Candidates Night Part 1: Assessors, Board of Health, Town Clerk Candidates

Above: Nancy Danello listens as rival Lynne Santorsola recounts the problems with 2020 election.

Thursday evening, a town-sponsored event brought nearly all candidates for the Nov.  2 election to the Town Council chambers, with former Police Chief Lawrence Benedetto moderating. Due to the length of the event, reporting will be in multiple parts.

Part 1

Board of Assessors

Chris Feeley is running unopposed. Moderator Benedetto read a brief statement outlining Feeley’s wide experience in town government, including prior service on the Town Council.

Board of Health

Bridget Sweet is running unopposed. She did appear briefly and offered remarks outlining her academic background, which includes a doctorate in law and policy. She currently works full-time at Johnson & Wales University.

Town Clerk (two candidates for one position: Nancy Danello and Lynne Santorsola)

Introductions

Nancy Danello (acting town clerk) said she and her husband had lived in town for 30 years, raised children and been active in the community. “My professional background was as a mortgage loan officer; I helped many people obtain their first mortgage or car loan,” she said. She said she had been approved in her “acting” role by Secretary of State Galvin and she said she and her team had done a great job through a difficult year and would like to continue in the role.

Lynn Santorsola also noted that she and her husband had been in town or 30 years, raising three girls who graduated from FHS and Dean College. She said she herself had attended Boston University and took courses in business administration at Dean, where she currently serves as records coordinator, responsible for security and maintenance of records.

Statements

Danello said "I am the best town clerk and candidate for town clerk and the only one who knows the day-to-day functions." And, she added, she has worked in the office for six years earning CMC (Certified Municipal Clerk), Certified Elections Administrator, Registrar, Justice of the Peace, and Notary Public and commissioned by the Secretary of State as a Commissioner to Qualify.

As key accomplishments she cited successful administration of the 2020 election “with the eyes of the nation on us.” She also mentioned her role in working out security logistics, managing 100 new election employees and implementing voting by mail. She also mentioned work she did to overhaul the Code Book, street listings, and the mandated reprecincting. “I have an impeccable reputation...and I am the only candidates qualified, experienced and certified,” she said.

Santorsola said, “During the last election we had an unfortunate incident; she [Danello] was part of the team and promoted afterward; it [the situation of uncounted ballots] was rectified by the Secretary of State’s office.” Continuing her comments, Santorsola said, “If people had done their jobs, we would not have had uncounted ballots in a major election; they failed us.” She said she had uncovered another fact: that someone from theclerk's  office called in sick but no replacement was brought in. “Ballots are part of the Town Clerk’s responsibility and their integrity must be maintained,” she said. Finally, she said she wanted to see change in the Town Clerk's office and asked for the support of the voters.