Boston – The Boston Retirement Board held a special election to replace Firefighter Michael O’Reilly who had resigned as one of the Board’s two elected members. To fill the open seat, members of the system elected District Fire Chief Sean Kelly who received a strong endorsement from Mass Retirees in his bid.
Sean won the hotly contested election race by an overwhelming margin over the nine other candidates in the field. With 2,839 votes, he more than doubled the votes of the second place finisher, Elissa Cadillic, a Boston Library employee who received 1,264 votes. According to the final tally, Cadillic was followed by retired Police Officer Stephen Green with 877 votes, Police Officer Mary Ryan with 363 votes and Code Enforcement employee Christopher Stockbridge receiving 328 votes. Each of the remaining five candidates received less than 300 votes.
Sean Kelly had served as an elected member to the Board beginning in 2008 and Chairman to the Board from 2010-2014, before eventually deciding not run again for reelection. He is credited with helping the Boston Retirement System to recover from the recession at that time and helped lead the way for a $2,000 increase in the COLA base. During this time, he worked with former Mayors Menino and Walsh to ensure that Boston’s requirement to fully fund the retirement system remained on track. His efforts have played a significant role in Boston now being amongst the best funded cities in the country.
“We congratulate Sean for his hard fought victory,” remarks President Frank Valeri. “And, we look forward to working with him once again.”
Easthampton – Easthampton Retirement Board members voted to appoint former Easthampton town official, Phillip Campbell, as their fifth member replacing retired Springfield Fire Lieutenant Connie Sullivan who chose not to be considered for reappointment. The other Board members making the appointment were Hetal Patel, Emily Russo, retired Fire Chief David Mottor and retired Police Captain Donald Emerson.* Kymme Wood is the Board’s administrator.
Fairhaven – Timothy Cox, Town of Fairhaven harbormaster/shellfish warden, was elected to the Fairhaven Retirement Board. He ran unopposed and declared elected to his second term on the Board. He will join with the other Board members, Anne Carreiro*, Mark Rees, retired Firefighter Wally Therrien, and retired Acushnet Firefighter Alfred Robichaud. Fairhaven’s Retirement Board administrator is LeeAnn Torres.
Holyoke – Jack “Duke” McCarthy, retired firefighter, passed away last fall while serving his seventh term on the Holyoke Retirement Board. He was replaced by retired Firefighter Joe O’Connor. In addition, retired Board Executive Director Cheryl Dugre* was reelected to her second term and appointed Chair, replacing McCarthy. The other members of the Holyoke Board are Todd McGee Esq., Tanya Wdowiak and Michele Aubrey, CPA. Anthony Dulude now serves as the executive director for the Board.
Lawrence – The Lawrence Retirement Board held a concurrent election with only two nominees, Firefighter Robert Wilson and retired Board Administrator Diane Cockroft, who were declared reelected to their second term by the other Board members. The other three members making the election declaration Pascual Ruiz, Ramona Ceballos* and Sheryl Wright. Gina Rizzo is the Retirement Board’s executive director.
Leominster – Firefighter Jonathan Campagnau was reelected, without opposition to his third term on the Leominster Retirement Board. The other members of the Leominster Retirement Board are, Firefighter Shayne Newton, Ex-Officio Member Jennifer Reddington, retired City Treasurer/ Comptroller David Laplante*and Douglas Farwell. The administrator for the Retirement Board is Erin Kelley.
Maynard – Michael Pasternak has been appointed the Maynard Retirement Board’s fifth member. Michael also serves as the executive director of the Fall River Retirement System. He will be replacing longtime Maynard Board member Christopher Connolly, Esq. who is also the retired Chief Administrative Magistrate of DALA. The other Board members making the appointment were James Alexander, Kevin Petersen, Patrick Hakey* and Sandra Baltazar. The Maynard Board’s executive director is Kenneth DeMars.
Montague – Retired Firefighter David Dion was declared reelected to his 14th term by the other Montague Retirement Board members, as he was the only candidate nominated. The other Board members declaring the election were Carolyn Olsen*, Steven Ellis, Cheryl Clark and retired Greenfield Retirement Board Administrator Marianne Fiske. The Retirement Board administrator is Debra Underhill.
New Bedford – Retired Police Officer Lenny Baillargeon* was reelected to his fourth term and William Cabral replaced retired Firefighter James Kummer who chose not to run for reelection. The concurrent election was declared by Board members as both candidates were unopposed. The other members declaring the election were, Quillan Lowney, Angela Natho and Christopher Saunders, Esq., who is also the Bristol County treasurer. The Board’s executive director is Eric Cohen.
North Adams – The North Adams Retirement Board has declared Firefighter Matthew LaBonte as the elected first member to the Board as he was the only candidate nominated. This will be his fifth term as an elected trustee. The other Board members include, Kathleen Wall, Beverly Cooper, retired Fire Lieutenant Lawrence O’Brien* and Fred Thompson, Esq. The North Adams Retirement Board administrator is Shawn Flynn.
Plymouth – The declared Thomas Kelley* and Dale Webber were reelected to the Board, as they were the only two candidates nominated for the Board’s elected positions. Mr. Kelley will be entering his 11th term and Mr. Webber begins his 4th term. The other members serving on the Board are retired Librarian Sharon LaRosa, fifth member Robert Ness and Ex-Officio Lynne Barrett. The Board’s executive director is Wendy Cherry.
Reading – Retired Firefighter Robert Beck chose not to run for reelection and will be replaced by City Clerk Laura Gemme. She received 166 votes to defeat Light Department employee Kenneth Finne who received 148 votes. The other Reading Retirement Board members are Sharon Angstrom, Police Officer Richard Abate, Firefighter David Gentile* and retired Woburn Firefighter William Sweeney. The Retirement Board administrator is Elaine Kelly, who replaced Colleen Loughlin.
*denotes chair