Swampscott school board members still unopposed

SWAMPSCOTT – In a town where politics take center stage much of the time, uncontested races in town elections are uncommon. But there has been a dearth of candidates in recent years especially for the School Committee.If additional candidates don’t pull papers for a seat on the School Committee between now and March 6, the deadline for the April 28 town election, every member of the School Committee will have been given a free pass for a seat on the board.School Committee Chairman David Whelan is stepping down at the end of his term and Kelly Cunningham and Jacqueline Kinney are the only candidates who have pulled nomination papers to run for a seat on the School Committee.If either candidate decides not to run and it’s an unopposed election, it would be the first time in recent history every member of the School Committee has garnered a seat by running unopposed.In 2008, incumbents Daniel Yaeger and Shelly Sackett did not run for re-election. Maureen Thomsen and Glenn Paster were the only candidates on the ballot for those two seats. It was much the same situation in 2007 when Paula Bonazzoli and Mary DeChillo decided not to run for re-election. Joe Crimmins and Neil Bernstein were shoe-ins for their seats due to a lack of other candidates.Whelan, who is finishing up his second term, ran in two contested elections and he said that’s the way it should be.”It’s a shame more people don’t get involved,” he said. “It’s unhealthy and certainly not something we should strive for. I don’t ever recall having a full board that was seated by running in uncontested races. It’s a sad moment.”Whelan admits serving on the School Committee is time consuming and can be frustrating at times, but he said he’s not sure why there has been a lack of candidates the last couple of years.”I wonder if people are frightened away by the economy and the funding issues we are dealing with right now,” he said. “I guess I don’t blame people for not wanting to be involved but I think people need to step up.”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.