News the Malden Evening News Saw Fit to Print!

The Malden Evening News (Thursday, August 4) reported that Everett School Superintendent Frederick Forestiere and Business Manager Lona Defeo were in court for a status update of their case. The status of the case (like when's the trial!) wasn't actually reported, but the Assistant Attorney General stated that a presentation to a new Grand Jury would be held, and that an additional indictment or indictments were expected. It will be interesting to see if any of our local papers pick up the story.

Since March of 2004, the Everett Public Schools have taken one black eye after another, beginning with the indictment of the Superintendent and maintenance/business manager Lona Defeo, and the "vote" by the school committee to keep them both in their positions. In the intervening seventeen months, we've learned about the rampant overspending from 2001-2004, the questionable budgeting practices, the Shore Collaborative scandal, the eighty seven page audit revealing uncertified teachers, mismanagement of state and federal funds and other financial issues by the State Auditor's office, and now.... another indictment or indictments are expected. Let's not forget the raises that have been budgeted for the Superintendent and given to Ms. Defeo.

During the budget hearing, School Committee member Robert Alconada suggested that the raises were appropriate because Mr. Foresteire's primary job is to educate, and he was doing an A+ job of that. What Mr. Alconada failed to realize was that on the Department of Education's website, the role of superintendent is likened to that of a CEO - not an educator. In terms of being a CEO of a 40 million dollar concern - Mr. Forestiere is failing miserably. It is clear that he can't manage money, despite having three assistant superintendents on board with combined salaries of more than a half million dollars to help him, and it's equally clear that our current school committee members have no intention of holding him accountable for this mess.

Will a new indictment or indictments change anything on Vine Street? It's highly unlikely, but we can hope that a majority of our school committee will find their consciences in the meantime.

And Behind Door #3

An interesting twist in the form of a third candidate has been added to the Alderman at Large race, prompting a Primary in September and presenting a rare political phenomenon.

Up until about two weeks ago, there were two contenders for the seat -- current Alderman at Large Carlo DeMaria and Ward One Common Councilman Peter Napolitano. However, two weeks ago, Ward One Councilman Wayne Matewsky pulled papers for the seat and, according to the Everett Independent last week, had managed to collect 1000 signatures to turn in by the 7/25 deadline.

The "phenomenon" is that Matewsky was not only able to collect enough signatures to put him on the ballot as a candidate for Alderman at Large (provided, of course, that at least 250 of these signatures are certified by the Registrar of Voters office), he may also be able to run for re-election to the Common Council in Ward One, a seat that he has held for nearly 25 years. According to the City Clerk, there is not statute or ordinance that would prohibit Matewsky from running for both seats; however, should the world start spinning backwards and Matewsky win both seats, he would have to choose in which capacity he would serve.

Is it fair that Matewsky should be able to hedge his bets this way? It doesn't seem that it would be. After all, if he's that serious about serving on the Board of Alderman, he should do what others before him have done . . . forego re-election to one in favor of election to the other. Give someone else in Ward One who's serious about being a member of the Common Council a better shot at the seat. Matewsky was quoted in the paper as saying that the Board of Aldermen seat is the one he wants. Then why should he be allowed the opportunity to run for two seats simultaneously?

Matewsky could only be considered a long shot for the Board seat. While he may be popular in his own ward, managing to top the ticket more times than not, he doesn't have a strong city-wide presence. He doesn't have an "issue" that he can claim as his own that resonates city-wide, as Peter Napolitano does with charter reform. And he certainly doesn't have significant financial resources to tap into, as does Alderman DeMaria.

So why would he take this on? Well . . . at the time Matewsky pulled his papers, there was speculation that Alderman DeMaria was not going to seek re-election for personal reasons, and Matewsky didn't want to see Napolitano -- a long-time political nemesis -- get a free ride to the Board. Now it appears that DeMaria will, in fact, be seeking re-election, and Matewsky's entry into the race provides us with this very interesting situation.

Only time will tell how this plays out, but the odds are against Matewsky. If he loses in the primary, he can still go on to run for his Council seat in November. Will his constituents accept his attempt at the Board and re-elect him to the Council anyway? Or will they feel that he should've made a choice and oust him from the Council come November?

It's going to be an interesting ride.