Final candidates speak on the issues
Published on February 15th, 2006
STONEHAM, MA - As the Valentine's Day deadline drew to a close, 22 of the 27 Stonehamites pulling papers for this April's election returned their paperwork to Town Clerk John Hanright's office for certification.
Of the numerous seats available on the town's eight elected boards or offices up-for-grabs this April 4, the uncontested candidates for the Library Board of Trustees, Housing Authority, Board of Assessors, and Board of Health will be all but assured of victory this Spring - absent an amazing write-in campaign.
Although the contenders' signatures for office have yet to be certified by Hanright in many circumstances, seats on Stoneham's most visible elected boards, the School Committee and Board of Selectmen, will each feature a five and six challenger race, respectively, for the total four available seats on both boards.
According to local resident Kathleen Holland, who returned her papers for certification at the Town Clerk's office this Tuesday, she has decided to withdraw her candidacy for the School Committee. However, according to Hanright, Holland, who was dealing with a death in the family this week, had changed her mind about withdrawing on Wednesday morning.
Following up on The Stoneham Independent's three-part series on each of challengers for the two boards, Newcomb Road resident Andrew J. Celentano (Selectman), incumbent School Committee Chairwoman Marie Christie, Oak Street resident Carol Feke (School Committee) and Ravine Road resident Miriam Regan-Fiore (School Committee) answered a couple of questions about their candidacy.
Newcomb Road resident Heidi Kelf, the sixth Selectman candidate, did not return calls to The Independent for comment as of presstime.
SI: What factors led to your decision to run for office?
Celentano: I think the town needs some new blood in the process. I'm looking for a more open-process. I think that people are getting the impression that it's not their town anymore, that they're not being included.
Regan-Fiore: I care very much about the educational system in the town and about education in general. It's [the educational system] been [hurt] over the past few years with the budget constraints and that's been a concern of mine, and I'm sure of everyone.
Feke: I decided to run because of my commitment to public service. I've stepped up to the plate and volunteered to help the Town of Stoneham and St. Patrick's Church for the past 31-years. I organized, with my husband, Stoneham Citizen's for Fiscal Responsibility, which spearheaded the defeat of the proposition 2 1/2 override ballot question out of my concern for citizens of limited means.
Christie: It's basically the same reason as before. I was born and raised in this town and will do anything I can to keep it running. I feel my experience on the School Committee is an asset because I've basically done everything.
SI: What do you see as the largest issue facing the town?
Regan-Fiore: It's the budget constraints, definitely. There's a lack of funding to maintain programs and adequate staffing. There's no easy fix here. But I'm going to work as hard as possible to understand as much as I can and facilitate discussions on what can be done.
Feke: I think there's a leadership and financial crisis. Although the elected officials on the School Committee are well-intentioned, I do not believe they're being effective in terms of integrating appropriate organizational efficiencies.
Christie: It's probably the lack of funds. The school department has taken a major hit three years in a row and we've lost valuable teachers, programs, and the entire Middle School concept. It's just atrocious. Kids in the system now don't enjoy the same benefits as my children did 20-years ago.
Celentano: I think the budget will always be the big issue. I think we need to have more creative solutions. People are reluctant to pay more because they're struggling. So I think we need to hunker down with our budget and find creative ways to protect it.
SI: Outside of the budget, what do you see as the single largest issue facing the town?
Feke: The largest issue is how the school department is going to use the money that's appropriated to them and find the most effective way to provide an education to the school children. They're priority needs to be retaining teachers so class sizes don't get larger.
Christie: My first priority would be to rebuild the Middle School concept. Then I'd go into the elementary schools and add back teachers, especially the reading teachers. Then I'd like to get back the art and music programs.
Celentano: I think we're losing some of our pride in this town. We have to take better care of our town and that's something that needs to happen from the top-down. People need to think about how we can promote that and keep our pride in the town.
Regan-Fiore: One of the big issues, and again it goes back to funding, is the need for a new Middle School. But that's obviously not going to happen for a long time. Before we start talking buildings, we obviously have to restore the Middle School programs back to what it was before.
SI: Would you support a renewed trash fee, override, or debt exclusion to offset the FY07 deficit?
Christie: Since I don't have any say in a trash fee, I can't give a definitive answer. But if that's what the town needs to fund police, fire, and schools, I would encourage it.
Celentano: I still have to look at the details [in terms of an override or debt exclusion]. The trash fee is something that's probably going to continue; a lot of other cities and towns are already doing the same thing. But I would like to see a fairer trash fee that's more reflective of people's needs.
Regan-Fiore: Yes I would. I hope the trash fee would be reinstated this year. Certainly without that trash fee, the cuts the school and other town departments would have to take are untenable.
Feke: I am undecided. The various departments as to date have not given a comprehensive analysis of the impact of Ron Florino's budget in terms of whether it could maintain necessary town and school services.
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