Looking at the Recent Election
Dear Editor,
The Town Election on Tuesday, November 7 produced some interesting and surprising results that will have an impact on Town government over the next two years.
First, Max Tassinari is the new power in Winthrop politics given his outstanding vote total in the race for Councilor At Large. He not only beat his opponent, Todd Sacco, by a vote of 2652 to 1368, but he also received more votes than many other candidates running for re-election. Max Tassinari will be a strong force for a new way of doing things in Town government.
Second, in the race for Precinct Two Town Councilor, incumbent John Munson received 391 votes to Marc Chapdelaine’s 249 and Kurt Millar’s 164. Many people involved in Winthrop politics thought that Munson was vulnerable, but Munson received only 22 votes less than the combined totals of his two opponents.
Third, the Fire Station Question was soundly defeated by a vote of 2584 to 1439. From conversations that I had with many people who voted No, they did agree that the Town needs a new Fire Station (or Public Safety Building), but had numerous questions about the location, the site selection process, the dislocation of businesses in the Wadsworth Building, the lack of details about the true costs of the project, and a lack of transparency in general. The new Town Council needs to pursue a new Fire Station in a much more open process and should involve more independent, respected individuals in the community in order to achieve a successful effort in 2024.
Fourth, in the race for Housing Authority, incumbent Frank Ferrara, and former Veterans Services Officer Roseann Trionfi-Mazzuchelli were elected as expected.
Fifth, in the Trustees of Public Library contest, Anne Ferrieira was elected as the sole candidate listed on the ballot, and Gary Skomro and Alyson Casey Dewar were elected as Write-In candidates.
Finally, the four Charter Questions relating to Abandonment, Recall, Charter Binding, and the Budget were all approved by comfortable margins.
William Schmidt