Controversial candidate out of Nahant race

NAHANT – A political newcomer who hoped to unseat a 30-year veteran selectman in April has withdrawn from the race.Robert Scanlon said he was attending Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas when he realized he could not run for selectman.”I looked around at my friends, neighbors and families,” he said. “People who were counting on me for 100 percent dedication to being a selectman. I can’t dedicate myself 100 percent.”Scanlon said he loves Nahant, but his brief foray into the political arena made him realize he wants no part of local politics.”I want nothing to do with running for selectman,” he said. “I realize people in town are afraid of the bullies at Town Hall and I also realized what a disgrace this police department is. I don’t care about politics and I don’t care about the school system.”Selectman Richard Lombard said he doesn’t have a problem with anyone running against him for selectman and he would welcome the competition, which he said would make for a spirited campaign.”I would welcome competition from anyone who wants to run on the issues,” he said. “But I do have a problem with the way he (Scanlon) insulted town employees during his brief campaign. He owes the town clerk, Town Hall employees, police, fire and Department of Public Works an apology. He made grossly unfair comments about these employees during his campaign. It was an absolute disgrace.”Scanlon defended the comments he made during the campaign about requiring random drug testing for all police officers and reducing the number of police officers in town.”I told the truth,” he said. “I’m not surprised some people don’t like it.”Scanlon said he would have liked to eliminate some jobs in Town Hall and the School Department as well.Scanlon came under fire from town officials for his use of the town seal on his campaign Web site, www.townofnahant.com. Scanlon denied any wrongdoing in connection with using the town seal and the domain name. Even though he is dropping out of the race, Scanlon said he would be leaving the www.townofnahant.com up as a forum where residents could post their concerns.”I bought that domain name in 1995,” he said. “The town had the opportunity to buy it and didn’t. I’m not taking it down.”The town election is scheduled on Saturday, April 26 and any candidate interested in running for office can pick up nomination papers at Town Hall.