Former Police Chief Drops Council Bid, School Committee Race Shaping Up

Retired Braintree Police Chief Paul Frazier has decided not to run for Councilor-at-Large and has declined to return his nomination paperwork.

Frazier told Town Clerk Joe Powers on Aug. 25 that he was withdrawing his candidacy. 

"Please be advised that I have decided not to return nomination papers for the position of Councilor at Large," Frazier wrote in an email to Powers.  "I was quite surprised by the support I have been receiving and encouragement to run for office. However, after much deliberation I feel it is best that I continue to focus my attention on caring for my mother and not a campaign for Councilor."


Frazier withdrawing leaves five Councilor-at-Large candidates for three, two-year seats. Shannon Hume, Sean Powers, Charles Ryan, Michael Barbuto and John Carvello have all obtained nominating paperwork.

Nomination paperwork became available Aug. 5 and candidates have until Sept. 13 to obtain the paperwork and Sept. 17 to submit it for review. They must collect between 50 and 150 signatures of Braintree residents depending on the position.

Another race is taking shape in District 4, where Stephen O'Brien, a past candidate for the position, will face Frank C. Boncaldo. Henry Joyce announced last month that he will not seek re-election. 

School Committee

After a quiet August for School Committee candidates, at the end of the month Sarah Nichols, currently filling a temporary seat, took out papers to run for an at-large, four-year term. 

Kate Naughton, an active volunteer with the Braintree Fund for Education who also applied earlier this year for the seat left vacant by Joe Zarella, took out papers to run for the available two-year position. On Sept. 5, Kieren M. McDonough also collected paperwork for that seat.

In addition, Cyril A. Chafe is seeking a shot at a four-year School Committee seat.

Correction: Naughton no longer volunteers with the Highlands PTO, her son is now a freshman at Braintree High.