WEST NEWBURY — Tom Atwood will not resign his new selectman post, despite calls from a group of residents requesting he participate in a new, special election to remove ethical questions about the write-in campaign that elected him.
At a selectmen's meeting last night, Scott Wolke, of the Board of Water Commissioners, presented a letter that called on Atwood to resign and then participate in a Special Election "so that the vacant seat on the board can then be filled honorably and democratically."
Atwood won the post after beating incumbent Albert Knowles Jr. on the May 4 annual ballot. Although Atwood was not officially on the ballot, his supporters conducted a stealth write-in campaign that garnered 206 votes for Atwood to 170 for Knowles.
Atwood supporters claim write-in campaigns are a part of the political process, so no laws were broken; but others in town feel the election process was tainted because the write-in effort was not made public prior to the election.
"We accept this letter, obviously," said Chairman Glenn Kemper, who stressed that "selectmen have absolutely no jurisdiction over elections." He would entertain comments from his two colleagues, but said it was "not the proper forum to rebut (the letter) or debate it."
Around 35 people attended last night's meeting, with about half exiting after discussion on the election issue was concluded.
Wolke began by clarifying that what he was submitting was not a petition. Rather, it was a letter signed by 32 residents who were "profoundly upset" by the write-in campaign. The signatories "are unmoved by the claim of legality and are distressed by the ethics of such tactics," Wolke said.
"We therefore ask Tom Atwood to make use of his power to heal a wound that has opened in our community. Tom Atwood is being presented an opportunity to show that he is an honorable man, and also to fix two problems at the same time," Wolke said.
By resigning and then participating in a special election, Atwood could "remove the stigma" that Wolke contends is now attached to the May 4 election and at the same time "send a clear message that in future elections in our town, anything less than a full and open disclosure of an organized candidacy will not be tolerated."
Following the reading, Wolke suggested Atwood provide his response at next week's selectmen's meeting. But Atwood said he preferred to issue his response at once.
The new selectman began by thanking Wolke for "standing up and representing what he believes" and said such active participation by residents is positive for the town.
Atwood wished to set the record straight about what he felt were some distortions during the ongoing debate that followed the election this past week.
He reiterated a comment he made on election night that he was "very surprised to learn of the outcome of the election." When approached about running against Knowles back in January, Atwood declined because he had just started a new business.
When asked about it "at the Foodmart or the hockey rink," Atwood said he told his supporters that he would be honored to serve the town in his current position as a West Newbury representative on the Pentucket Regional School Committee or in any other way he could, but he just could not take time away from his new enterprise to run a political campaign.
After the election, Atwood said he received numerous phone calls from residents saying "Tom, we believe in you. Stay in the position ... and that's exactly what I am going to do," he concluded.
Selectman Dick Cushing said for the past week he has done little else than "listen to fall out from the election." He wanted to recognize publicly the accomplishments of the previous board, noting that under Knowles' leadership, this year's budget process was very smooth.
Cushing felt there were distortions lodged by Atwood supporters of Knowles' vision and contributions — particularly references to his position on the Mullen property and participation in a public forum on the budget earlier this year.
In an interview prior to last night's meeting, Cushing noted that Knowles agreed to honor a request by his colleagues to seek a "will of the town" vote on the controversial Mullen property — he was the only one of the three selectmen not to voice an opinion about the issue on town meeting floor.
Criticism that he didn't participate in a public forum on the budget held in March by sitting up front with the other selectmen was also unfair, Cushing contended. Knowles was in the back of the room answering questions about the budget with residents and left early because he was not feeling well, Cushing said.
The letter presented by Wolke last night was signed by himself and his wife, Suzanne; Eilen K. Alden; Doris Bailey-Jones; Elizabeth A., Sandra A. and Susan W. Berkenbush; Colleen A. Brown; Sally W. Cookman; James T. and Rita A. Dwyer; Sherrie H. Gadd; Jeanette M. Griffith; Peter R. Haack; Mary Harada; Joan E. and Roscoe F. Jenkins; Anne B. and Martin (Lark) C.Madden; Ann O'Sullivan; William R. Palm; Kathleen A. and William J. Pasquina; Michael Sockness; Virginia L. and James M. Teal; Alice R. Thorn; Debra and H. Clifton Treco; Jean Voes; and Jane W. and Robert M. Wild.
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