Blue Mass Group

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Attention Wilmington and Tyngsborough Progressives: We Need You!

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Here’s the Lowell Sun article that precipitated this series of posts.

ONCE AGAIN, Wilmington faces a dearth of School Committee candidates, despite an open seat.

With barely two weeks left to secure a spot on the ballot for the April election, only incumbent Steven Higgins has pulled nomination papers for the board, which has two open seats.

The second seat, being vacated by retiring committee member Barbara Breakey, has received zero interest.

But don’t expect other board members to break into a sweat.

“We go through this every year,” Joan Duffy, a member for more than a decade, said. “I’m really optimistic that one of our younger parents will join. I’ve been on the board for 11 years and I have never seen a seat go unfilled.”

“I wouldn’t say that I’m worried, but definitely disappointed,” Suzanne Cushing, a nine-year board veteran, said. “This committee doesn’t seem to generate a lot of interest. I don’t know why, because it’s exciting and fun.”

Nomination papers are available at the town clerk’s office. They have to be returned to the Board of Registrars by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 7.

TYNGSBORO FACES the same dilemma: Two open seats and only one School Committee candidate.

Incumbents Diana Keohane and Barry Dick are not seeking re-election. So far, the only candidate to pull nomination papers is Herb Desrosiers, a member of the Greater Lowell Technical High School Committee.

Prospective candidates have until March 21 to pull papers and until March 25 to return them to Town Hall.

“Easy for me,” said Desrosiers, when told he is currently running unopposed. “Easy is good.”

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Comments

    • EaBo looks at the election to school committee to be a party building exercise.

      <

      p>I find that many people who get elected to a school committee, even the most conservative Republicans, become pragmatic pertaining to meeting the needs of local schools.  However, there are occasionally some ideologues who are more interested in a partisan agenda than the best interests of the town or schools.  Most of the time, these folks get involved for reasons that have nothing to do with local government, like “party building.”

      <

      p>Thus, if Red Mass is recruiting Republicans, it makes sense to look for altruistic progressives to contest the seat.

    • and down to Town Hall.  Take out papers.  Go find your altruistic voice of reason and public service.  

      <

      p>As Suzanne Cushing said:

      “This committee doesn’t seem to generate a lot of interest. I don’t know why, because it’s exciting and fun.”

      <

      p>GO FOR IT!

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