It’s time to leave, school board chairman says

Three more residents declare interest in a seat on Braintree’s first town council, while another longtime school committee member has said she’s done

By RICK COLLINS
The Patriot Ledger

BRAINTREE - Three more people have declared their interest in a seat on Braintree’s first town council, while the chairwoman of the school committee, Karen Whitney, says she won’t run for a spot on the new committee.

A school committee member since 1991, Whitney said her youngest child graduated last June, and it is time for her to move on. She said she’s pleased that the board will receive an injection of new blood this fall.

“I was so excited when I read that we have four new candidates,” she said. “They all have young children so they’re going to grow with the system like I did.”

Former Chairwomen Maureen Clark and Margaret Dunlea-O’Reilly have also announced that they will not seek re-election.

Incumbent Kathleen M. Maguire of Hobart Avenue took out nomination papers this past week, joining board members David Cunningham of Brewster Avenue and Sean E. Powers of Pond Street in the race.

Under the town’s new charter, the school committee will be reduced from seven members to six, with the mayor holding a seventh seat. All seats will be up for election on Nov. 6.

Newcomers Shannon L. Hume of Beech Street, David M. Ringius Jr. of Wyman Road, Anthony Jay Holmes of Arnold Street and Melissa Ann Berman of Shepard Road have also taken out papers for school committee.

In town council races, David J. Cushing of Fallon Circle, Linda Cusick-Woodman of Mt. Vernon Avenue and William P. Sweeney II of Alida Road have declared their candidacy.

Cushing, a member of the building code appeals board, is running in District 1 against Selectman Charles C. Kokoros of Solar Avenue.

Cusick-Woodman, a member of the zoning board, is running in District 2 against John C. Mullaney of Herbert Road and David M. Shaw of Monatiquot Avenue.

And in District 5, Sweeney, the town’s former executive secretary, is running against J. Matthew Wood of Robinson Avenue and Ronald E. DeNapoli of Kimball Road.

John M. Kerrigan of Academy Street will run for housing authority, and Janice M. Weitbrecht of Sterling Street seeks to become a library trustee.

Residents have until Sept. 14 to take out nomination papers, and until Sept. 18 to return them.

Rick Collins may be reached at rcollins@ledger.com.