Published in the April 4, 2018 edition
“All politics is local.”
Those were the famous words spoken by former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill. As reporters who cover local government, we completely agree with O’Neill’s viewpoint because we have seen the impact local government can have on a community. As an example, the town’s fields went from being one of the worst in the state to one of the best thanks to dedicated local officials and a supportive community.
O’Neill’s quote is fitting because townspeople will head to the polls on Tuesday, April 10 for the annual Town Election. After last year featured no contested races for the first time since 2014, contested races for School Committee and Planning Board will headline this election.
There are three candidates running for two three-year terms on the School Committee. School Committee Chairman Tim Doyle, Ford Avenue resident Phil McQueen and Edgemere Road resident Kimberlee Kossover Hansen are the hopefuls.
School Committeeman Salvatore Cammarata was up for re-election this year, but decided against running for a third term. We would like to thank Cammarata for his commitment to the school system and town.
In the race for Planning Board, Planning Board member Scott Gromko is facing off against MarketStreet Advisory Committee (MSAC) member John Gioioso in a race for a two-year term. Gromko and Gioioso are both running to fill the remaining two years of former Planning Board co-Chairman John Faria’s five-year term.
There are seven other candidates running unopposed in the Town Election.
While state and national politics generate a great deal of interest from voters who are passionate about different issues, municipal elections unfortunately don’t generate the same level of passion or interest. As an example, North Reading School Committee incumbents Jerry Venezia and Julie Koepke decided against running for re-election this year and only one candidate, Richard McGowan, submitted nomination papers to get his name on the ballot. Fortunately, a political newcomer, Dyana Natalie Boutwell, has decided to run a write-in campaign. If Boutwell never launched her campaign, the North Reading Board of Selectmen and School Committee would have been forced to hold a joint meeting in order to appoint someone to the open seat for one year.
Similar to Lynnfield last year, there are no contested races in Hornet country this election season.
Voter apathy is also alive and well in nearby Andover and North Andover. According to The Eagle Tribune, 15.72 percent of North Andover voters cast ballots in that municipal election even though there were contested races for Board of Selectmen and town moderator.
Andover fared slightly better, as The Eagle Tribune reported 20 percent of voters made their choice in contested races for Board of Selectmen, School Committee and town moderator.
We hope Lynnfield will buck the municipal election voter apathy trend on Tuesday. There are a number of important initiatives currently taking place in the town’s schools such as increasing enrollment and Chapter 70 education aid reform that require focus and attention. In regards to the Planning Board, there are looming development projects on the horizon that will require extensive oversight.
An active citizenry, coupled with committed elected officials, will help the town and School Department navigate this new era in Pioneer country. But the only way for people to make their voices heard is voting.
Election day is Tuesday, April 10.
