Photo by Bob Roche
Michael Spiewak and Jennifer Ann Schaeffner answer questions posed by moderator Jeff Shribman.
BY DILLON DURST
MARBLEHEAD — The League of Women Voters hosted a debate at the high school library on Tuesday, but most of the candidates in the four contested seats agreed on most issues.
Michael Spiewak and Jennifer Anne Schaeffner are seeking a seat on the school committee.
On the question of whether to back the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO), the voluntary school desegregation program, Spiewak and Schaeffner agreed to continue the district’s support.
They both agreed that the high school is overcrowded and that a feasibility study on the Elbridge Gerry School is necessary. The pair were also on the same page on the importance of establishing a wellness committee for the health and well being of students.
They disagreed on one thing. While Spiewak said a major achievement of the administration has been stability, Schaeffner said turnover in the district is high and that it must do a better job attracting quality teachers.
Spiewak said it’s important that Marblehead have a strong school district, and communication between the town and school committee is essential.
Schaeffner, who boasts 22 years of experience working in the financial industry, said the district faces a few problems including stability, facilities and the school feasibility project.
Edward Nilsson and Philip Angelo Mancuso Jr. are seeking one seat on the planning board.
Nilsson, a longtime Marblehead resident who works as an architect in Salem, said the issues facing the town have to do with change. He anticipates that Marblehead can change in a sustainable way. Nilsson said the rights of builders need to be balanced with community needs.
“My goal is to make sure that the town has a place at the table when development occurs,” he said.
Mancuso, a financial consultant with three decades of experience, said he’s not a career politician, but rather a concerned citizen. He wants to update the town’s master plan.
Nilsson also agreed that the master plan should be updated. Both candidates said the issue of sea level rising must be solved. Mancuso added that most politicians don’t understand the issue and that it needs to be fixed locally.
While Nilsson said he supports incentive zoning, Mancuso said that while it appears to be a good thing on paper, it’s not being implemented properly.
Mancuso said he favors affordable housing for town employees and seniors, as well as for younger residents.
Robin Michaud and Sally Sands are the two candidates seeking the town clerk post, which carries a three-year term.
Michaud, who has spent nine years as Marblehead’s town clerk, said her experience makes her the ideal candidate.
Sands, a preschool teacher and owner and director of First Meeting House Nursery School, said the town clerk is the face of the town, and should be the link between the town and state.
Both candidates agreed that they would support voter pre-registration of 17-year-old high school students who would be 18 by election time.
Sands said she would attract new voters by thinking creatively to get voters to polls, whether that be reaching out to people at the grocery store or coffee shops.
Michaud believes social media is an essential tool to reach millennials, and has gone to the high school register teens to vote.
Sands said reaching out to younger voters is critical.
Rose Ann Wheeler McCarthy and Richard Coletti are running for a three-year term on the cemetery commission, however, Coletti was unable to attend Tuesday night’s forum. McCarthy answered questions after the debate.
The Marblehead election will be held on May 10.
Dillon Durst can be reached at [email protected].