Politics - Marblehead Current

Current launches its comprehensive Election Guide

31May

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

About Us, Community resources, Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Municipal Matters, Politics, Public safety, Top Stories

Current launches its comprehensive Election Guide

Marblehead voters head to the polls on June 20 to approve or reject a $2.5 million permanent override and elect many town leaders. The Marblehead Current has got you covered with its comprehensive Election Guide that features up-to-date information on the override question and races for Select Board, School Committee, Board of Health, Recreation and Parks Commission, Light Commission and Abbot Public Library Board of Trustees. You'll find news articles, candidate Q&As and statements, editorials and letters to the editors, plus clips of the League of Women Voters of Marblehead's candidate's forum, courtesy of Marblehead TV. Find the Election Guide HERE. The Current will accept election-related letters to the editors until 5 p.m. on Friday, June 16. To submit yours, click here or...

MHS alum to premiere political thriller at Warwick during reunion

30May

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Art, Culture, Education, Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Politics, Top Stories

MHS alum to premiere political thriller at Warwick during reunion

Coming home for your 50th high school reunion can be a little intimidating. Less so for Greg Newberry, who will be premiering a film he wrote, produced and directed at the Warwick Cinema the same weekend as his Marblehead High reunion. A poster for Greg Newberry's movie. It will premiere at the Warwick on June 3. COURTESY PHOTOS The Warwick will screen “Who is Amos Otis?” on Saturday, June 3, at 1 p.m., followed by a Q&A with Newberry. Newberry now lives in Cincinnati where — when he’s not making movies — he works in advertising. “This will be the film’s first screening in a theater,” Newberry said. “It’s fitting that it’s at the Warwick, where I was schooled on film growing up.” Newberry remembers watching classics like “The Godfather” and “Cool Hand Luke” at the Warw...

Discord among Select Board aired over COVID relief funds

24May

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Education, Local News, Municipal Matters, Politics

Discord among Select Board aired over COVID relief funds

Members of the Marblehead Select Board recently expressed conflicting views regarding its allocation of the town's remaining $3.3 million in federal COVID relief funds from the American Reinvestment Plan Act (ARPA). During a public meeting on May 10, these contrasting opinions arose as the Select Board considered, and ultimately approved, two ARPA funding requests worth $93,513 for the Marblehead Public Schools. These proposals were the most recent recommendations from an ARPA working group chaired by Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer. Marblehead Select Board members Alexa Singer and Erin Noonan believe the town should revisit criteria established to guide decision making around federal COVID relief funds. CURRENT PHOTO / NICOLE GOODHUE BOYD ‘Circumstances have changed’ The wo...

Gov. Healey signs Marblehead’s election-lottery bill

12May

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Local News, Municipal Matters, Politics, Top Stories, Uncategorized

Gov. Healey signs Marblehead’s election-lottery bill

Gov. Maura Healey signed a home-rule petition on Wednesday that establishes a lottery process that will determine the order of candidates listed on town election ballots in Marblehead. With Gov. Maura Healey's signature on Wednesday, Mablehead officially joined Massachusetts communities with a lottery process that determines the order of candidates listed on town election ballots. COURTESY PHOTO / OFFICE OF THE HEALEY-DRISCOLL ADMINISTRATION The Massachusetts House and Senate gave their final approval to the proposed legislation last week. The bill originated as a citizen petition passed as Article 39 at Marblehead Town Meeting in 2022. The bill will require Town Clerk Robin Michaud to hold a lottery for each race, drawing the names of all qualified candidates to determine their ...

On Town Meeting’s final night, voters endorse remote access, transparency

4May

By William J. Dowd, Kris Olson and Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Local News, Municipal Matters, Politics, Top Stories

On Town Meeting’s final night, voters endorse remote access, transparency

After three nights of sometimes raucous discussion, Town Meeting wrapped up on May 3 with votes to form a Traffic Safety Committee, urge town committees and boards to make meetings more accessible and transparent, and to create standard operating procedures manuals for the Select Board and regulatory boards and commissions. “Let’s write it down, let’s follow it to the best of our knowledge,” said School Committee Chair Sarah Fox who spoke in favor of Article 54, sponsored by the Marblehead group PowerUp, to create manuals. “It will help volunteerism in this town. The more people know what a board does, the more likely they will get involved.” A much smaller crowd at Town Meeting's third night. CURRENT PHOTOS / LEIGH BLANDER It took an extra 30 minutes to get the 300-resident quo...

Town’s June election takes shape with crowded contest for School Committee

1May

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Local News, Municipal Matters, Politics, Top Stories

Town’s June election takes shape with crowded contest for School Committee

Marblehead’s town election on June 20 will feature seven contests, including for School Committee and Select Board.There is a five-way race for two open seats on the School Committee. Candidates include incumbent Sarah Gold, Paul Baker of Overlook Road, former Glover School principal Brian Ota of Merritt Street, Karen Tal-Makhluf of Trager Road and former School Committee member Jennifer Schaeffner of Casino Road.Six candidates for the Select Board will battle over five seats. All five incumbents are running: Jim Nye, Moses Grader, Alexa Singer, Jackie Belf-Becker and Erin Noonan. Former Select Board member Bret Murray of Abbot Street is hoping to unseat one of them.A Planning Board contest will not be on the June ballot after all. James Full of Cheever Avenue did not return papers before...

3 contests emerge in Marblehead’s 2023 election

26Apr

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Local News, Municipal Matters, Politics, Top Stories

3 contests emerge in Marblehead’s 2023 election

All five incumbent Select Board members have pulled nomination papers to seek reelection, setting the stage for a third contested race in the municipal election on Tuesday, June 20. Jim Nye pulled papers on Wednesday afternoon, becoming the sixth potential Select Board candidate in a race that would include Moses Grader, Alexa Singer, Jackie Belf-Becker and Erin Noonan. Former Select Board member Bret Murray of Abbot Street has also pulled papers. The contest would not be official until Town Clerk Robin Michaud certifies nomination papers, which are due Monday, May 1, at 5 p.m. The other contests that could materialize include the Board of Health and the Municipal Light Commission. Board of Health Incumbent Todd Belfbecker’s three-year term expires in 2023. He has not take...

Marblehead grad running for Salem’s corner office

12Apr

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Politics, Top Stories, Uncategorized

Marblehead grad running for Salem’s corner office

Dominick Pangallo, who graduated from Marblehead High School in 1999, has dedicated his career to public service, working as a legislative aide or chief of staff for elected officials. Most recently, he served as chief of staff for former Salem mayor and current Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll for a decade. Dominick Pangallo, who graduated from Marblehead High School, is running for mayor of Salem. He served as chief of staff for former Salem mayor, now Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll for 10 years. COURTESY PHOTO / DOMINICK PANGALLO Pangallo is now running to succeed Driscoll in a special election in May. In a five-way preliminary election held in March, he emerged victorious, securing 42.7% of the 7,211 votes cast. Neil Harrington, the second-place finisher, captured 31.9%, and the two now face off in...

28Mar

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Local News, Politics, Top Stories

Rep. Armini seeks to amend the state Constitution to include women and nonbinary titles

Representative Jenny Armini of Marblehead wants to amend the state Constitution to add "her" and "their" as options when using the Governor's Excellency title and the Lieutenant Governor's Honor title. Rep. Jenny Armini of Marblehead: 'History has blown by the Massachusetts Constitution.' “History has blown by the Massachusetts Constitution. It is well past time to catch up,” said Armini, who testified for her bills before the Judiciary Committee on March 28. “According to our foundational document, Governor Maura Healey is referred to as ‘His Excellency.’ Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll is referred to as ‘His Honor.’ This legislation would correct those anachronisms by beginning the process of amending the Constitution.” Specifically, H.30 and H.31, would add "her" and "their...

Candidates in June town election are pulling papers, including former Glover School principal

27Mar

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Municipal Matters, Politics, Top Stories

Candidates in June town election are pulling papers, including former Glover School principal

Several candidates for the June 20 town election have already pulled papers and announced their intentions to run, including former Glover School principal Brian Ota, who wants to join the School Committee. Brian Ota at the Glover School in 2018 with teachers Sally Shevory (left) and Emily Perez. The flag they're holding had been hoisted on the USS Constitution. "I'm retired now and there are two openings on the School Committee. I'm interested in looking at running for one of those two spots," said Ota, who was let go from the Glover School last June after five years as principal there. Previously, he worked as assistant principal at the Village School and the dean of stdents in the Dennis-Yarmouth School District. Ota said he would be releasing a more formal statement — outlining ...