Mayoral candidates unveiled

Tufts Library candidates night first of campaign

By JACK ENCARNACAO
The Patriot Ledger

WEYMOUTH - The six candidates vying to become Weymouth’s second mayor were unveiled to the public as a group for the first time Thursday night at the town’s main library.

About 50 residents attended the candidates night, a turnout that heartened those running and some in attendance.

“I was surprised by the turnout. Usually you don’t get so many people,” said East Weymouth resident John McGrath, a self-described “political junkie” who stayed for the entire hour-and-a-half event.

The candidates, who will face off in a Sept. 18 primary to narrow the field to two, touted everything from experience in financial and municipal matters to their outsider status to their ability to add humor and charm to the race.

All had a chance to fine-tune their messages in anticipation of the first debate of the campaign, scheduled for Monday night at town hall.

The evening was organized by the Homestead Landing Civic Association.

Voters said they came to get an idea of what the candidates were all about. Ambrose Barrett said he came away feeling like all were honest.

“They all seem to be very nice people,” he said.

Resident Lynn Himerlrick said she was moved to further support a candidate who “presented a well-rounded view and has experience.” Weymouth Landing voter Tom Joyce said he wanted to “basically verify my position” on his choice between two candidates he considers front runners.

Candidate Colin McPherson took questions from the audience first because he had, prior to being invited to the candidates night, scheduled a fundraiser the same evening.

But he couldn’t get out the door before being grilled on issues related to the South Weymouth Naval Air Station. McPherson serves on the board of South Shore Tri-Town Development Corp., the public agency overseeing the redevelopment of the base.

“To be honest, the time for debate is over,” McPherson said in response to a question about wind turbines.

Supporters of McPherson and Sue Kay stood outside Tufts Library holding campaign signs as voters entered the building.

Robert Montgomery Thomas touted that he wasn’t putting up any signs for the campaign but rather was going door-to-door seeking support, while candidate Michael Acciola had his daughter pass out yellow fliers to the audience about his campaign. Declared Acciola: “I’m not a politician.”

Candidate Will Candler, a gregarious 23-year-old Weymouth High School graduate who wore a campaign button bearing the slogan “Where There’s a Will, There’s a Wey,” drew chuckles from the audience.

“I’m the 23-year-old running,” Candler told the crowd. “I have energy, I have potential and I don’t have any wife and kids I have to take care of.”

Candler promised to focus on “what makes Weymouth awesome.” Voter Bob Miller liked what he saw.

“I was impressed to see someone that was younger,” he said. “Experience doesn’t always mean wisdom, it doesn’t mean you have all the answers.”

McPherson, Kay and James Cunningham talked mostly about their experience working with municipal finances.

McPherson, an accountant, said the most important issue the new mayor will face immediately is a budget deficit tied to new contract negotiations with town employees. He called himself “knowledgeable, thoughtful and prudent on budgetary matters.”

Kay, the current executive secretary in Braintree, called herself “the CEO of a neighboring town.”

“We can’t be trained at this point in time,” Kay said of candidates with no political experience.

Cunningham, who was on the appropriations committee in Weymouth, was level-headed about finances.

“We always have a budget problem,” he said. “That’s part of the process. We have contracts come up periodically and they get settled.”

Thomas spent much of his time discussing his plan for Legion Field and directing residents to his campaign Web site, of which he brought printouts.

“The mayor does not micro-manage the town,” Thomas said. “It seems as though the people have been shut out of the process.”

The very venue was a source of questions. East Weymouth resident Ron Fama asked McPherson to assure residents Tufts will not be closed or sold so a new central library can be built at Libby Field, which current Mayor David Madden has proposed.

“This parcel will not be sold under my administration,” McPherson said.

Jack Encarnacao may be reached at jencarnacao@ledger.com.