"Franklin Forward" Mystery Solved, Sort of

Thanks to a shortage of candidates, voters have been largely spared the deluge of ads, lawn signs, evening phone calls, and door knocks that often accompany our traditionally spirited biennial local elections. In almost every instance this year if you managed to get on the ballot, you will will win by default.

The sole exception has been the Town Council “race” where all the incumbents, boosted in the last election by the blessing and funding of the powerful Beacon Hill legislative contingent, have chosen to run again. The only thing -- or the only person – keeping it from being a shoe-in is educator, veteran, and retired Franklin firefighter, Charles Bailey.

So, from the machine that is Franklin politics, a “group” emerged, to make sure that Bailey is shut out of the race. Their main weapon (so far) has been a mailer with a list of all the people a good obedient voter should support, including all the candidates for School Committee who will all be elected anyway, and a listing of all the Town Council incumbents that must be reelected, but not Mr. Bailey, the sole challenger.

And for good measure, the mailer includes a profile view of the Franklin statue in front of the library and the exhortation to “Cherish Democracy” as if a single challenger to the status quo is a threat of some kind.

Why all this effort and expense to stop a single candidate from bringing his experience to the Council?

We telephoned the two “officers” of Franklin Forward, as the group is called, (lifting its name from an active group in town in 2020 and 2021 that sought to support the police and first responders of the region), Clerk Edward McIntyre and Treasurer Scott C. Faught and, so far, have not received a response.

State Rep Jeff Roy, who ran against Bailey in 2022, said he had nothing to do with the group and only learned of it recently, but said he did plan to support it...

We also reached out via email to all Town Council incumbents, asking the following questions (and guaranteeing anonymity to respondents):

• Did you have a hand in organizing Franklin Forward or were you aware of its formation?
• Are you aware of how it is funded?
• Did you solicit its endorsement?
• Did you accept its endorsement?
• What if anything was the quid pro quo for the Franklin Forward endorsement
• Do you feel Franklin Forward helps or hurts the town's political culture?

Two of the nine councilors responded, one via email:

· I had no part in organizing Franklin Forward and was only loosely aware that the concept was being considered by a few engaged citizens.

· I believe it was funded by donors but I'm not sure who; that should all be public though.

· I did not solicit its endorsement, nor was I asked to accept. And certainly no quid pro quo that I'm aware of!

· In what is shaping up to be a sleepy election season, I commend any residents who are engaging voters in conversations about local government. Voter engagement through multiple forms is a healthy and necessary part of democracy. By all accounts that I am aware of, the group has been transparent in their shared values and thus reasons for supporting specific candidates. I'm honored to receive their support, but even more excited that Franklin residents are choosing to positively engage in the local political process! [Italics Added by editor]

The other Councilor offered broadly similar comments via telephone. Seven others did not respond.

For the record, unlike 2021, where the primary donors to the similar effort to ram through a slate of candidates, Franklin United, were Senate President Karen Spilka and Sen. Becca Rausch, this year’s donors are all local (many considered to be friends, by the author, we might note), namely:

• Gino and Pandora Carlucci -- $50
• Colin and Sue Cass -- $250
• Barbara Ann Cook -- $25
• Mary Downie -- $50
• Scott Faught and Dianna Prince -- $5
• Scott Faught and Dianna Prince -- $100
• Sally Gustin -- $25
• Karen and Francis Landers -- $100
• Ray Malici -- $150
• Pam and Ted McIntyre -- $200
• Helen Reedenacker -- $50
• Roger and Roberta Trahan -- $50
• Kathleen Trefethan -- $100

That’s at total of $1,155 as of Oct. 30, when the reporting form was filed.

Whether this blitz will have the desired impact remains to be seen. Certainly, it may continue to dampen enthusiasm of candidates considering running for office in the future. Those shut out of the 2021 election – and those watching from the sidelines – learned that lesson, namely that newcomers and new ideas will not be allowed to upset the political applecart and the existing order in the City known as the Town of Franklin. This year, the lesson is being repeated, it would seem.