New/old faces due for election
Published on February 13th, 2008
STONEHAM, MA - With two incumbents ceding their seats, three School Committee candidates are all but guaranteed victory this April, absent the arrival of a popular write-in challenger.
According to Town Clerk John Hanright, former School Committee member Marc Grimaldi, appointed education board member Shelly MacNeill, and Forest Street resident David Maurer all returned their election papers by this Tuesday's deadline.
School Committee veteran Cheryl Walsh, as well as member Maureen Soley, both opted to step down from their elected posts.
Neither Grimaldi, MacNeill, or Maurer returned phone calls for comment on their candidacy this Tuesday.
According to Walsh, who served six years on the School Committee, she opted against a re-election bid in order to spend more time with family. However, the Brookbridge Road resident intends to stay involved with Stoneham's political affairs, although in a much less time-consuming role.
"The family dynamics have changed in the Walsh household," said the School Committee veteran, whose eldest daughter is in college. "I'm just trying to put the family first, which is the first time for six years."
"I do enjoy politics," added Walsh, who has another daughter in the Stoneham school system. "I see myself continuing to help the town, but probably on more short-term committees and fundraisers."
Reached on Tuesday evening, Soley, who served just one-term on the School Committee, explained that she had become disillusioned with the town's politics.
In particular, the former Robin Hood School principal, a 35-year educator, pointed to the "dismantling" of the local school system in recent years as a process that she could no longer be part of.
Soley indicated that last June's failed override, as well as similarly doomed property tax hike initiatives in recent years, has left her with a loss of faith in the community.
"I'm really happy with what we're doing. We're just continually reducing the school system and taking away children's services. I'm just unhappy participating in that," the retired Stoneham educator said glumly.
"I'm pretty disappointed in the community in that I don't feel they're stepping up and supporting our schools," Soley continued. "I'm disappointed in the suspicious that seems to be cast in the School Committee's direction all the time."
With no other citizens stepping forward, the three certified School Committee candidates are virtual deadlocks for the education board vacancies, as only their names will be featured on April's election ballot.
However, the Town Clerk did point-out that a new challenger could potentially step forward and attempt to snatch a seat through a write-in campaign.
Grimaldi, who previously served six years on the School Committee before departing from his elected post in 2006, has filed papers for the one-year School Committee vacancy.
MacNeill, who was appointed to that seat last year to replace School Committee member Miriam-Regan Fiore, is vying for a three-year term opening. Maurer would fill the other regular opening.
A quiet election season
According to Hanright, this April's election ballot will feature just one contested race between Selectman Chair George Seibold and challenger Richard Gregorio, a Finance Board veteran.
Board of Health member Dan Doherty, who had initially expressed an interest in running for the Selectman's seat, did not return his election papers by this Tuesday's deadline.
Doherty lost a bid for the board in 2006, when Selectman veteran Robert Sweeney just barely recaptured his post by a slim 14-vote margin. The Board of Health member did not return calls for comment.
According to Seibold, who is seeking a second term in office, he considers his work on the board unfinished, as he still sees much change that can be effected to turn Stoneham's precarious financial condition around.
Seibold, who vows to be an independent voice on the Selectmen, believes that the town is on the precipice of changing its fortunes, thanks to recent efforts to hold local officials more accountable.
"I want to be a part of a team that fixes the problems we have. I know they didn't happen overnight and it definitely won't be fixed overnight. But I like the direction the town's been going in lately," said Seibold, who hopes to focus on the redevelopment of Redstone and the old Boston Regional Medical Center (BRMC).
"I think we've turned some things around and hopefully that will continue to be contagious," added the incumbent. "All I want to see is what's best for this town. I know I haven't changed one bit being in this position. And I won't change because of this title."
According to Gregorio, a decade-long Finance Board veteran, he has previously flirted with the idea of running for office, but ultimately opted against the move until recently.
The Finance Board member changed his mind in the aftermath of last June's failed override question, when he believes the town's morale hit an all-time low.
Citing his knowledge of the town's finances, Gregorio believes that he can effect positive change as a policy-maker, rather than continuing to be in an advisory role.
"The Finance Board makes recommendations, but they really have no authority," explained Gregorio, who has successfully tracked and forecast the town's budget deficits for years now.
"After what we went through last spring, with all the upheaval, it was really disheartening with regards to the morale of the town," the Selectman's candidate added. "I think Stoneham is still a couple years away before it bottoms out and sees steady improvement. And I'd like to be part of that process, when it does start to improve.
Subscribe and get Home Delivery of The Independent
Save 36% off the newstand price — that's like 18 FREE issues!