Biz owner plans run for Marblehead selectmen seat

MARBLEHEAD – The man who led renovation projects at two local schools – chairing the $45 million “gut renovation” of the Marblehead Veterans Middle School and the ongoing $11 million Marblehead Village School boiler fix and rehab – will be a candidate for selectman this spring.Michael “Mike” Rockett, owner of Rockett Management & Realty and Village Construction Co. Inc. and co-owner of the Salem Waterfront Hotel, has taken out papers for the seat that 10-year Selectman Harry Christensen intends to leave vacant in May due to family and work needs.Christensen said a week ago that he plans to leave office this spring and had convinced someone to run for his seat.”Harry and I had a conversation (about me running),” Rockett said Wednesday.”I’ve been thinking about running a long time.”In fact Rockett said he also discussed a run for selectman with his father, former Selectman and Republican State Rep. Hilary Rockett, before the elder Rockett died in November and his father joked about being his campaign manager.”I vote Democratic as often as I vote Republican,” he added. “Parties are not as important as they were.””I live in town, hopefully I’ve done a good job for the town, I enjoy politics and I’m taking the next step,” he said.While mentioning his chairmanship of two school building committees “and helping a little at the end of the high school construction,” Rockett was careful to share credit. “(Former School Committee Chairman) Rob Dana has put more time in than any of us,” he said.There may be some regrets that Rockett won’t be able to chair the Glover-Eveleth Building Committee if voters approve a debt exclusion override for that project this year.”It’s time for some new blood,” he said.