Medfield candidates field Q&As

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At the March 16 Candidate Forum, Medfield voters had the chance to hear from individuals running in the three contested races of Board of Selectmen, School Committee and Library Trustee.

The event was taped by Medfield.TV and can be viewed at http://goo.gl/Obam9F.

The night began with a reception in the lobby of the Medfield High School Lowell Mason Auditorium where virtually all of the candidates on the March 27 election ballot were on hand to meet voters. Medfield resident Carol Reed, a public health professional, was also at the event to provide information about the ballot question that would prohibit marijuana retail sales in Medfield (the opposing side was also invited, but no one confirmed attendance).

With students helping out from Medfield High School’s Advanced Placement U.S. Government class, the official Forum kicked off at about 7 p.m. Town Historian and former Medfield Selectman and MHS teacher Richard DeSorgher welcomed attendees and stressed the importance of citizens playing a role in town government.
He then introduced candidates for the Selectman’s race: Gus Murby, Steve Caskey and Michael Pastore, who gave two-minute opening statements and fielded a number of pre-submitted and last-minute questions received at the event. (In total, more than 30 questions were submitted for the Selectman segment).
Library Trustee candidates Colleen Sullivan and David Brousell were next up, but rather than participate in a question-and-answer session, they were each asked to make two-minute remarks on their qualifications and reasons for running. (Lauren Feeney, an incumbent trustee running for re-election, did not attend.) The last part of the night was a question-and-answer session with the three School Committee candidates: Anna Mae O’Shea Brooke, Jennifer O’Shea and Jessica Reilly. More than a dozen questions were submitted in advance of the Forum, and a few additional questions came in at the event, including two from students.

The Candidate Forum was organized by the grassroots Voters Services Committee comprised of former members of the Medfield League of Women Voters and other residents engaged in civic affairs. All pre-submitted questions were reviewed by a VSC subcommittee prior to the event, and it also screened last-minute questions submitted at the Forum.

A number of questions were merged to avoid duplication; others were eliminated if they targeted one particular candidate or were deemed inappropriate.
Medfield residents are encouraged to vote on March 27 at the Center for Medfield.