Incumbent Town Clerk Robin Michaud is the subject of an ethics complaint filed by challenger Terri Tauro after Michaud posted on social media about her two election opponents’ alleged campaign finance filing errors. Tauro alleges Michaud may have misused her official role for political gain ahead of the June 10 election, though the filing of the complaint does not establish any wrongdoing.
According to the Facebook post, which was taken down three hours after publication, Michaud wrote that “campaign finance reports were due yesterday by 5 p.m. per MGL (Massachusetts General Law). Neither of my opponents met the deadline. By law I could not accept what was turned in for Terri Tauro it was incomplete, inaccurate and unsigned. Melissa Flanagan didn’t submit anything.”
The post continued: “Town clerks are required to adhere to MGL, meet deadlines and pay attention to detail. If they can’t meet this simple deadline, how can they do the town clerk’s job?”
If a town clerk were found to have used privileged information gained solely through her official duties to harm political opponents, it could raise ethics concerns under Massachusetts conflict-of-interest law.
Michaud defended her actions, saying she removed the post after supporters of her opponents attacked her with false claims.
“I didn’t post their filings, I just stated that they weren’t filed correctly,” Michaud told the Current. “I posted as a candidate, not as the town clerk, with public information that is available to everyone. I did this on my own time, not during work time.”
She added, “These reports are an important part of the town clerk’s job. I was pointing out attention to detail that the job requires.”
She reiterated that her post contained only factual information about public records.
“What I posted was lawful and not personal. I didn’t attack anyone — I simply stated the facts,” she said.
Michaud disputed her opponents’ claims about the filing deadline.
“Eight-day campaign finance reports were due on the 2nd,” she said, adding that an email about filing dates went to every candidate. Proper notification was given to candidates needing to correct filing deficiencies, she said.
Tauro reported the incident to the State Ethics Commission, alleging an abuse of office. She confirmed to the Current that the complaint was made by phone and followed up by email. The filing of a complaint does not indicate any wrongdoing occurred, and the commission will investigate the allegations.
“I was extremely disappointed with the behavior of our sitting town clerk,” Tauro stated in an email. She alleges that Michaud used “privileged information against only the two town clerk candidates running against her,” while other candidates in different races who made errors were not targeted.
A key point of contention involves the filing deadline itself. Tauro claims that the town clerk’s own original instructions listed the filing deadline as June 3, yet Michaud’s post called them out based on a June 2 date. According to documentation provided by Tauro, the Town Clerk’s Office instructions stated the due date for campaign finance reports was June 3. However, two different filing dates appear to have been circulated — June 3 in nomination-paper postings and June 2 in an apparent email from the town clerk — creating confusion over which deadline was authoritative.
Tauro said she was “nicely asked by one of the people in the office via email to take out some numbers from a specific section and to sign along with my treasurer.” She noted there are different rules on money matters for municipal employees, which is why she filed early. According to Tauro, she filed on time and corrected what she called a small error on June 3 per the town clerk’s original instructions.
“I ask the voters of Marblehead, do we really want a town clerk that is capable of such an action?” Tauro wrote. “Whose information is next to hit the pages of Robin Michaud’s social media? Attention to detail and years of experience should have made her pause and that is unfortunate for us all.”
Some residents who viewed Michaud’s post questioned whether such public statements politicize what is intended to be an administrative role. They argue it could be interpreted as leveraging official powers against political opponents.
Flanagan responded to the posting, saying she followed proper protocol.
“I completed my application and all assigned documents as required by due dates provided,” she told the Current. “I look forward to working on making such information readily accessible for review and helping any future candidates understand their requirements, so as to avoid similar outcomes.”
In a follow-up social media post to combat attacks, Michaud defended the town clerk’s office neutrality, stating that town elections are nonpartisan and that she is not affiliated with either party. She also denies online accusations that she has party allegiances.
“Town clerks should be neutral when they run the elections,” said Michaud. “Accusing me of supporting the current (Trump) administration is an attempt to spread misinformation and has nothing to do with the town clerk’s office.”
The race has garnered additional attention following a Marblehead League of Women Voters forum where Michaud, who has served since 2007, highlighted her track record of running over 45 elections and processing thousands of vital records.
She also questioned why voters would put “someone new in the position that doesn’t have any experience” with a special election on multifamily zoning coming just three weeks after the town clerk is sworn in.
Flanagan’s vision is to transform the Town Clerk’s Office into a “proactive, digitally empowered hub” that enhances access and community engagement for all residents.
Tauro, former Marblehead Municipal Employees Union president, positioned herself as an advocate for accessibility, suggesting early in-person voting for local elections at additional locations like Brown School to accommodate people with mobility issues or small children.
