Editor’s Note: Below are statements from five Rochester School Committee candidates, who are running in two distinct races. The first is a three-year term for the seat presently occupied by Sharon Hartley, who is being challenged by Melissa Goneau. The second is a three-candidate race to serve a two-year term to fill the seat vacated in 2021 by Tina Rood. A tie in 2021 write-in votes resulted in a “failure to elect,” and per protocol the Select Board appointed Jason Chisholm to a one-year term. Chisholm is being challenged for the remaining two-year term by Gregory Hardy and James O’Brien. The Town of Rochester will hold its Election on Wednesday, May 25, at the Senior Center on Dexter Lane.

Jason S. Chisholm – Rochester School Committee

            Rochester Friends & Neighbors, I am currently serving as a member of Rochester Memorial and Old Rochester Regional Joint School Committees for the 2022 school year. A vacant seat was available on the 2021-2022 RMS School Committee as no other candidates came forward for the prior election period; after learning about the opening and submitting a letter of intent to join the Committee, I was granted an appointment by the existing RMS School Committee and Select Board of Rochester. As an appointee, I am to stay in role for the first year, after which I must then be elected by the community of Rochester for the remainder of what would be a three-year term. As your incumbent, I will continue to show up with a levelheaded, common-sense, open-minded approach to the work at hand. We have a tremendous Central Office team led by Superintendent Mike Nelson and are blessed to have a team of hard working and well-intended teachers and support staff. My colleagues on the School Committee are equally as motivated and committed to the mission of our children, educators, and parents/guardians. My background as a business leader, parent, youth coach, board member and Executive Director of a local nonprofit organization make me uniquely qualified to support the discussion, and decisions that must be made on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis. I’m well educated, having graduated from Bedford High School in 1992 and then Boston University in 1997, where I was a varsity athlete. Additionally, my background and upbringing in a military family (father and mother were both career Air Force) has given me the opportunity to travel the world, live abroad and experience many different cultures and communities. My love and appreciation for small town America is balanced by my love for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity for all people regardless of political leanings or economic status. It’s this open mindedness and ability to think both critically and independently that allows me to collaborate with all members of the School Committee as we work to support the Administration, Support Staff, Teachers, Students, Parents and Each other.

Melissa Goneau – Rochester School Committee

            My interest as a candidate for the RMS School Committee relates to what Faith and service means to me and what it calls for at this moment in time, righting the wrongs. I was once taught that America is the greatest nation on Earth; if this holds truth then I believe the World is counting on all of us for a better tomorrow. My name is Melissa Goneau, I grew up in E. Freetown Massachusetts and have lived in Rochester for nearly 8 years. As a grandmother of four, I believe they, like all children, deserve nothing less than respect, to feel safe, seen, heard, and supported while being accepted, most importantly loved. I spent time observing in my children’s classrooms, attending meetings, asking questions, and researching. I began to realize NCLB had nothing to do with the educational needs of Our Children but everything to do with financial gains and control. In 2009 RtTT came along baiting states with funds in exchange for the adoption of new standards and curriculum known as Common Core. This was never about educating our children. It was, and continues to be, about complete control over curriculum, data collection, resources, teacher training and other assessment tools. Our future is shaped around our environment, and the education we receive. If Public Education continues to be overlooked, unquestioned and left unchallenged there will be great irreversible lasting consequences on Our Schools, Our Children and Our future. Back in 2015 concerns were brought to the School Committee regarding Data collection, while it was acknowledged that data collection was a concern for “many districts” it was not a concern for ours. Today we use Google Classroom which is attached to an IP address and a Gmail account. We also outsource surveys, not only is our data jeopardized, but it’s also not anonymous. I would like to look into current curriculum, bring transparency, allowing Parents to decide to opt into any controversial topics. If elected, I promise to do this job diligently as I believe “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Greg Hardy – Rochester School Committee

            I’ve been living in Rochester for nearly the last five years and have two wonderful children who attend RMS. I was born and raised in Acushnet, attended St. Francis School and then New Bedford High. I served four years in the Army National Guard and while working full time in construction. With extended family in town for over 30 years, we have a vested interest in Rochester. My kids are active in sports and I’ve always coached in Rochester, Acushnet and New Bedford. As a school committee member, my top priority would be to ensure safety and the well-being of ALL students and make sure that all kids have a fair shot. I would be a strong voice for the parents and listen to their concerns because I would be working for them. Overall, RMS is a great school, but I disagreed with how children were treated during Covid and the policies put in place. Covid had its challenges, but the least vulnerable age group was put through some harmful restrictions for far too long. Remote learning was tough for everybody and really made life stressful for families. I think the ones that really suffered the most were the kids, and I don’t think enough effort went into both sides of the mask debate or the social and emotional effects they caused. It was only a one size fits all, unlike the optional mask policy in place now. This was one of the biggest issues that made me decide to run for school committee. I’m part of a large group of community members who feel like we’re not being represented by the long term, experienced, committee members. So just as a regular concerned parent, I promise to be a strong voice for the parents, be a strong voice for medical freedom, advocate for curriculum transparency, listen to both sides of the issues, help ensure that our children have a safe and secure school, support the teachers, treat everybody equally and be a new, fresh voice. Thank you and I would really appreciate your vote on May 25^th.

Sharon Hartley – Rochester School Committee

            On May 25^th, Rochester citizens will decide who serves on the RMS School Committee and what direction we will take. I urge you to compare the candidates running for school committee. Why are they running and what experience do they have? Have they attended a town meeting or a school committee meeting? Have they served on a town board or volunteered in town? Have they worked with others to make essential and difficult decisions? Do they have any experience as an educational leader? I am an experienced and knowledgeable school leader. I have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education and a Masters Degree in Educational Administration. I’ve served as an elementary school teacher, an elementary school principal, the Associate Director of a Teacher Center providing support for teachers and school leaders and as a school improvement consultant traveling across the United States assisting and guiding schools toward educational improvement. Most importantly, I care about all our students, our school and our town. I am proud to have represented our School Committee in many roles throughout the years. Perhaps the most significant was serving as the School Committee’s representative on Rochester’s School Building Renovation and Expansion Project that resulted in the most recent addition to RMS. For this effort, I was honored as Rochester Woman of the Year in 2009 by the New Bedford Standard-Times. Now, more than ever, elected officials need to aspire to higher standards and be able listen to others, and work together to find solutions to important issues that affect our schools. I am running to ensure that education in Rochester continues to be characterized by excellence, by caring classrooms, by dedicated teachers and staff. I’m running because I believe in service and I believe that I have a responsibility to give back to our town and our citizens. I have a proven record of service and leadership. I have the experience, integrity and compassion to make a difference. Help me keep our school moving forward. Re-elect me to serve on the Rochester School Committee!

James O’Brien – Rochester School Committee

            My name is James O’Brien and I am running for Rochester Memorial School Committee. Education has been the center of my life. Starting as a student and then transitioning into the role of teacher, coach, school administrator, and former Chairman of the Regional School Committee for ORR. In each of those positions, I made it my priority to focus on the whole student – academically, socially and emotionally. In addition, I raised two beautiful daughters who benefited from the Old Rochester School District. The current state of education is in disarray after the last two years of COVID. To get our students back on track, we need to come together as a team. I have a track record of being able to help do just that. When I began as Superintendent at Greater New Bedford Vocational-Technical High School, the school was on the verge of state intervention due to poor MCAS scores. By the end of my tenure, the school was chosen as one of 10 ambassador schools across the commonwealth to demonstrate why Massachusetts’s schools are leading the nation in student outcomes. By no means do I deserve all the credit. However, I believe my skill set of being able to listen, learn from others, and facilitate meaningful conversations helped lay the groundwork. That, coupled with new school policies, ensuring staff was supported and receiving high levels of professional development, and bringing in consultants to help educate me on areas I was unfamiliar with. I plan to take the same approach on the school committee. Listen to parents and community members. Learn from my fellow committee members, teachers, and school administrators. Facilitate an open dialogue to formulate action steps that’ll help get all students back on track academically, socially, and emotionally after the last two years of pandemic learning. Vote for James O’Brien, for Rochester Memorial School Committee on May 25th for a school committee member who has a proven track record of being committed to excellence!

Editor’s Note: As we have done beginning in 2020, The Wanderer has invited candidates in contested races to submit up to 350 words about their candidacy for public office. This week we have the candidates for both the Rochester Select Board and Rochester School Committee. Below are statements from Rochester Select Board candidates Brad Morse and Adam Murphy. Morse is the incumbent and presently serves as chair. The Town of Rochester will hold its Election on Wednesday, May 25, at the Senior Center on Dexter Lane.

Brad Morse – Rochester Select Board

            I am seeking re-election to the Rochester Select Board, having served the last six terms. Prior to that, I served on the Planning Board for 12 years and the Dexter Lane Use Committee. I am a fifth-generation cranberry farmer in town, a graduate of Mass Maritime Academy, past president of Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association, Grower Council Member of Ocean Spray Cranberry Group, and retired call lieutenant of the Town of Wareham Fire Department, having served for 26 years. My experience on the various boards and committees brings forth lots of institutional knowledge which is important for consistency in town operations. In the past five years, we as a Select Board have continued to make financial stability one of our main goals by increasing many special-purpose Stabilization Funds by $2,100,000 and by conservatively addressing the Town’s capital needs. The Town has also been very fortunate with the amount of grant funding that we have been awarded in the last few years and continue to pursue whatever resources are available to the Town to keep it an affordable place to live. My goals for the future would be to sustain financial stability, while thoroughly looking at the needs of the public-safety departments and maintaining town services.

Adam C Murphy – Rochester Select Board

            My name is Adam Murphy, 40, I have chosen to pursue a seat on the Select Board. I have been extremely fortunate to be born and raised in Rochester. I am married to Jessica Murphy, 38, a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. I am the father of two children: Hailey, 16, and Adam Jr., 13; both attend Old Rochester Regional High School. I work for the Town of Marion as the Deputy Harbormaster and own Rochester-based trucking company Tri-Town Service, Inc., a part of my family business, Murphy’s Auto Salvage, Inc. Over the past 19 years, I have dedicated myself to public safety. As a Deputy Harbormaster, I am a patrolman on the Marion Police Department and second in command of the Harbormaster Department. I work hand in hand with the Harbormaster, preparing and executing the budget, managing and looking to obtain grants to offset our department’s needs. With town budgets continuing to grow, our entire community feels the economic impact. Without big business to offset our town’s budget, it is incredibly important to work hard and plan ahead. Finding new creative ways to improve our ability to obtain available grants for future capital projects is one of my top priorities. I believe we need to create more effective communication for and with our town boards, along with the community. I want to work on ways to gain the public’s interests and hear the community’s thoughts. We have many valuable resources within our town, it’s time to get them more involved in helping us navigate into the future. My background in public safety and working for a municipality has offered me the knowledge in town government to make me an ideal candidate for selectman. The Select Board is an essential role in our community. This is our opportunity to bring a new and vibrant insight. If you choose to elect me as Selectman, I can assure you I am a man of my word. I do what I say I am going to do, and I will work hard to make the best decisions for our community.

            No one has launched an argument against the importance of small-business growth in the Town of Marion, but victories for Carleton “Toby” Burr in the Select Board race and Tucker Burr in the Planning Board race indicate that the large turnout in Friday’s election reflect on an emerging concern in town.

            Toby Burr defeated Dr. Ed Hoffer, 524-397, for the seat vacated last week by John Waterman, who had served four years and endorsed Hoffer.

            Burr is the owner of Burr Brothers Boats, Inc., in Marion; Hoffer is a recently retired physician who holds seats on the Board of Health and the Zoning Board of Appeals and has been involved in efforts toward creating housing options for senior citizens who wish to stay in town rather than get priced out.

            “The thing I heard repeatedly is that Marion has a tough decision with two good candidates,” said Burr, who has compared the future of the Lockheed Martin property to the industrial park that slowly and successfully grew in Mattapoisett. He is not keen on the idea of residential plans for that land.

            “(Lockheed Martin) did put the issue of bringing more small businesses to town on the front runner. That was an issue that interested people,” he said. “It is a long-term project, that’s not going to happen overnight. … it’s something that takes a decade to put together.”

            Hoffer offered comment via a letter to the editor thanking those who supported not only his campaign but the entire election. He told The Wanderer he will keep his seat on the Board of Health and ZBA and will continue activities with the Friends of the Council on Aging and will continue to volunteer at the COA. He says he has other ideas as well, including teaching emergency medical technicians serving Marion.

            Toby Burr sat on the Select Board in a public meeting for the first time on Tuesday night at the Music Hall. He is well versed on the town’s infrastructural challenges and the burdens that taxpayers in town face.

            “There’s just a whole lot of things on the to-do list, and I never really prioritized them all. Again, none of them can happen overnight,” he said. “It’ll be a lot of work, but it should an interesting experience.”

            Tucker Burr, Toby’s son who now runs the family business, and Andrew Daniel were the new members on Monday night’s Planning Board meeting. Tucker Burr received 520 votes, while Daniel received 498, a wide margin for the two winners against bids from Barrett Levenson (209) and W. Dale Jones (200.)

            “I was hopeful. … You had a race with four candidates, you never know what’s going to happen,” said Daniel, who lost his Planning Board seat last year in a similar four-way race that saw John Henry and Alanna Nelson win seats while he and Tucker Burr were on the outside.

            Now they are all serving, and Daniel suspects the large voter turnout (939 of a potential 4,363) helped his cause. “Five or 600 people at the polls, things might have been a lot different,” he said. “I do feel that having a pretty popular Select Board race probably helped the Planning Board … they supported us as well.”

            The dynamics of the board, no longer with Will Saltonstall and Joe Rocha, won’t change for Daniel. “Same job, I’ve always just tried to make decisions that I thought were the best for everybody in town. I’m just going to continue to do that, I hope,” he said.

            Hoffer (Board of Health) was among several incumbents to run uncontested and maintain their seats on other boards, along with Assessor Catherine Gibbs, Moderator Brad Gordon, Open Space Acquisition Commission Chairman John Rockwell, Marion School Committee member Nichole Daniel and Old Rochester Regional School Committee member April Nye.

            With 55 write-in votes, Nichole Nye McGaffey won a one-year term on the Marion School Committee and was sworn into office. In order to continue beyond a year, she will be required to run for a three-year term in 2023.

            Marc Sylvia, Ron LaRochelle and Alan Harris received two votes each for seats on the Open Space Acquisition Commission. According to Town Clerk Lissa Magauran, Sylvia has accepted a one-year term. LaRochelle’s status was not known at press time. Harris, the former vice-chairman, declined. In order to continue beyond a year, Sylvia would be required to run for a three-year term in 2023.

            Reaffirming the May 9 Town Meeting vote that supported the borrowing of $3,000,000 toward a new $4,500,000 Department of Public Works operations center at Benson Brook, Question 1 asking voters to allow the town to exempt from the provisions of Proposition 2½ the associated bonds was approved, 592-246.

By Mick Colageo