Marblehead parks and rec candidate withdraws from race

MARBLEHEAD – In an unusual candidates? night moment a candidate withdrew from the six-person race in favor of his opponent Monday night – and the issue of solar and wind power arose in the race for the Municipal Light Commission.When the evening began, Recreation and Parks Commission incumbents Linda Rice Collins, Sam Ganglani, Charles “Chip” Osborne and Derek Norcross faced challenges from Warwick Terrace resident David Andrew Deutsch and Prospect Court resident Gerald “Jerry” Tucker, with five one-year seats available. Deutsch owns a graphic design firm and Tucker is associated with a global investment firm.When the candidates took their seats, with 10-year commission member Osborne absent due to “a last-minute situation,” Moderator Jeff Shribman recognized Deutsch out of order for a statement.Deutsch told the audience he took out papers for the fifth commission seat because there was a vacancy and he thought he could be of service, but when Tucker took out his papers for the fifth seat Deutsch said, “The right fifth person joined the race and I?m withdrawing.”Deutsch then took a seat in the audience. His withdrawal means the race will be uncontested, although his name will appear on the ballot.Shribman then read a statement from Osborne, who noted that the four incumbents seeking re-election have been working together on the commission for the past five years and are midway through a four-year strategic plan.All five remaining candidates support the use of artificial turf on a town field to extend field use during the year, but said private donations would be needed to fund it.Field scheduling was the one issue where the candidates had to admit some problems.Nearly a month ago the Lynch-Van Otterloo YMCA tee-ball program, a batting practice program, was unable to schedule a town field, prompting a meeting with the commissioners.Tucker, who attended that meeting, called the subject “touchy” and noted that “The YMCA wasn?t denied. The field wasn?t available.”Norcross said the commission decided two years ago that “We could run a tee-ball program as good as theirs or better, but there was a lack of communication on (the Y?s) side and that prevented a smooth transition.”Collins, who helped create a comprehensive field scheduling program, pointed out that all town programs have the chance to seek field use and the schedule fills up fairly quickly.Municipal Light Commission challenger John Arata, an environmental lawyer who heads an alternative energy firm, is seeking the single available commission seat held by 15-year member and retired engineer Charles O. Phillips.Both candidates foresaw some potential problems for Marblehead if the Salem Power Plant closes.Phillips noted that the contract of General Manager Robert Jolly expires in two years and his departure “would be of the same magnitude as the town administrator.”Arata said Marblehead should begin to plan its use of alternative energy now, “to do it by design, not default.”