Town Election Guide - Marblehead Current

Parent group pushing for $2.5 million override

23May

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Education, Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Municipal Matters, Public safety, Sports, Top Stories, Town Election Guide

Parent group pushing for $2.5 million override

Local parents who support the $2.5 million permanent tax override on the ballot in the June 20 election are launching a “Vote Yes for Marblehead” campaign. “'Vote Yes for Marblehead' will be working in the coming weeks to advocate for the successful passage of the override,” the committee said in a statement to the Marblehead Current. “As residents, taxpayers and parents, we simply could not stand by silently while critical public safety and education services are at risk of being drastically reduced.” The override, which will fund the schools and other town departments, including police and fire, passed by more than a two-thirds vote at Town Meeting this month. School Committee Chair Sarah Fox is confident the Vote Yes committee is up to the task. “It’s a great group of energ...

22Mar

By Kris OlsonNo Comments

Local News, Top Stories, Town Election Guide

Tweaks to election process on Marblehead Town Meeting warrant

Compared to a proposal to extend the terms of members of the Select Board to three years, three other Town Meeting articles that would tweak the way local elections are administered may prove to be less controversial. In Article 53, the second-to-last article on the warrant, resident Jonathan Lederman is proposing that the town accept the provisions of a state law, G.L.c. 53, §9A, which would clarify that the final date for obtaining blank nomination papers for nomination to town office shall be “48 weekday hours” prior to the hour on which nomination papers are required to be submitted for certification. Lederman told the Current that his article may get amended before Town Meeting, as there are lingering questions about the overlap between the deadline he is proposing to move and...

22Aug

By William J. Dowd6 Comments

Local News, Top Stories, Town Election Guide

QUESTIONS FOR 8TH ESSEX CANDIDATES: No. 2 — Tell us about a view-shaping event

The Marblehead News posed a series of common questions to the six Democratic candidates for state representative from the 8th Essex District. There is no declared Republican candidate, meaning the winner of the primary Tuesday, Sept. 6 is likely to head to Beacon Hill to serve Marblehead, Swampscott and a portion of Lynn. Over the next two weeks, the Marblehead News will post the candidates’ responses to our questions, side by side, alternating the order as we go. Previous question: Q1. Tell us about yourself. Today's question: Q2. What life event most profoundly affected your political views, and how did it shape them? Jenny Armini Jenny Armini Conventional wisdom would have you believe that people grow more conservative with age. Yet, I have done the exact opposite....

17Jun

By Marblehead News staffNo Comments

Question 1 proposes capital spending in four parts

Marblehead has a history of exercising fiscal prudence within the Proposition 2 1/2 framework to finance capital projects. The process usually unfolds with town officials or a group of citizens identifying a capital need, developing a budget and timeline, and embarking on a campaign to garner community support. Debate plays out in the lead-up to Town Meeting. If the project secures a two-thirds vote on the Town Meeting floor, it heads for a town-wide referendum. If the project captures a simple majority in that second vote, the town then takes on debt — usually in the next fiscal year — to finance the capital need through the issuance of bonds. Taxpayers pay back the borrowed money — typically at very low interest rates due to Marblehead’s AAA bond rating — in installments ove...

17Jun

By Marblehead News staffNo Comments

Marblehead school officials: Question 2 would fund long unmet needs

In Question 2 on the Tuesday, June 21 town election ballot, school officials are asking to override by $3 million Proposition 2 1/2, which annually limits increases to property-tax assessments to 2.5 percent. Education officials say the money is needed to fill a significant funding gap in the district’s $43 million budget that has grown over multiple years. QUESTION 2: Shall the Town of Marblehead be allowed to assess an additional $3,051,093 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of the School Department Budget for which the monies from this assessment will be used for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022? “Years of level-funded budgets have led to holes in our staffing, the deferral of services and educational initiatives,” Marblehead Schoo...

15Jun

By Kris OlsonNo Comments

How, where to vote on June 21

Polls will be open across Marblehead from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 21 for voting in the annual town election. This year's ballot features contested races for Board of Selectmen, School Committee, Board of Health, Town Moderator, Light Commission and Cemetery Commission. Voters will also decide the fate of two ballot questions proposing overrides of Proposition 2 1/2. Voters must vote in their own precincts. Polling places are as follows: Precinct 1: Old Town House, One Market SquarePrecincts 2 and 3: Abbot Hall Auditorium, 188 Washington St.Precincts 4, 5 and 6: Judy and Gene Jacobi Community Center Gym, 10 Humphrey Street Unsure of your precinct? Follow this link to the Secretary of the Commonwealth's website and enter your address. Marbl...

10Jun

By Submitted ContentNo Comments

Town Election Guide

FOR BOARD OF HEALTH: Thomas McMahon

Years in Marblehead: 40 years (with some back and forth in my 20s / early 30s in Boston / Salem) Occupation/education: Investment Management. Bachelor's degree in economics and history from University of Colorado at Boulder. Graduate of Marblehead High School class of 2000. Appointed positions and/or elected offices: Seeking election to the Marblehead Board of Health. What are three reasons/issues as to why you’re running for election? The follow-up questions will put these into more detail but I actually have four issues I’d like to tackle which are easily attainable: Provide better guidance, transparency, and responsible spending in the Transfer Station project completion.Change the role of the Board of Health with regards to Covid into a...

10Jun

By Submitted Content1 Comment

Town Election Guide

FOR BOARD OF HEALTH: Helaine Hazlett

Years in Marblehead: I am Helaine Hazlett, candidate for re-election to the Board of Health. I am pleased to be invited to contribute to the Marblehead News Group’s Election Guide. I have lived in Marblehead for over forty years and have been a public servant in this town for most of my adult life. My husband and I brought up our four children here, where two of them and their families continue to reside. Occupation and education: I am running for re-election to the Board of Health because of my qualifications and the passion I have for this community. I studied public health as a science and dedicated my entire life to promoting healthy behavior and preventing disease. Ever since receiving degrees in health-related fields from the University of Pennsylvan...

10Jun

By Submitted ContentNo Comments

Town Election Guide

FOR SELECT BOARD: Alexa Singer

Years in Marblehead: 22Occupation/education: Chief pilot and tenured professorAppointed positions and/or elected offices: Select Board (Board of Selectmen on the ballot) What are three reasons/issues as to why you’re running for election?I am deeply committed to giving back to my community. Sustainability planning is at the top of my agenda, and I look forward to continuing my work on the town’s Climate Action Plan. I am also focused on improving our infrastructure and ensuring Marblehead’s long-term fiscal health. Strengthening the relationship between citizens and town government—through the excellent delivery of services and effective communication—is vital and something I will continue to work on. What areas of municipal government do you think the town could give more atten...

10Jun

By Submitted ContentNo Comments

Town Election Guide

FOR SELECT BOARD: Jim Nye

Years in Marblehead: 60 Occupation/education: President/CEO National Grand Bank of Marblehead Bentley College 1985 Appointed positions and/or elected offices: Selectman 2005-present What are three reasons/issues as to why you’re running for election? I love Marblehead and am thankful for the many opportunities that the town has provided me and my family. Over the past 17 years, we have managed the town budget efficiently and economically within the scope of Proposition 2 ½ with no general overrides required. This success has been due to the great teamwork between the boards, town administrator, finance director, and department heads. I would be honored to continue this work on behalf of the taxpayers of Marblehead. What areas of municipal government ...