Meet The Candidates, Board of Selectmen

More than 50 local residents made their way to library Monday evening to attend The League of Women Voters' Candidates Night, an event aimed at introducing all of the candidates appearing on this year's ballot.

The event allowed those in attendance to hear more about each candidate's background and how they stood on a host of issues. Those in contested races gave two-minute introductions and answered a series of questions from both the league and the general public.

Although the night began with four contested races, David Andrew Deutsch used the event as an opportunity to announce his resignation from the race for Recreation and Parks Commission. His departure means that Linda Rice Collins, Sam K. Ganglani, Derek Y. Norcross, Charles Edward Osborne Jr. and Gerald P. Tucker Jr. will fill all of the commission's available seats.

The remaining contested races are for Municipal Light Commissioner, School Committee and Board of Selectmen. The following offers a look at how each Board of Selectman candidate answered Monday night.

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Question 1. As a Selectman, how would you decide which articles approved at Town Meeting should be sent to a referendum? 

Rose Ann Wheeler McCarthy: After admitting that she wasn't sure what the articles on the Town Meeting Warrant were, McCarthy said she considered the question of whether or not to have the position of police chief removed from the civil service system and The project important issues.

Harry Christensen Jr.:  Christensen said the best way to gauge how the public feels is to talk to people outside of Town Meeting after they've voted. He also said that Town Meeting has become an event that is "not really representative of the entire population." Therefore, he said would favor sending anything that came before Town Meeting to referendum.

Judith Jacobi: Jacobi said she felt Town Meeting is a place to debate the issue before sending them to a ballot vote in June. "Although I’ve learned never to say never, I can’t conceive of a time when I wouldn’t send an article at Town Meeting to the ballot," Jacobi said.

Thomas Michael Rockett: Rockett noted that Town Meeting is the purest form of government and said he felt all questions passed at Town Meeting should be put on the ballot. "It has always been our tradition to do that I don’t want to change it," Rockett said, adding that it is a smart policy for financial reasons.

Bret Murray: Murray pointed out that not every town resident can make it to Town Meeting and that it offers a great chance for local residents to come and hear about the articles. "The people who can’t make it deserve to be heard as well," Murray said. "That's the best way to get true democracy."

James E. Nye: Nye agreed that anything that passes through Town Meeting should go on the ballot and said he thought it would be pretty arrogant to pick and choose whether or not Town Meeting passes a Warrant before a ballot vote can be taken.

Jackie Belf-Becker: Becker also pointed out that Town Meeting is the most open form of government that exists and said she would feel uncomfortable overriding the will of those in attendance at Town Meeting. "I would not be interested in doing so," she said.

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Question 2: Tony Sasso recently announced his retirement, what qualities would you like to see in the new Town Administrator?

Harry Christensen Jr.: Christensen said he was looking for someone who had knowledge of the town of Marblehead; someone who fit well with the kind of  government that exists in Marblehead; and someone who would be able to lead the town's department heads. "That kind of character and that kind of efficiency is critical," Christensen said. "We need to have someone who can deal with agendas, with people, and with the Board of Selectmen."

Judith Jacobi: Jacobi listed attributes, including a person who makes decisions in the best interest of the town and is tough in protecting them; someone who understands cooperation must exist between the town administrator and the Board of Selectmen; and someone who can negotiate contracts and has an open-door policy.

Thomas Michael Rockett: Rockett said he thinks it will be critical for the next town administrator to have a depth of knowledge in regard to all aspects of municipal finances and experience with collective bargaining. He also said he was looking for someone who was a good listener and a creative problem solver. He also said it would be a plus if the next administrator live in town but he didn't consider it a requirement.

Bret T. Murray: Murray also said that Sasso's would be "tough shoes to fill" and said the four qualities he would look for are "experience, education, leadership and communication skills."

James E. Nye: Nye echoed sentiments from other candidates that Sasso has done a tremendous job for Marblehead and it will be very difficult to replace him. "That being said, our net administrator will have to have strong knowledge of operations, labor laws, and be available 24/7," Nye said. "It's not necessarily the candidate's address, its about availability."

Jackie Belf-Becker: Becker said she was looking for a "Sasso replica." She wanted someone who will work behind-the-scenes, making phone calls to citizens, working with unions and planning far into the future. "So that the dollars we have stretch well beyond their limits," she said.

Rose Ann Wheeler McCarthy: McCarthy said the town administrator isn't a job that "you can’t just walk in and be the administrator." She also pointed out that Sasso wasn't originally from Marblehead and "he’s turned out to be a wonderful leader, he’s treated me with great courtesy." The next candidate, she said, wouldn't necessarily have to be a citizen of Marblehead.

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Question 3. What is your position on Article 31, regarding police chief selection process?

Judith Jacboi: Jacobi said she felt the civil service rules are too restrictive. She also said changing the system would encourage members of the local police department to develop skills that would make them attractive candidates for the position.

Thomas Michael Rockett: Rockett said the quality of the candidate is the most important thing. "Within the town as well as form the outside, the point here is to hire the most qualified candidate," Rockett said, adding that he looks forward to the debate at Town Meeting.

Bret T. Murray: Murray also said he felt the position of police chief should be removed from civil service. "I am a proponent for the police department but I believe it should be removed," he said, adding that keeping the requirement would only result in there being a limited pool of candidates. "That’s not how you get the best candidate for the job," he said.

Jim Nye: Nye said he supported removing the civil service requirement because it "opens it up and lets us draw from a larger pool of candidates." He went on to point out that changing the policy doesn’t eliminate the police officers from Marblehead from moving up the ranks but assures the town gets the best possible candidate for the job.

Judith Belf-Becker: Becker said that she too was in favor of removing the position from the civil service system because it would allow for a wider applicant pool. "The higher the number of applicants that apply, the better off we are," she said.

Rose Ann Wheeler McCarthy: McCarthy said she would vote in favor of keeping the position in the civil service system. "We have very bright young men here," McCarthy said, adding that she didn't want the town to "go just throwing an ad out and going all over the place." "By keeping the civil service we’ll keep some of the horses in the barn," she said.

Harry Christensen Jr.: Christensen began by pointing out that he belongs to a police family, with a brother-in-law who is the currently serving as a captain in the police department. "I look forward to the debate. I haven’t decided yet, I want to wait for Town Meeting before making my decision," Christensen said.

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Following the question-and-answer segment, candidates were then given the chance to conclude the event with a one-minute closing remark. Here is how each candidate closed out their time at the table.

Closing Remarks:

Thomas Michael Rockett: Rockett said his first year as a member of the Board of Selectmen was exciting and felt that the board "really works well together." "I learned a lot," he said, before adding that the biggest decision for the board is selecting the next town administrator. "I'm a third generation selectmen in this town and I have passion for this ," he said. "It has been a great ride and I want to continue on the roller coaster."

Bret T. Murray: Murray said he just want to say he loves Marblehead and he wants to give back to it whenever he can. "I have a lot to offer this board," he said. Before closing, Murray offered a famous quote: “There are three types of people out there, the people who make things happen, the people who watch things happen, and the people who say 'what happened?'” "I want to be the one who makes things happen," he said.

James E. Nye: Nye said he is thankful for having been able to serve on the board for the last six years and said "the team's record of success has been phenomenal." He said he'd like to continue to serve so that he could be a part of picking the next town administrator and upcoming strategic plan initiatives.

Judith Belf-Becker: Becker said she has asked for a vote from residents in the past the based on what she has done and she is "asking for it now based on what I want to do."

Rose Ann Wheeler McCarthy: McCarthy said she looks forward to Town Meeting. "It has been a long haul I feel dedicated to supporting our police force," McCarthy said.

Harry Christensen Jr.: Christensen said when he retired from the board all he was asking for was a "time out, a couple of years off." With Sasso leaving, Christensen pointed out that, if elected, he would be the only member that would have served before Sasso. "I've negotiated with unions, I've negotiated budgets, and I've served a decade on the Board of Selectmen," Christensen said. "I'd like to offer my expertise and my experience."

Judith Jacobi: Jacobi said she is appreciative that local residents have given her the opportunity to serve on the board. "I hear the opinions at meetings and listening to residents, officials and employees has often had me looking at a situation with a new  perspective." She also said she hoped her "comments and answers tonight and my record of service will encourage you to vote for me again."