Martin Finn will serve as the new Precinct 6 Town Councilor, filling the vacancy left by former precinct councilor John DaRos.
Finn was selected to fill the vacancy at last week’s meeting, garnering five votes to fellow nominee Michael Gillespie’s three votes.
During the March 10 council meeting, there was some discussion as to whether the vote for the Precinct 6 Councilor would take place at that meeting or be taken up as new business at the March 24 meeting.
Council President Jim Letterie said there were four candidates who had initially expressed interest in the precinct seat, and that there were one or two candidates he believed may have wanted to withdraw from consideration. He said he wanted the opportunity to hear from those candidates and have the vote under new business on March 24.
However, Precinct 3 Councilor Joseph Romano successfully challenged Letterie’s motion to hold the vote on March 24, requesting that the vote take place at the March 10 meeting.
Councilor-at-Large Max Tassinari amended Romano’s motion requesting that the two candidates present at the March 10 meeting, Finn and Gillespie, be able to address the council before the nomination process and vote.
Five councilors voted for Finn – Tassinari, Romano, Pat Costigan, Paul Reardon, and Suzanne Swope. Letterie, Kurt Millar, and Kim Dimes voted for Gillespie.
Finn noted that his family has deep roots in Winthrop.
“When I look at the decisions this council makes, I don’t just see policy, I see the future of the town and the future that my son and his peers will inherit,” said Finn. “I want to make sure the Winthrop we leave them is even stronger and more resilient than the one we have today.”
For the past six years, Finn said he has been a youth soccer and little league coach in the town.
“In those six years, I’ve had thousands of conversations with parents and neighbors,” said Finn. “I’ve heard their concerns firsthand and I understand the pulse of this town because I am in the thick of it with them every single week.”
One of the major issues Finn said he wants to see addressed is the flooding, such as the floods caused by the recent storms and water main breaks this winter.
“It has devastated so many of our friends, neighbors, and loved ones,” said Finn. “We have seen the damage to homes and the toll it takes on our residents’ peace of mind and finances, especially following the storms we just faced last month. As a coastal community, we cannot afford to wait; we need to be proactive about our infrastructure and coastal resiliency to protect our people.”
Letterie said Finn will be officially sworn in prior to the March 24 council meeting.