Braintree Candidates Introduce Themselves to Voters

Candidates for School Committee and Town Council spoke Wednesday night at a forum at Town Hall hosted by Town Clerk Joe Powers and the Board of Registrars.

Wednesday night was also the deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 5 election. Absentee ballots are now available through the clerk's office.

Below is a summary of the remarks by the candidates who attended. Each had two minutes to introduce themselves and talk about the issues. They are listed below in order of appearance on the ballot. Italics indicates incumbent.

Shannon Hume, Councilor-at-Large

Hume, the current chair of the School Committee, said she is proud of her work on that committee reducing class sizes, opening and expanding full-day kindergarten, focusing on space needs, renovating the schools and adding teachers. She now hopes to turn her abilities toward advocating for all of Braintree, and, as the mother of three children in Braintree schools, she and her husband are "invested in this town."

Sean Powers, Councilor-at-Large

Powers spent nine years on the School Committee before joining the Town Council. On the committee he said he faced tough financial challenges and continued to focus on the town's economics as a councilor. He is focused on fiscal responsibility, public safety and road work, among other priorities. "I'm very proud of the gains we have made in hiring more firefighters and police officers," he said. "But we're not there yet."

Charles Ryan, Councilor-at-Large

Ryan, a Mass Maritime graduate with an MBA from UMass, raises his two sons in Braintree. He previously served as Chair of the Board of Selectmen and the Water and Sewer Commission. The fiscal state of the town is its biggest issue, Ryan said, and he intends to continue his work fighting for top-notch education, public safety, sustainable capital improvements, and support for seniors, recreation and veterans.

John Carvello, Councilor-at-Large

Carvello has been a Braintree resident with his wife since 1999 and they are raising their two sons here. He has volunteered extensively with youth baseball, and during that time has heard from other residents about issues that need addressing, prompting him to run. Carvello, a veteran corrections officer, said he would focus in particular on at-risk youths, a water treatment plant, the trash fee and substance abuse.

Charles Kokoros, District 1 Councilor

Kokoros vowed to keep an eye on the new automated trash program, put together an improved capital spending program, improve public safety, and maintain the schools and roads. "Although unopposed, I still work hard every day for the district," he said. "We work well together (the mayor and other town officials) and will continue to work well together."

Thomas Bowes, District 3 Councilor

Bowes promised a focus on quality services and roads, and pointed to past successes such as the Landing renovations and the Petersen Splash Pad at Watson Park. He will focus on making sure the Allen Street development is done well and the Petersen Pool and Rink at BHS is completed. He thanked the residents of East Braintree who have put trust in him over the last six years.

Stephen O'Brien, District 4 Councilor

O'Brien, who has worked mainly in private sector cyber security, said he would bring that experience to bear for the Town of Braintree. He also focused on "controlled development" in his remarks, saying that the Allen Street site should be transformed into a park rather than housing. O'Brien, pointing to empty seats in the auditorium Wednesday night, said, "I'm real disappointed in the lethargy of our public."

Frank Boncaldo, District 4 Councilor

Boncaldo, raised in Braintree, has been a CPA for 24 years and owns a restaurant bearing his family's name in Norwood. His primary goal, Boncaldo said, is to ensure that residents' tax dollars are used to their greatest potential. He has coached baseball, basketball, soccer and flag football.

Michael Owens, District 5 Councilor

Owens, a senior at UMass Boston, said he is looking to give back to Braintree Public Schools and the town as a whole because of all it has provided him. He said he will focus on the schools, public safety, substance abuse and beautifying South Braintree Square and Ivory Street. He will "provide a voice" and wants to be the councilor "who will be available to you at any time, for any issue." Owens has interned at Quincy District Court, then-U.S. Sen. John Kerry’s office and the community affairs division of Gov. Deval Patrick’s office.

William Sweeney, District 5 Councilor

Sweeney is a former Town Administrator, Town Meeting member and Town Auditor. He said his training, knowledge and experience make him the right fit for the council, and that his family has benefited from Braintree's schools and public safety. He lives in Braintree within walking distance of five of his six children and has 13 grandchildren, including one who was born Wednesday night.

Nick DiMartino, District 5 Councilor

DiMartino, an account manager for heavy equipment company Milton CAT and longtime Braintree youth baseball, soccer and hockey volunteer, lives with his wife and two boys in Braintree and said he is invested in the community. Youth volunteering prompted him to get into the race, DiMartino said, and he would like to focus on traffic safety, seniors and a reasonable tax rate, among other issues. "I know we cannot tax our way out of everything," he said.

Paul "Dan" Clifford, District 6 Councilor

Clifford has spent 65 years in the Town of Braintree, and has served the town for the past 18, as a councilor and as Chairman of the Board of Assessors  "I couldn't be prouder to be representing Braintree," he said. Clifford and his wife Colette raised five children in Braintree. He worked in the high tech industry with a number of Fortune 300 companies and managed a $70 million business. "I am as passionate today about being your town councilor as I was at any time," he said.

David Ringius, Jr., 4-Year School Committee

Ringius said his education in Braintree has allowed him to accomplish a lot, including becoming an Assistant District Attorney for Norfolk County. The current vice chair, he said he looks forward to being part of the School Committee for the "foreseeable future." He will focus on security, among other issues, and said that a "strong, clear and experienced voice" like his is needed on a committee and for a school system undergoing many changes.

Cyril Chafe, 4-Year School Committee

Chafe is a union carpenter whose son attends Hollis School. He said he will bring new ideas and a fresh outlook to the committee. He will focus on overcrowding and budget issues.

Kate Naughton, 2-Year School Committee

Naughton said she and her husband Michael moved to Braintree 14 years ago to raise her son Brendan in the Braintree Public Schools. She has volunteered with the Highlands PTO, the Braintree Fund for Education and has been a Faith Formation Educator at St. Clare's and a treasurer for Boy Scout Troop 138. Naughton said she will focus primarily on safety, space needs and technology. "I'm a mom who wants the best for my child and the best for all children in the Braintree Public Schools," she said.

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