Town election 2000 analysis
Published on April 12th, 2000
STONEHAM, MA - The Town Election has created a new leadership team charged by the people with steering Stoneham through social and fiscal challenges toward a realization of the infinite potential of this town.
The following analysis focuses on the selectmen and School Committee - who won and why.
On the Board of Selectmen Cosmo Ciccarello won reelection to continue his 15-year tenure.
"I think I have the record for consecutive terms," Ciccarello laughed. But he said he wasn't laughing on election night.
"It was close. Those guys both ran strong campaigns," Ciccarello said.
Ciccarello focused his campaign around his record in constituent services - "helping people," as he said in the League of Women Voters Debate.
At a meeting earlier this year Ciccarello spoke of a "moral obligation" of the town to protect citizens.
He topped the ticket with 1840 votes.
"It makes me feel good that people want to put their trust in me," Ciccarello said.
The other incumbent, Anthony Kennedy, had an impressive financial background, including an MBA, service on the Finance Board, and a job in the industry, as well as an enthusiastic commitment to a cultural center.
Kennedy received 500 more votes than in his last successful campaign, but he lost.
But the fate of the Cultural Center is not doomed. A committee will be formed on April 18 to study the possibility of transforming the barn at the Senior Center into a cultural center or looking for other options. Kennedy plans to volunteer for appointment to the committee.
Kennedy left behind a solid legacy: the opening of Spot Pond to recreational use, the development of the stabilization fund - a savings account for the town - and the possible future birth of the cultural center.
He also had some parting words of advice for the board.
"I advise the board to pay close attention to finances," Kennedy said. He said he is worried that the board no longer has a member with equal expertise to the Town Administrator.
Gordon Perks, who finished last with 295 votes, has experience in finance from years in the insurance industry.
"I think the voters were voting for the people they know, not necessarily the most experienced," Perks said.
The board has a new look, but one senior member is not worried.
"We don't need a finance professional on the Board of Selectmen," said Selectman Pat Jordan. "We have the Finance Board and a Town Accountant. Maybe now we'll just have to call on them more."
People know new Selectman Robert Sweeney from his Main Street business and his deep family roots in town.
"I think people voted for me because I'm a down-to-earth, regular guy who is willing to listen," Sweeney said.
He beat out Kennedy for the second of two seats, 1,766 to 1,703.
Sweeney focused his campaign on his accessibility to the voters and his desire to help people. He can be found seven days a week in person at his Main Street restaurant.
At the League of Woman Voters debate Sweeney committed to "helping people," echoing Ciccarello's pledge.
Sweeney has not been in office before, but he has coached sports teams and prepared and delivered Christmas meals for the elderly and needy in Stoneham for many years (a fact he does not publicize).
"We can't do a lot about setting water rates, but if a main breaks near your house and it doesn't get fixed right away, I want you to call me," Sweeney said.
The voters of Stoneham leaned more heavily toward the popular local personalities promising access and "help." Ciccarello's and Sweeney's past actions may have helped to convince voters that their promises were for real.
But Kennedy also had a record to show he delivered. The stabilization fund has grown to $1.1 million and Spot Pond recreation has been a hit.
In 2000 the voters appear to have prioritized open space planning and financial savvy below the promise of direct, hands-on constituent service.
Note Perks' numbers: he has a strong background in finance but only received 295 votes.
Perks did not advertise, but add 1,000 votes and he's still last.
"I think I am going to spend more next time," Perks said.
The rest of the candidates spent more than $2,000 each (The final spending reports are due May 4.)
After the smoke cleared some citizens had strong negative feelings. Some said Kennedy deserved little credit for Spot Pond even though he served as a catalyst and liaison between the state and community activists. Others called Sweeney completely unqualified due to financial inexperience even though he runs his own business.
"I think the voting would have been different if more people watched the debates," Perks said.
But casting aside all the negatives that are bound to sprout from good old-fashioned American politics, people voted for folks they know and folks they believe will listen.
But financial expertise was not completely ignored. And a second look at the results suggests another possible scenario:
Seventeen-hundred-three voters picked Kennedy, very possibly because of his experience and qualifications.
Perks is a Republican; he is involved with the Republican Town Committee.
Often people who register as Republicans are fiscally conservative or at least put a high value on issues of finance.
Some citizens suggest that Perks, by earning only 295 votes, drew a block of votes from Kennedy and decided the race.
"I don't think that happened," Perks said, "because I think the people voting for me would use their other vote for Kennedy."
Others say Perks could have drawn some townie votes from his neighborhood away from Sweeney.
"No one can really say," Kennedy said.
Both Kennedy and Perks said they would consider running again.
<b>School Committee</b>
Another vital board has a new look: Marc Grimaldi replaces Stephen Gucciardi on the School Committee.
Grimaldi works as an attorney in Medford. He ran unsuccessfully for Board of Selectmen in 1997, but he topped the School Committee ticket this year with 1,895 votes.
"I'm extremely happy and grateful to be able to represent the town," Grimaldi said.
In this election the town sent mixed signals. Incumbent Marie Christie won reelection with 1768 votes and incumbent Stephen Gucciardi lost, finishing third with 1718 votes. The top and bottom of the ticket were separated by only 177 votes.
Many citizens give the School Committee great credit for carrying on an aggressive building project to improve elementary education for the children of Stoneham. Others have been irked by redistricting, changes in bus funding, handling of the Frank Gagliardi scandal and closing of the North School.
"I think the people want a person to listen to them and represent the community's concerns," Grimaldi said.
He said he believes he can help the "one voice" of the school committee be more of a direct representation of the will of the public.
Many little pockets of discontent helped supplement Grimaldi's already strong foundation as a known name in town.
North School neighbors were angry about the recent decision to close the school. It made fiscal sense, looking at the numbers, but people were mad.
"I bring a new perspective," Grimaldi said at the League of Women Voters Debate.
The voters asked for change. But why is Gucciardi out and not Christie? He was the only candidate with children in Stoneham Schools, and like Kennedy, he has an MBA.
Christie has been active on the committee for years, and she has kept her focus on the children. She may know the budget process as well as Gucciardi and better than Grimaldi, but she may also have benefited from not making finance her big issue.
People in this election were looking for substantive change, not stabilization of economic policy.
Christie identified herself more with the new schools, as a member of the Building Committee, not with the budget - and budget cuts. She is also a long-time resident with deep roots, which was another common theme in this election.
Chairwoman Jeanne Craigie of the School Committee said she was sad to see Gucciardi go.
"We disagreed on many issues, but Stephen was a wonderful member," Craigie said.
The Chairwoman met Monday with Grimaldi to bring him up to date on all pending matters; his first meeting is Thursday, April 13.
"I welcome Marc (Grimaldi), and I don't think our vision for doing what is best for the kids will change," Craigie said.
Stephen Gucciardi could not be reached; he was away on business. Marie Christie also could not be reached.
No one can name the unquestionable best interests of Stoneham. Any attempt would be opinion, not fact. But last Tuesday citizens declared the interests of Stoneham. The community votes, and the majority gets what it wants. That is half of how the system works.
Now comes the other half. Town government is charged with representing the interests of all the citizens of Stoneham. Most folks agree that the goal of these elected officials, new and old, should be to work together to keep Stoneham the vibrant community all the candidates fought hard to represent.
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