Disparate reactions color election results
Published on April 2nd, 2003
STONEHAM, MA - Upon hearing Town Clerk John Hanright read aloud the results of last night's election, he emotionally staggered across the room, tears streaking underneath his thick-framed glasses as he embraced several town officials.
Swaying uneasily on his feet as a small crowd walked up to congratulate him, Town Selectman Cosmo Ciccarello plopped down on another chair as if exhausted, carefully removing his glasses to swipe the tears out of the corner of his eyes. Winning the largest number of votes in the race, approximately forty-two percent of the total number of votes cast, he had reached a milestone, being elected to his post for seven consecutive terms.
"That's a hard thing to do, winning so many times as a selectman, especially in trying times," commented Hanright after a joyous Ciccarello left the room.
Only moments earlier, Ciccarello sat in the corner of the Selectmen's horseshoe-shaped seating arrangement, ceding his normal chair in the hearing room as if sitting at the spot would jinx his chances at re-election.
Dressed in a white collared shirt covered by a red pull-over sweater, his gray hair neatly combed to the side, he remained uncannily quiet for the often outspoken man who never seems to shy away from debate at the town's weekly selectmen meetings.
But given a few moments to regain his composure, the eighteen-year selectman veteran returned back to his normal self.
"It was a hard fight and we won," said a smiling Ciccarello at his victory party. "It just really, really, gives you a sense of satisfaction that people have had that kind of confidence in me for the past eighteen years," he added.
Now surrounded by his family and friends in a private function room at Stoneham's China Moon, Ciccarello denied that he felt nervous. However, he did commend contender Dennis Bain for a hard fought election.
"I think he ran a good fight. Competition always makes the fight more interesting," explained Ciccarello. "I wouldn't say that I was nervous... concerned I would say," he added with a wry smile.
Giving further credit to his contender, Ciccarello said Bain deserves much praise for taking part in the election.
"I give him credit for running. As long as you take part in the system and run you're never really a loser," said Ciccarello.
Pulling in the second largest number of votes, Town Selectman Bob Sweeney finished with nearly thirty-eight percent of the votes cast.
Standing around a large crowd of family and friends gathered at Stoneham's Felicia's of Boston's North End on Main Street, Sweeney refused to comment on his victory.
Instead, the second-term Selectman blasted the town's media coverage of Dennis Bain, saying both the town's newspapers failed to report on a lawsuit his contender had filed against the town.
"I'm (expletive) pissed right now at the Independent and the Sun because of their coverage of Michael Bain (sic)," snarled Sweeney. "You guys never covered the fact that the other candidate was in a lawsuit with the town. There was nothing said about it," he lamented.
Elaborating further, Sweeney demanded that both newspapers issue an apology for irresponsible reporting.
"You guys knew the story. You owe the townspeople an apology...You know what Manny Ramirez did tonight? Nothing," said Sweeney dragging his thumb across his throat. "That's (expletive) it," Sweeney announced, cutting off the interview and storming off back into the crowd.
Speaking about his loss in the election, Bain said he was unsure of how his lawsuits against the town impacted his race. However, he did say that he felt good about his results given the fact that this was his first election.
"It was the first time I ran and I feel I did pretty good. It's a learning curve as far as learning how to run a campaign. Next time we'll do better," said Bain.
Also emerging as victor's in last night's election, Jane F. Francis and Catherine F. DiDonato defeated opponent Matthew Whooley to become library trustee members.
Although DiDonato could not be reached for comment last night, incumbent trustee member Francis said she was grateful for a chance to continue working with the library.
"I'm just grateful that I can still do the same trustee job over the next three years," said Francis.
Now that the election race has ended, Francis will refocus on the libraries budget problems.
"Sadly the budget is still my priority, but as we get through the budget process we can work on improving the library," said Francis.
Subscribe and get Home Delivery of The Independent
Save 36% off the newstand price — that's like 18 FREE issues!