Valley Patriot

Sweeney Will Return to School Committee

Lawrence City Councilor Michael Sweeney called for a recount last night after learning he had won enough votes to appear alone on the November Ballot for District "F" (South Lawrence East) School Committee after the seat was vacated by Nancy Kennedy.  

Sweeney waited patiently (and sometimes not so patiently) with the crowd of candidates and political supporters looking for final returns last night in the election division of City Hall. Most of the returns were available to the public by eight O'clock last night (polls closed at 7pm) but the multiple write in or "sticker" candidates held up official vote tallies until 10pm.  

"When they are done bringing Democracy to Iraq they should bring it here next," Sweeney joked as election workers counted write in and sticker votes by hand in front of onlookers. Sweeney needed 100 votes in order to be nominated for the November final election.  

Sweeney said he was surprised earlier in the morning to learn about another write in candidate seeking to be nominated for School Committee when he saw supporters for Mr. DeHoyes (first time candidate) passing out stickers at District "F" polling places.  

"I had no idea there was even another candidate" Sweeney said welcoming the participation of other candidates. "I was hoping he would get nominated too. The people should always have a choice on the ballot. The more candidates there are the better it is for democracy. It would have made things interesting and brought out some issue, I believe."  

But DeHoyes received only 40 write in votes, 60 votes shy of having his name appear on the final election ballot.   Two years ago, in a settlement with the Justice Department, the City Council approved electing School Committee members by Neighborhood District instead of city wide or "at-large."  

Citywide candidates need 100 nomination signatures or write in votes on Election Day. District Races only need 50, but because of an oversight by the Council when redrawing the School Committee seats, the nomination requirements of 100 write-ins were never changed to reflect a School Committee configured by districts (which wuld only require 50 per candidate, per district).  

Nonetheless, DeHoyes did not receive either amount and will not appear on the November ballot meaning Sweeney is assured to take office on the School Committee come January.  

Sweeney has been particularly harsh in his criticism of Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy and the School Committee since he left to run for City Council two years ago. Sweeney has expressed at various council meetings that there was no accountability on the "school side" and stopped short of calling for Laboy's removal shortly after it was learned that Laboy failed his English Literacy Test. The English test is required to be certified as a Superintendent in Massachusetts.