Whooley and Rotondi discuss their candidacy
Published on February 1st, 2006
STONEHAM, MA - The political battle for the two Selectmen seats up-for-grabs this April got a little more interesting this week when Calthea Street resident Mat Whooley dropped out of the race.
According to the rookie Finance Board member, he flipped from a Selectman candidate to a School Committee contender on Tuesday morning by pulling out papers for the educational board's second seat.
Prior to Whooley's last minute change-of-heart, only veteran School Committee member Marie Christie had officially drawn out election papers for the two seats currently slated for consideration at the general election this April 4.
The incumbent Christie's School Committee counterpart, former educational board Chairman Marc Grimaldi, has not pulled papers for reelection to date, and is rumored to have decided against running for another term.
Despite Whooley's decision to draw papers for the School Committee race, the Town Clerk claimed that he can't officially consider the Calthea Street resident out of the Selectman's race until he receives a formal letter announcing the Finance Board member's withdrawal.
"He has to give me a letter saying he's pulling out of the Selectmen's race," said Hanright of Whooley, who pulled papers for three separate elected offices during one recent election-year cycle.
According to the Town Clerk, residents interested in running for one of the eight elected boards or offices being decided this April 4 must formally draw papers by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 10.
Last week, The Stoneham Independent ran an article on the then six challengers opposing each other in the Selectmen's race this year. However, the race reportedly narrowed down to five after South Hillside Street resident Jace Arrington announced last week that he too would withdraw from consideration for the board.
And now there are four - should both Whooley and Arrington formally step down from their candidacy.
In light of the recent election development, and the fact that Steele Street resident R. Paul Rotondi, who was out of town last week, was unable to return calls for comment on his own candidacy for the Board of Selectmen, The Stoneham Independent asked a few questions of the local residents.
Although attempts were made both this week and last week to get in touch with Christie, who is reportedly out-of-town until Saturday, the School Committee veteran couldn't be reached for comment.
SI: What factors led to your decision to run for office?
Whooley (on switching gears): The reason I decided to switch is because I spent a lot of time with my family and my supporters talking about this. And I felt I can make the biggest difference as a School Committee member.
Rotondi: I spent 20-years on the Stoneham School Committee. I've served on the Finance Board, the Board of Appeals, and collective bargaining and negotiating committees. So I have a broad range of experience and I think I can bring a unique perspective [to the Selectman's office].
SI: What do you see as the largest issue currently facing Stoneham?
Rotondi: I think the town has hit a critical leadership crisis. All the problems that we have, those that have been highlighted, they're all a symptom of this leadership crisis. Even though everybody says finances is the most serious problem, and it is a problem, that's really just a symptom of this leadership problem.
Whooley: I think the biggest issue facing the School Department is the same it has been for the past seven years. The School Department is too top-heavy and they spend too much on administrators. I'd cut an administrator, whether its the Assistant Superintendent or whoever, before I'd cut a teacher.
SI: Outside of the town's financial issues, what do you see as the largest problem facing Stoneham?
Whooley: I think it's a lack of new incentives. Stoneham has a great graduation rate, and a huge percent of our children go to college. But I'd like to see more going to college. And I'd like to see kids have the option of speaking to guidance counselors after they graduate, because after you leave school, that first year is the toughest.
Rotondi: The overall problem is the way our town government is structured. We haven't done anything to structure the government to address these larger problems. We have to take a look at the very basis of the way we operate. Somebody needs to step up and provide some leadership. And they need to link the town's departments because it has become so fractured now.
What is your stance on raising revenues through a renewed trash fee, override, or debt exclusion?
Rotondi: I would tend to stand against all of those until all other means are exhausted. The elderly are being pushed out of this town because they can't afford property taxes. And the young, who can't afford to purchase property in this town, can't even buy a house. So we have a constant turnover. We need to stabilize this town.
Whooley: I don't support an override or a trash fee. I think it's too much of a burden for our taxpayers, and that includes parents too. I feel it's especially important that we have a School Committee member who won't push for an override or a trash fee.
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