As the town faces four general override questions that would permanently increase property taxes, candidates for multiple boards and committees made their pitches at the Marblehead League of Women Voters candidates forum Tuesday night. The election is June 9.
About 100 people crowded into the high school library to listen to candidates for Select Board, School Committee, Recreation & Parks Commission, Cemetery Commission, Housing Authority and town moderator.
Select Board
Incumbent Erin Noonan defended her role in crafting the town’s tiered override proposal (for $9 million, $12 million and $15 million), while challengers Rossana Ferrante and Jenn Schaeffner emphasized collaboration and accountability as Marblehead faces what candidates repeatedly described as a “fiscal crossroads.”
Opening the forum, Noonan pointed to several controversial initiatives that reflected her willingness to make difficult decisions.
“This role requires making tough decisions in Marblehead’s long-term best interest, even when they are controversial,” Noonan said, citing the town’s meals tax and creation of the Community Development and Planning Department.
Noonan argued that the current override proposal would have looked different without her involvement.
“At a time when the board was divided, I pushed hard for and ultimately prevailed in sponsoring a motion for a tiered, multi-year override that protects our schools, public safety departments and essential town services, while giving choice to citizens,” she said.
Noonan supports the Tier 3 override.
Schaeffner was the only Select Board candidate who declined to say which override tier she supports. She said conversations with residents revealed widespread anxiety over affordability, even among those who acknowledge the need for additional revenue.
“From my perspective, I feel strongly that we do need to raise the (tax) levy,” Schaeffner said. “I do wrestle, though, with the fact that folks are really, really concerned about this.”
She said the debate over the override reflects deeper divisions within the community.
“Regardless of what happens with this override, as a Select Board member, I am tasked with working to collaborate and compromise with everyone in town,” she added.
Ferrante said she supports the Tier 2 override, describing it as the most practical option.
“For me, Tier 2 is the most logical, because it allows us to stabilize, and then we can take some time to figure out, OK, what else can we do?” Ferrante said.
Candidates were also asked about concerns that Marblehead has become increasingly fractured politically.
Noonan connected the tension to broader national trends and misinformation.
Ferrante argued that divisions worsen when residents feel ignored.
“I think what divides us is that people don’t feel heard, and so when people don’t feel heard, people get louder,” Ferrante said.
She suggested creating focus groups or committees that include residents with differing viewpoints.
“The conversations can be really uncomfortable, but that’s what it’s about,” she said. “That’s how you get together and find common ground.”
Schaeffner similarly emphasized compromise, referencing debates surrounding the MBTA Communities Act and the town’s compliance with the law commonly referred to as “3A.”
“What finally happened is when the two sides came together, they reached a compromise,” she said. “That is what I will bring to the table.”
All three candidates expressed support for the six-page memorandum of understanding signed by the Select Board, School Committee and Finance Committee regarding fiscal oversight and collaboration.
School Committee
The budget and overrides were the focus of the School Committee discussions as well.
Incumbent Melissa Clucas, a chief financial officer and mother of three, pointed to what she described as improved coordination among town boards during this year’s budget discussions.
“For the first time, the School Committee, the Select Board and the Finance Committee worked together, not in silos,” Clucas said.
She also credited the committee’s communication efforts with improving public understanding of the budget process.
“We started monthly newsletters — plain language, real answers, so you don’t have to attend multiple meetings a month to understand what’s happening in your schools,” Clucas said. “That’s new, and based on what I keep hearing, it mattered.”
Candidate Ann-Marie Jordan, a former teacher and school administrator, highlighted her decades of experience in education leadership and budget management.
“I have been a school teacher and a school administrator for over 30 years,” Jordan said. “I know what strong, stable leadership is.”
All three candidates acknowledged the need for additional funding through an override, though they framed the issue differently.
Clucas supports the Tier 3 override.
Candidate Sarah Fox, who has served two terms on the School Committee in the past, argued that enrollment declines and changing student needs require a more comprehensive reexamination of the budget.
“We would need to look at a zero-based budget to start with, because our enrollment has changed so drastically,” Fox said.
Fox said the district must better understand why families leave Marblehead schools.
“Last year, there were 215 students that left the district,” Fox said. “We need to conduct exit interviews.”
She also argued that the district should strengthen efforts to retain students transitioning into high school and continue expanding in-district special education programming.
(In recent School Committee meetings, Superintendent John Robidoux has said these efforts are underway.)
In closing statements, Clucas said the current committee had brought “a new culture, real transparency, and better relationships with the town, the MEA (teachers union) and the community.”
She endorsed Jordan as a running mate, saying the two candidates would continue the committee’s recent work.
Jordan said she hoped to join what she described as a more unified and collaborative committee structure.
Fox said the district needs “student-focused fiscal accountability” and pledged to prioritize “true transparency and honesty” if elected.
Recreation & Parks
Candidates for the Recreation and Parks Commission highlighted long-term planning, accessibility improvements and the Reynolds Field renovation project during a wide-ranging discussion.
Candidates repeatedly pointed to the Reynolds Field refurbishment project as one of the commission’s most significant ongoing efforts.
Shelly Bedrossian, seeking a third term, praised the commission’s collaboration and highlighted partnerships that she said allowed the department to stretch limited resources.
“I would say our biggest accomplishment as a commission is really leveraging our public and private partnerships,” Bedrossian said.
She cited recent work on the Hopkins Field scoreboard, a large project completed with Marblehead Youth Baseball, and ongoing efforts to move the Reynolds Field project forward.
“The biggest thing is that we are finally getting traction on Reynolds Field refurbishment, which will have a major impact on this town,” she said.
Chris Kennedy, who is finishing his first term, said his experience as a coach, athlete and local business owner has shaped his perspective on the town’s recreation needs.
“I’m looking forward to pushing these projects forward now that we’ve laid the groundwork,” he said.
Larry Simpson, also completing his first year on the commission, emphasized his background in horticulture, landscaping and open space management.
“I strongly represent the parks side of things,” Simpson said.
A garden designer and former botany instructor at North Shore Community College, Simpson said he brings expertise in soil science, drainage and landscape management that could help improve town parks and fields.
Ken Klaiman, a first-time candidate, said he hopes to bring a more strategic and long-term approach to recreation planning.
“My focus is on thoughtful stewardship of our existing assets, stronger community partnerships, expanded accessibility, inclusion, and a more strategic, long-term approach to recreation planning and investment,” Klaiman said.
Incumbent Karin Ernst said successful governance requires compromise and openness to new ideas.
“You need to have a group of people with different ideas that come to the table, and they figure it out,” she said.
Bedrossian said completing the first phase of the Reynolds project and improving ADA accessibility across town parks would remain her primary goals.
“We do not have one park in town that is fully ADA compliant,” Bedrossian said. “It’s pretty bad.”
The LWV moderator read a brief statement from candidate Mike McCarthy, who could not attend.
“I’m running for the commission because Rec and Parks touches some of the most important parts of our community, and I want to be a bigger part of it all,” McCarthy wrote. “I grew up here in Marblehead and love the town. I come to you with 20-plus years of experience in commercial real estate brokerage, underwriting, negotiating, managing properties and property budgets. I’ve spent years coaching Marblehead youth soccer, baseball and football, all which I currently coach.”
Cemetery Commission
Incumbent Sally Sands and challenger Rose McCarthy discussed the issues facing the town’s cemeteries, including maintenance funding, record preservation and future burial space.
Sands, who was appointed to the commission by the Select Board in February and is now seeking a full two-year term, emphasized the importance of balancing historic preservation with long-term planning for additional cemetery capacity.
“My interest in serving on the Cemetery Commission aligns with my interest in Marblehead history, as well as the need to plan for future expansion of cemetery space,” Sands said.
She pointed to several ongoing projects, including restoration efforts at historic cemeteries such as Old Burial Hill and Harris Street Cemetery, expansion work at Waterside Cemetery and preliminary planning for improvements at the Green Street veterans lot.
She also highlighted partnerships with volunteer oversight committees, grant funding and collaboration with the town’s Department of Public Works.
McCarthy, who previously served on the Cemetery Commission, focused most of her comments on maintenance concerns and public access issues.
She said Waterside Cemetery “always was able to fund for itself” through burial-related revenue but argued that some areas require additional attention. She suggested getting rid of the pool at Waterside to create more burial plots.
McCarthy also stressed the importance of maintaining accessible water access for families tending grave sites and raised concerns about access to the chapel and public restrooms.
“I feel that there should be another way for people to visit,” McCarthy said.
Asked about access to cemetery records, Sands acknowledged that many remain in older paper formats and said digitization would likely be a major undertaking.
“Some of the records have been put into the digital space, but many of them are old 4-by-6 cards,” Sands said.
She said budget limitations could complicate efforts to digitize all records but added that she would support exploring the possibility further.
Sands also said she hopes to improve public engagement with the Cemetery Commission, noting that meetings are often sparsely attended.
“I feel like the Cemetery Commission is sort of an island into itself,” Sands said.
She suggested the commission could hold public forums and work to encourage more residents to participate in discussions about cemetery priorities and improvements.
Housing Authority
Incumbent Jean Eldridge, who has served multiple terms, could not attend. Challenger Jeffrey Weeden answered questions.Weeden works at Lynn Housing Authority and has lived in Marblehead for more than a decade.
He spoke about the importance of getting input from public housing residents.
He also talked about a project in Lynn turning the old armory into veterans housing.
“The state has the low-income housing tax credit program; that’s something I have some experience with, where we’re converting the Lynn Armory on the Commons into 52 units of veterans housing,” Weeden said. “That process has been a long time coming, but it’s really exciting. I think that can happen here.”
The forum’s moderator read a statement from Eldridge.
“I have served the authority for several terms and have a practical understanding of how it works, institutional knowledge, and commitment to the residents we serve, recognizing what is needed and knowing how to get things done while acting in the best interests of the town,” she wrote. “While I have no particular agenda, I shall always strive to ensure that all of our residents are treated with dignity and respect.”
Town moderator
The two candidates for town moderator focused on procedure, preparation and civility in a discussion that contrasted the experience of incumbent Jack Attridge with the fresh perspective offered by challenger Peter Jaffe.
Attridge, seeking his fifth term as moderator, emphasized his long history in town government and his experience managing Marblehead’s often lengthy and contentious town meetings.
“I offer decades of community, municipal and business leadership, along with a keen interest in Marblehead’s governance,” Attridge said.“Town meetings are sort of my Netflix and my hobby.”
Jaffe, a lifelong Marblehead resident and first-time candidate for elected office, described his own deep ties to the community through youth coaching, volunteer work and public schools.
He criticized Attridge’s decision to use a hand count, rather than clickers, for some votes at Town Meeting earlier this month. And he suggested that Attridge should have shut down controversial comments by David Modica about Marblehead’s 3A plan.
“You have to ensure that people are not disruptive,” Jaffe said. “We should not be making overnight heroes, letting people speak in front of our meeting and allowing that to disrupt how we want to run our business.”
Learn more about the June 9 election, the candidates and the override questions by reading the Current’s Voters Guide HERE.
