🔨 Signatures are in. Who is on the ballot?
What’s New to the ‘ham | Let’s Become a Purple Heart Community | The Civic Week Ahead
Happy mid-July, Framingham. The lull of the middle of summer is in full swing around Framingham. In between the mugginess, the humidity and the seemingly constant rain, everything seems to be…slow.
But what isn’t slow is the new Ham’er Podcast! Episode 3 drops this Thursday with Sheryl Goldstein and Meghan Todd of the Disability Commission, ahead of the Disability Flag Raising ceremony next week. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify (or other apps of your choice). You don’t want to miss this conversation.
Have a comment or question? I’d love to hear from you. Email me at mkfeeney@gmail.com
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Signatures are in. Who is on the November ballot?
Why, yes, my friends, 2023 is an election year in Framingham. It is the midterm election, just like they have in D.C. But unlike the chaos of national politics, Framingham’s November Election is a little bit sleepy, and a little bit competitive.
Here is the run down:
Council: All of the Councilors are up for re-election. District seats are for two years, while at large seats are for four years.
District 1: Christine Long is unopposed in her run for a third term.
District 2: Councilor Cesar Stewart-Morales announced he is not running for re-election a few weeks ago. Leaving D2 with a competitive race between Brandon Ward, President of Friends of Saxonville and current member of the Keefe Tech Board, and Sean Silk, a Delmar Avenue resident. Ward had previously applied to be District 2 School Committee after the passing of Karen Foran Dempsey and then after the resignation of Ricky Finlay. Silk has never sought office.
District 3: Adam Steiner is unopposed in his run for a fourth term.
District 4: Michael Cannon is unopposed in his run for a fourth term.
District 5: Noval Alexander is unopposed in his run for a second term.
District 6: Phil Ottaviani is unopposed in his run for a third term.
District 7: Leora Mallach is unopposed in her run for a second term.
District 8: Two-time Councilor John Stefanini faces Leslie White Harvey, current Library Trustee. White Harvey ran for School Committee twice before, losing each time. She was elected to the Library Trustees in 2021.
District 9: Two-time Councilor Tracey Bryant finds herself in a preliminary election against Parks & Recreation Commissioner Jose Ferreira and Albert Chimeno of South Street. The preliminary election is set for Tuesday. September 19.
At Large: Janet Leombruno runs for her second term, while George P. King, Jr., runs for his third term. Both are unopposed.
School Committee: Like the Council, District seats are for two years. There are no at large members.
Unopposed: David Gordon of District 2, Jennifer Moshe of District 3, Adam Freudberg of District 4, Valerie Ottaviani of District 6, Tiffanie Maskell of District 7, Jessica Barnhill of District 8 and William La Barge of District 9.
District 1: With Beverly Hugo’s resignation a few weeks ago, this seat is open. For the November election, Ricardo Robles pulled papers the day before the deadline, and submitted the next morning. The School Committee is also looking for an individual to fill the remainder of the term.
District 5: Due to redistricting and election as State Representative, Priscila Sousa is not running for a third term. The only competitive School Committee race is a showdown between Cheryl Gordon and Judith Styer. Gordon was elected to School Committee in spring 2017, as the last set of at large members before the Charter went into effect. Upon winning her School Committee seat, she announced she would run for Council that fall. She ran twice for Council, losing last time to Noval Alexander in 2021. Styer retired after 22 years working for the FPS, the last 15 as the Director of Health and Wellness.
Withdrawals: Jordan Bonner of District 1, Jamaris Godino of District 3 and Ernest Moreau of District 5 all pulled papers, but then eventually withdrew.
Also on the ballot… a competitive race…for Board of Library Trustees. The Trustees serve for 4 years. Eight individuals vie for six seats.
Running for re-election: Robert Dodd, Annabel Z. Dodd and Janet L. Harrington
Heather Klish was on the Board, but lost in 2021.
Newcomers: Moluna Cynthia Blanc Preiss Maclean, Julie Wolf, Andrew Machkasov, Mark J. Dugan
But wait, there is more! We also elect Cemetery Trustees. John Feeney and Susan Silva are running for re-election unopposed for a four year seat. (Full disclosure, John Feeney is my Dad. He is swell. And loves Edgell Grove.)
My take: In most districts, the most competitive race you’ll see on your ballot is for Library Trustee, which in more recent history more and more are running for a seat on that board.
What does this mean? For all of the commentary on social media, I am not seeing words equal to throwing hats in the ring. While events appear to be more calm under the Sisitsky Administration than the Spicer Administration, could it be that the online noise doesn’t represent the attitude of everyday voters? With the world still re-adjusting from the last several chaotic years of the pandemic, voters appear to be happy with the direction Framingham is headed.
However, I do not believe that everything is all sunshine and roses. There is still plenty that needs to be done in our city, and I never insist we should all rest on our laurels. Incumbents sliding into re-election shouldn’t take it as a sign to keep with the status quo. Instead, use it to continue to build community, think outside the box, have hard conversations and make those decisions. Do not waste the opportunity of another term.
I am always concerned by lackluster civic engagement in Framingham. It is one of the reasons why I started The Ham’er, to talk about what is going on, where we are headed and get people more involved. School Committees are incredibly important, and the fact it was a struggle in District 1 to find someone to run gives me pause.
As a country we are distracted by the show in Washington, D.C. Truth is what happens in our own cities and towns have a far greater immediate impact than the drama in DC. We love to get distracted by drama, but the issues pressing in our backyards cannot be ignored.
What are your thoughts? I’d love to hear it and talk about how we can encourage more to run for local office and have competitive races. All you have to do is reply to this email.
What’s New to the ‘ham
As I write every 6 months or so, here is the latest of comings and goings in the local business scene:
Hello
Rasoi Indian Restaurant - Original owners are back at Trolley Square.
Yum Yum Bubble Tea - 5 Edgell Road
New Nail Spa (yes, that is the name) - Opening next month at 50 Worcester Road where Chocolate Therapy once occupied
Kura Revolving Sushi Bar - Shopper’s World
CAVA - Mediterranean cuisine in Shopper’s World
Faros Restaurant - Caribbean food on Second Street
Goodbye
Uncle Cheung’s Restaurant (U Dumpling House coming soon)
China Gourmet (Brazilian steakhouse to take over the space)
Let’s Become a Purple Heart Community
Framingham is on its way to becoming a Purple Heart Community.
What is a Purple Heart Community? A Purple Heart Community is designated by Military Order of the Purple Heart, a Congressionally chartered Veterans organization, to honor and remember military personnel wounded or killed in combat.
Seeking Purple Heart recipients and family members: The Veterans Services Office is looking for recipients or family members of deceased recipients. A community breakfast and ceremony will be held in their honor on National Purple Heart Day on Monday, August 7.
Please contact Kathleen Lang veterans@framinghamma.gov or call 508-532-5515 by July 25.
What is the Purple Heart? The Purple Heart is the oldest American military decoration and was created as The Badge of Military Merit, made of purple cloth in the shape of a heart with the word “Merit” sewn upon it, on August 7, 1782 in Newburgh, New York by General George Washington, then reestablished as the Purple Heart on February 22nd, 1932 by General Douglas MacArthur.
The Civic Week Ahead
Monday, July 17
7:00 PM: Keefe Technical High School Committee Agenda
Tuesday, July 18
Wednesday, July 19
Thursday, July 20
And that is a wrap! Please keep your emails and comments coming. I love the community we’re building here, so please share The Ham’er with anyone you think would be interested in the goings on in Framingham.
Have a great week,
Mary Kate
To be fair to district 1, I think it was a surprise to most that Beverly had to step down from school committee and that there would be an open seat this election period.
I really wanted to keep my hat in the ring, but ultimately decided the timing was not right for me.