Town races get off to slow start
Published on January 13th, 1999
STONEHAM, MA - Activity has been light thus far in the Town Clerk's Office in terms of the April Town Election Day.
According to Town Clerk John Hanright, only four residents have pulled papers for the 10 slots which will be available at the election, to be held on April 6, 1999.
"There's been very little activity," Hanright explained. "It's just a slow start. We expect things to pick up by the last week in January. I'm sure there'll be more interest in the positions by that time.
The following are the various positions and boards which are expected to be open for the elections: Town Moderator, Board of Selectmen (1 seat), Board of Assessors (1), Board of Health (1), Planning Board (1), School Committee (2), Housing Authority (1) and Library Trustee (2).
Hanright said that Town Moderator Michael Rotondi has already made it known that he will seek re-election and has requested papers. He has yet to officially pull papers at Town Hall, however.
Selectman John Biggio's term will expire in April and the Emery Court resident has pulled papers on December 22 in order to secure the seat for an additional term. He faces early competition, however, from Whipple Avenue resident and outspoken town meeting attendee Darin Leahy. Leahy visited the Town Clerk's office on December 23 to pull papers.
There will be a vacancy in the Board of Assessors this year as John Hanright has announced that he will not seek re-election. Hanright, who has served eight terms on the board, said that he remained on last year after his election to the Town Clerk's Office in order to fulfill his term. Now, with his term expired, he says that he will concentrate his efforts on that role.
Board of Health mainstay, and present chairman, Michael Rolli has yet to file at Town Hall for another term, leaving the door open for a possible race for the one vacancy on the board.
On the Planning Board, Kevin Dolan's seat will be open for election. Dolan has also failed to file with the Town Clerk's Office thus far.
The School Committee, always at the forefront in terms of hotly contested races, has yet to experience any rise in temperature as members Jeanne Craigie and Paul Melkonian await the end of their terms in April. Neither has pulled papers or made any statements concerning their plans for the future.
Amelio (Mickey) Marrocco, however, isn't taking his chances with a late start to his campaign. Marrocco pulled papers on January 11 in order to remain in his seat on the Housing Authority.
The same can be said of Rocco Ciccarello, who on January 9 pulled papers to tackle another role on the Library Trustees. Fellow board member Marc Grimaldi has yet to take similar action at the time of press.
Hanright explained that anyone wishing to run for the above-listed town offices and boards should visit the Town Clerk's Office to pull papers. Papers must be signed by 50 registered Stoneham voters. It is suggested that more than 50 signatures be included on the submission slips for security sake. The last day to pull papers is Friday, February 12 and these papers must then be filed with the Town Clerk by Tuesday, February 16 at 5 pm.
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