debate hosted by the Chamber of Commerce at Montvale Plaza.
Selectmen candidates Ciccarello, Perks and Sweeney did not attend, nor did candidates for the Board of Health.
Sweeney's campaign manager Chuck DeCoste said Sweeney was meeting with potential constituents at his Main Street business.
Ciccarello left a written statement explaining his candidacy.
Kennedy was a one-man show, fielding questions from the audience.
Planning Board challenger William Sullivan, who was unable to attend the first debate, joined Catalano in answering questions about board issues.
Sullivan said he would be committed to enforcing the by-laws and making an effort to increase the business activity in downtown Stoneham.
Once again all the candidates for School Committee were present. The election is Tuesday, April 4, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Town Hall.
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