Three-way selectmen battle town's only contested race

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February 4, 2010

Silberstein not running for schools

By Bethany Bray

Andover's town election will have just one contested race this spring, between three men vying for two seats on the Board of Selectmen. Chandler Road resident Larry Bruce, a frequent critic of town government, will challenge incumbent Selectmen Alex Vispoli and Jerry Stabile Jr.

"There seems to be a disconnect between our elected and paid officials and the taxpaying public. We're in a recession, and they can't seem to understand that. We can't afford it any more. They're still giving out raises, and we're lucky to keep our jobs," said Bruce, 51. "There's no doubt in my mind that these incumbents are the problem."

School Committee Chairwoman Debra Rahmin Silberstein declared she would not run for a third term this week, after pulling papers and gathering signatures last week. That leaves incumbent Dick Collins and attorney Paula Colby-Clements able to walk into the two available School Committee seats.

Silberstein said she took out papers in the closing days because no one else had done so at the time and she was receiving pressure from supporters to run. But she believes after two terms it is time for her to take a new role. She expects to focus on both educational and other issues such as economic growth, suggesting she might become involved in the Interstate 93 interchange plan that will bring a new ramp into the Ballardvale area of town.

"I'm passionate about education and about our community staying strong," said Silberstein. "I'm not not running again because I don't care. I care as much as I ever did."

Silberstein's 26-year-old daughter, Allyson, pulled papers mid-afternoon Feb. 2, but did not return them with the 50 required signatures by Tuesday's 5 p.m. deadline, said Town Clerk Randy Hanson.

Cyr Circle resident Mary Carbone also pulled papers to run for selectmen, but was not feeling well and unable to gather signatures over the weekend, she said. Carbone, a longtime resident, is a regular attendee at selectmen meetings and often takes the microphone at Town Meeting.

"At the last minute, I went to the town clerk's office (to pull papers) because I don't believe anyone should be walking into office like that (running unopposed)," said Carbone on Monday. "The bottom line is, I'm still there. I don't have to be there in an elected capacity."

Bruce, an engineer for Hewlett-Packard, has never held public office before. Years of increased taxes, fees and cuts to programs prompted him to run for selectman, he said.

The straw that broke the camel's back was the inattention by selectmen and the town manager to a Mass. Highway salt pile at Interstate 93 and Route 495 that leeched into nearby Fish Brook, he said.

"I brought it to the attention of selectmen and they ignored it. I have to wonder how many other issues they ignore," Bruce said.

Last spring, Colby-Clements, a professor at the Mass School of Law in Andover, ran for School Committee and came in fourth behind then-incumbent Art Barber, taking 11 percent of votes. Colby-Clements, 41, lives on Chestnut Street with her husband, Gregg and three children Jordan, 9; Emily, 7, and Jack, 4.

Colby-Clements said she felt compelled to help and join the School Committee this year, knowing that several large tasks loom, including the Bancroft Elementary School building project, union contract renegotiations and budget creation.

Dick Collins, a retired teacher and football and track coach at Andover High School, is seeking a fifth consecutive term on the School Committee. Collins lives on Lovejoy Road and will turn 79 in August.

Town election ballots will also have uncontested races for moderator, Andover Housing Authority and Greater Lawrence Technical High School Committee. Incumbents Sheila Doherty (moderator), Francis O'Connor (housing authority) and Marilyn Fitzgerald (GLTS Committee) are unopposed.

Town election is set for Tuesday, March 23. All precincts will vote at the Andover High School Field House, Shawsheen Road, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Neil Fater contributed to this article.

2010's only contested race

Three residents will run for two selectmen seats:

Alex Vispoli, 52, was elected in 2004 and is seeking a third term. He lives on Alison Way and works as sales director at a Waltham software company.

Jerry Stabile Jr., 50, a sales executive with a Newburyport information technology company, lives on Blueberry Hill Road. He was elected to the Board of Selectmen in 2006 and is seeking a second term.

Larry Bruce, 51, an engineer with Hewlett-Packard, lives on Chandler Road with wife Pamela; daughter Ally, 18, attends the University of Rhode Island. Bruce, a Worcester State College grad, has lived in Andover since 1989.