Russ Sanford has Delivered Much to Winthrop

By Cary Shuman

Russ Sanford was a popular student-athlete in nearby Chelsea and graduated from Chelsea High in 1971. As much as the personable young man enjoyed his experiences in the close-knit city by the bridge, he is all about Winthrop now, a proud husband, father, and grandfather who became involved in all aspects of this seaside town upon his arrival 35 years ago.

Russ and his wife, Suzanne, raised their two daughters, Melanie, now 42, and Veronica, now 40, in the town. The Sanfords invested themselves in the school system, CYO and high school basketball, town committees, town government, and the Chamber of Commerce (where Russell became president and the couple never missed a local event such as the Annual $10,000 Dinner).

This week, Russ Sanford is turning the page on his career in public service, having decided not to seek re-election to the Precinct 5 seat on the Council, a position he has held for the last 12 years.

Though he is leaving the Town Council as its current interim president, he will serve on the new town manager selection-committee. He will also continue to own and operate his general contracting business, Level Line Inc., which has become a source of dependability and excellent service to scores of Winthrop customers.

“The business has been here 37 years and we’re still plugging away,” said Russ with his trademark smile. “We have great Winthrop customers. We don’t leave the island too often. We’re in to the second generation now. We’ve done work for parents and now the kids are grown and own their own property, so we’re doing work for the second-generation now.”

Though Sanford has had a busy schedule running his own business and serving in town government, he always found time to help out in other areas such as coaching and serving as the director of the St. John’s CYO basketball program in which his two daughters participated. He later served as WHS freshman girls basketball coach with Neil Shapiro.

Sanford’s life in town government began as a Town Meeting member and School Committee member, serving one, three-year term on the board.

It can be said with certainty that Sanford has been involved in the new form of town government from the outset – and even before that as an original member of the Charter Commission.

“Dick Dimes and I got the signatures to have the new form of government [initiative] put on the ballot and the town approved it,” recalled Sanford. “Our feeling was that a town manager/town council type of government was better for Winthrop. I think it’s worked out great.”

Sanford won election as the Precinct 5 town councillor three times over 12 years, all in uncontested fashion.

The accomplishments in the past dozen years have been many. The construction of two new elementary schools, a new $80 million high school/middle school, a new Harbor Building on the site of Winthrop Town Landing, the launch of a new ferry system, and the development of the Winthrop Hospital and Dalrymple School properties top the list of Council and town projects that were realized.

The Temple Tifereth property was also was done through work with the Council.

“Changing from a Town Meeting form of government to a Town Manager/Town Council format, we were able to make changes a little quicker for zoning purposes,” said Sanford.

He has enjoyed productive, working relationships with council presidents Thomas Reilly, Jeff Turco, Peter Gill, and Bob Driscoll during his tenure on the Council.

“I’ll give you an example of the cooperation and teamwork we’ve had on the council, “ said Sanford. “Peter Gill was not my first choice when he first ran for council president. He was successful. We became very close and very good friends and very loyal to each other, and I supported him for the second term.”

Town political observers, residents in general and his colleagues on the council agree that Sanford was the right man at the right time to assume the interim presidency when Bob Driscoll Jr. made the stunning announcement that he would be stepping down from his position in the spring.

“Bob is a good, close friend of mine, and I had encouraged him or Bob Wynne to run for council president,” recalled Sanford. “When he [Driscoll] felt the need that he couldn’t move forward because of certain situations, I was honored that the Council chose me. It was kind of a surprise because it all happened within a two-hour time frame. I found out from Bob at 5 o’clock that he was leaving. The Council made a quick decision and was very supportive. Our government worked. It [council leadership] had to change quickly and it did.”

The next day after becoming council president Sanford met with department heads and asked them for their support and help moving forward, “and they, as well as town employees, really stepped up – I mean that sincerely.”

There were other major shifts in town administration in the past year as Town Manager James McKenna and Superintendent. of Schools John Macero decided to step down from their respective posts.

“There were a lot of moving parts that needed to come together and be managed and stabilized,” he said. “With all the work that we had put in to get this form of government, it was especially important that I was able to be part of making sure it was stable and moving forward for the town as a whole.”

Sanford has worked toward the goal of a smooth transition for new council president Ron Vecchia in his ascension to the town’s highest elected position. Technically, it is still Sanford’s job to appoint a new town manager and he put together a seven-member search committee along with the Collins Center at UMass Boston. He wisely left one position open for the council president-elect. Sanford has since been invited by Vecchia to take his position on the town manager search-committee.

Sanford said if he had his option for a permanent successor to McKenna, it would be the interim town manager, Police Chief Terence Delehanty.

“Terry is doing extremely well and if I got my wishes going forward, Terry would not be the interim – he would be the full-time manager,” said Sanford.

He will take a break from the busy schedule of the past year.

“I’m going to take a little breath, a little time, and relax a little bit and make a decision where I want to be involved,” he said.

He is thankful to the numerous colleagues with whom he has served so diligently.

“I want to thank everybody who has served on the council and School Committee in the last 12 years,” said Sanford. “Sometimes we have philosophical differences, but we’ve always had the best interest of moving the town forward and we’ve accomplished that. And that sets a good example for the new Council.”

The decision to move to Winthrop remains one he relishes to this day.

“There was no place like Chelsea – it was great growing up there and my wife and I loved it there,” said Sanford. “But Winthrop is just a different place. It’s small-town atmosphere, and everyone knows everybody, which can be good and bad sometimes, but that’s one of the benefits of living in a small town. People pull for each other, especially when someone is down and out, whether it’s a house fire, an illness, or a situation where some is in need. People really come together and step up for each other here.”