By Scott MacKeen
Staff Writer
4/23/09
On Tuesday, voters across town will cast their ballots to elect a new treasurer and parks commissioner, among others.
The town clerk’s office is predicting an average turnout at the polls this year, around 35 percent, according to Town Clerk James Mullen Jr., who said the treasurer’s race is drawing the most interest amongst potential voters.
“You have five races this year. The big one is the treasurer’s race. “ he said. After Tuesday’s election, the town will have its first new treasurer in nearly three decades.
Kevin Sorgi, who has held the post for 28 years, announced several months ago he would not seek re-election.
Here is a look at this year’s action at the polls:
Town Treasurer
Voters will have to decide between three candidates to replace Sorgi.
Janet Lorden, of Brush Hill Road, James McAuliffe, of Wood Street, and Charles McCarthy, of Landon Road, are all vying for the open seat.
Lorden is co-treasurer of the Tucker School PTO and a member of the Milton Junior Woman’s Club. She has 20 years of financial experience at Fidelity Investments and Eaton Vance Management.
McAuliffe coaches Little League and Town Basketball and is a former Town Meeting member. He cites his work as a Realtor and property manager for Duhallow Real Estate, as well as credit coordinator for the Boston Globe, as reasons for voters to elect him.
McCarthy is a former Selectman and Warrant Committee member. He cites his work as owner and president of Northeast Equipment Sales Co. as why voters should choose him.
Parks Commissioner
For an open spot as parks commissioner, voters will have a pool of just two candidates to choose from.
Stephen Affanato, of Governors Road, and Thomas McCarthy, of Fairfax Road, have filed to replace incumbent Terry Driscoll who, like Sorgi, will not seek re-election.
Affanato is a Town Meeting member and served on the Town Administrator Search Committee in 2006. He cites experience at the Building Trades Employers Association and North/East Roofing Contractors Association as why voters should elect him.
McCarthy coaches Little League baseball and basketball. He has served as superintendent of North Attleborough’s Highway and Forestry Department and superintendent of the Norwood Parks Department.
Library Trustees
It is also guaranteed there will be some new faces on the Board of Library Trustees. Voters will have the choice of five new candidates and one incumbent for three elected seats on the board.
Raymond Czwakiel, of School Street, Barbara Mason, of Quarry Lane, Brendan McLaughlin, of Herrick Drive, Ingrid Shaffer, of Standish Road, and Tammy Vyas, of Lyman Road, have all filed to run. The incumbent is Andrea Gordon. Incumbents Marjorie Jeffries and Jennifer White have decided not to seek re-election.
Other Races
Todd Greenwood, of Granite Place, will challenge incumbent Thomas Gunning for his town assessor post.
Greenwood is an assistant Scoutmaster at St. Agatha and has been a Town Meeting member for six years. He cites experience in finance, real estate and information management at Bank of America and Harvard Business School as reasons why voters should elect him.
Gunning is the current chairman of the Board of Assessors and a former Town Meeting member. In addition to town assessments, his résumé includes work at Mount Washington Bank and the Building Trades Employers Association.
Richard “Ben” Casey, of Thacher Street, will challenge incumbent Lee Cary for her seat on the Housing Authority.
Anthony Sammarco, of Canton Avenue, will run for an open seat as cemetery trustee, to replace J. Joseph Donovan, who died while still serving.
Polling Locations
Polls across town will be open from 7 a.m. and to 8 p.m. The polling locations are as follows: for Precincts 1 and 11, Tucker School, 187 Blue Hills Parkway; Precinct 2, St. Mary of the Hills School, 250 Brook Road; Precinct 3, Glover School, 255 Canton Ave.; Precinct 4, Senior Center, 10 Walnut St.; Precincts 5 and 9, Copeland Field House at Milton High, 25 Gile Road; Precincts 6 and 8, Cunningham School gym, 44 Edge Hill Road; and Precincts 7 and 10, Cunningham Hall, 75 Edge Hill Road.
Absentee Balloting
Voters may vote by absentee ballot only if they are unable to be in town when polls are open, or because of physical disability or religious beliefs.
Applications for an absentee ballot must be submitted to the town clerk’s office before noon on April 27. Included on the application must be a name and address where the ballot can be sent, and a signature.
Contact the town clerk’s office at (617) 898-4859 or stop by the office at 525 Canton Ave.
(Information in this report was submitted by the candidates in last week’s Candidates Guide.)