Dearth of Candidates for Upcoming Election

By Sue Ellen Woodcock

School Committee Chairman Gary Skomro has announced that he will not be running for re-election on the School Committee. After serving one, four-year term Skomro has decided to take a break to spend more time with his family.

“That’s not to say I won’t run for another office in the near future,” Skomro said. For now he believes the new contract with School Superintendent John Macero will keep Winthrop schools “in excellent hands.”

For the overall election season? Maybe it’s the heat and humidity. Maybe it’s apathy, but the fact remains that Winthrop needs some people to come forward and run for the numerous political offices in town.

So far two candidates, Robert Driscoll and Craig Mael, are running for the position of Town Council president. The current Town Council president Peter Gill is not seeking re-election. There are town councilor races in Precincts 2, 4 and 6. Tuesday incumbent Linda Calla did take out papers.

In Precinct 2 newcomer Michael Bertiino has taken out papers. No word yet if incumbent James Letterie will take out papers. In Precinct 4 Heather Engman and Paul Caruccio have taken out papers to run. Mael, the current Precinct 4 Councilor, will run for a townwide seat instead of his precinct.

In the School Committee race there are three seats with incumbents Melissa Polino and Maryalice Sharkey. Laura Callis and Jared Wickham having taken out nomination papers.

For councilor at large, John Dorso is challenging incumbent Philip Boncore. There are three seats open for Library Trustees. The only incumbent to pull papers is Ron Bergman. Also running are Stephen Hines and Thomas Connolly.

There are also two seats up for election on the Housing Authority. Incumbent Frank Ferrara is running and so is newcomer Matthew Callis. No word yet on if incumbent Richard Honan will run.

Candidates have been able to pull nomination papers from the town clerk’s since June 1. The papers are due back to the office by Sept. 8 at 4:30 pm. Precinct candidates need 50 signatures from registered voters in their precinct. Town-wide candidates need at least 150 signatures from registered voters town-wide. The election takes places on Nov. 3.