Fired Swampscott police officer looks to fulfill lifelong interest

SWAMPSCOTT – A former police officer who was terminated by the town in 2006 is running for selectmen.Peter J. Cassidy II has pulled nomination papers to run for the seat being vacated by Adam Forman. Matthew Strauss is the only other candidate for the seat.”I have lived in town all my life and have a love for this town,” Cassidy said. “I have given everything I could possibly give to the town and the town has given me a tremendous amount. I have turned my life around and want to continue giving back to the town.”Cassidy, who has served as Town Meeting member for 10 years, said he has been interested in politics since his childhood.”This has been in my blood all my life,” he said. “I remember as a young child going around with my (late) uncle Francis Cassidy when he ran for sheriff. I put stickers on cars, marched in parades with him and went to functions for John F. Kennedy and Ted Kennedy with him.”Cassidy said if elected he would like selectmen to be more involved in the decision-making process.”I want the selectmen to be involved,” he said. “We need selectmen who are not afraid to ask questions of (Town Administrator Andrew) Maylor and selectmen who are not going to rubber stamp everything,”Cassidy also said if elected he would like to re-implement residency requirements in town.”It makes it more of a community if town employees live in town,” he said. “It makes the town more of a community, not just a place of business.”Cassidy served with the department for 29 years and received numerous commendations during his tenure. He was terminated on April 6, 2006 for conduct unbecoming and criminal. One of the incidents mentioned at the time of his termination was an off-duty drunken driving arrest in Vermont Jan. 13, 2006. Cassidy, who pleaded guilty to those charges, said after his gastric bypass surgery he replaced his compulsive eating with alcohol but his metabolism had changed, which resulted in alcohol addiction. He readily admits he made a mistake and said the arrest served as a wake-up call. Cassidy said he has been clean and sober since that time.Strauss, who has worked in the hospitality industry for more than 30 years, ran for a selectman seat last year, but lost to Jill Sullivan and Robert Mazow. Strauss has been a Town Meeting member for eight years.When Strauss was a candidate last year, numerous residents expressed concern regarding conflict of interest because his wife Danielle Strauss is the recreation director in town.Strauss pointed out the recreation director salary is not included in the town budget and the salary is paid for by fees generated by recreational programs. He added if he is elected he would not be the first selectman to have a spouse or family member employed by the town.Strauss said he believes he would be effective as a selectman and he would be able to work effectively with the other members.”I think I can bring the people’s perspective to the Board of Selectmen,” he said. “I am a qualified candidate and I know I can do the job. I came so close last year that I thought I had to give it another shot.”Strauss said if elected he is committed to finding solutions and coming up with revenue generating ideas.”Public safety and education are the backbone of community,” he said. “We need to make sure our police and fire departments are strong. I have lived in other communities where I saw the quality of life deteriorate after funding for public safety was cut.”The last day to take out nomination papers for the April 28 town election is March 6 and all nomination papers must be returned to the town clerk by March 10.Incumbent Town Meeting members must notify the town clerk in writing of their intention to run for re-election no later than March 10.The last day for candidates to withdraw their names from the ballot is March 26.Residents have until 8 p.m. April 8 to register to vote in the upcoming town election.