Tom McMahon, a candidate for re-election to the Board of Health, has denied the Current’s request to attend his information session on the override vote and the town’s new trash collection program scheduled for Sunday afternoon.
Asked whether the press would be welcome to attend, McMahon first asked the Current to prove its lack of bias by demonstrating that it understood the formulas underlying the two override calculators created by the citizens’ groups For Marblehead and Better Way Marblehead.
After a response was provided, McMahon wrote back, “I’m going to go with no press.”
“It’s not needed and I don’t want people with genuine confusion to feel pressure with press in the room,” he explained.
He added, “I’m on the side of Marbleheaders voting in their best interests (not mine), with honest and transparent information, and no pressure to vote in a particular direction.”
McMahon said that other outlets would similarly be denied admittance to the session, which is scheduled for 3-5 p.m. at “Hawkes Nest” (14 Hawkes St.).
Ownership of the property was transferred in 2021 Board from Robert Schaeffner, who chairs the town’s Planning Board, to a limited liability company, “14 Hawkes Street Marblehead LLC,” according to assessor’s records. Schaeffner is married to Jenn Schaeffner, who is finishing a three-year term on the School Committee while seeking a seat on the Select Board in Tuesday’s election.
As of 2:30 p.m., there were campaign signs displayed on the property supporting Jenn Schaffner’s Select Board candidacy and that of her former colleague, Sarah Fox, as she seeks to return to the School Committee.
“Have questions? Just show up. We’ll talk it through,” reads the virtual poster McMahon created for the event.
On his Facebook page, McMahon explained that the session was to answer questions both about trash and the tiered overrides.
“Happy to try and provide as much clear and accurate information with no pressure to vote in any particular direction,” he wrote in one post.
McMahon is one of three candidates for Board of Health on the ballot in Tuesday’s election. With three seats available, all are assured of gaining seats on the board, barring a successful write-in campaign, though vote totals will determine which of the candidates receives the three-year, two-year and one-year terms available as the board expands from three members to five.
