Races shaping up for April local election
Published on January 21st, 2004
STONEHAM, MA - While rumblings and rumors of a competitive election filled with wide-ranging candidates up for election in Stoneham's April vote, the dust is beginning to settle into a hardened list of names.
The Selectmen race -- as is the norm -- should turn out to be the most interesting, befitting the highest profile board in the town of 24,000 people.
Incumbents Anthony Kennedy and Mary Pecoraro have taken a "fly-under-the-radar" approach so far, with both steering clear of talk about the upcoming election. With override discussions and massive layoffs both on the board, they may have their plates too full to consider April 1.
"I can't wait to get started with my campaign," said Pecoraro. "It wouldn't be March in Stoneham if we weren't walking around in neighborhoods meeting with people."
A third candidate, Frank DePinto, has emerged to run against Pecoraro and Kennedy, and a fourth candidate, Matt Whooley, has pulled papers for a run at the board. Whooley stated earlier in the week, however, that he has changed his mind and will instead be running for a seat on the Board of Health.
"I just decided that my mind was too split over the override question, and that I wanted to take more time to gain experience in town government," said Whooley, who has also pulled papers for the Stoneham Housing Authority but decided against a run for that board as well. "I think that Mary and Tony are both pretty capable, and I'd personally like to see what their solution is for the budget issues."
According to Whooley, he will be running for the Board of Health after an incident where his young son, Jonathan, became sick after eating food at a local restaurant.
"When you hear about some of the things -- like employees not washing their hands or wearing gloves -- it makes you want to get involved," said Whooley, who wouldn't go on the record as identifying the guilty eatery. "It's not that I didn't think I could win a Selectmen election -- because I think I could -- but this might be a better fit for me right now."
According to Hanright, once a candidate pulls their nomination papers for an elected position, there's no way to rescind or erase themselves from a list of potential candidates. All they simply must do is not turn in their nomination papers by the Feb. 17 deadline (5 p.m.), and they will not be placed on the ballot.
The only way for them (any candidate not wishing to run after pulling papers) to handle it now is to not turn it in," said Hanright. "They have the legal right once he's pulled to be on the ballot Feb. 17, if he has enough signatures."
Rebecca Lane resident John DePinto has likewise pulled papers for the Board of Selectmen, but wasn't available for comment at the Independent's deadline.
A pair of School Committee vacancies -- one for a full three year-term and a second position for a one-year term -- are also on the ballot and, according to Hanright, Kristen Russo has pulled papers for the full term position.
"Kristen Russo came in today after I went to lunch and pulled (papers) for School Committee," said Hanright.
Incumbent Dan Moynihan is up for re-election, but hasn't officially pulled papers for the position and may not opt to run for another term.
As of Independent press-time, a second candidate has not pulled papers for the second School Committee vacancy.
Dick Mangerian has pulled nomination papers for the Board of Assessors, Susan Doucette and Susan Waldman-Fixman for the Board of Library Trustees, John Hanright for Town Clerk, and Ed Pinato for Stoneham Housing Authority.
Kevin Dolan is up for re-election to the Planning Board, but, according to Hanright, no one has pulled papers for the Planning Board vacancy.
Pat Blais contributed to this report.
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