Malden
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As goes Ward 8, so goes Malden? By Barbara Taormina
P
oll workers who helped manage Tuesday’s preliminary election in Ward 8 had a relatively easy day. Turnout to decide which two candidates would continue to compete for the Ward 8 seat on the School Committee was light. Out of a total of 4,373 registered voters, 392, or 9 percent, of them showed up at the Linden STEAM Academy to cast ballots. Still, there was some drama. Incumbent John Froio, who is running for a seventh term on the committee, came out on top with 190 votes. Froio pulled out a paper-thin victory of 15 votes over AFL–CIO Communications Coordinator Rachel Running, who ended up with 175 votes and a spot on the November ballot. Amy Friedman received 26 votes and there was one write-in. “I was a little surprised by the numbers,” said Froio. “I expected to do a little better.” But Froio, who is planning to knock on a lot of doors between now and November, also said primaries can be deceiving. “I think, historically, people ar-
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John Froio
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en’t that interested in primaries,” he said. “And a lot of times, your supporters figure you’re a shoo-in so they don’t come out to vote.” Still, the fact that Running, a first-time candidate, came so close to besting a longtime incumbent with deep Malden roots is worth noting, especially since there are other political newcomers waiting in the wings. Froio said Malden’s flock of freshman candidates are part of a national trend of more people, particularly women, stepping up to run for elected office. Communities throughout the country are reporting record numbers of women and wom-
en of color running in state and local races. And there has been a surge of websites, workshops and seminars that offer stepby-step instructions for firsttime candidates. Malden’s five school committee races are not being driven by opposing views on big questions and ideas. There’s actually a lot of overlapping of the candidates’ positions on many of the major issues. Everyone supports the effort to ensure racial equity and recruit more teachers of color; no one wants larger class sizes; everyone is for The Promise Act, which would overhaul the formula for calculating state aid for public schools and channel more money to Malden; and natural grass is the turf of choice for Roosevelt Field. Still, there are disagreements about how much progress has been made on different issues and how much change can be expected, as well as on the need for transparency and better communication with school families. And candidates all bring their individual styles and skills into the mix. Froio suggested that some
WARD 8 | SEE PAGE 13
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Friday, September 20, 2019
Malden Overcoming Addiction President sets the record straight on Fox 25 News report By Paul Hammersley President, Malden Overcoming Addiction
Y
ou may have seen a recent Fox News story on Malden Overcoming Addiction’s (MOA) efforts to open a recovery center in Malden. I would like to give this initiative some more in-depth attention. Fox reporters painted the proposed Bridge Recovery Center as an extension of the “Methadone Mile.” As some news about the proposal gained attention throughout the city, there has been a misconception that the center would be a methadone clinic. To be clear, there will be no proposal that includes methadone or any other medically assisted forms of treatment. While the term “recovery services” may mean different things, my vision for MOA’s proposed Bridge Recovery Center has been since the beginning to create a day facility that will offer support, education and train-
ing to those already in recovery, including resume writing, healthy eating, support groups and other similar services that remove barriers and help people navigate the recovery process. In short, it will be people in recovery helping to support each other as they navigate a life of sobriety. As President of MOA and a certified recovery coach as well as a man in long-term recovery and a lifelong Malden resident, I feel strongly that that this is the best way to help those in recovery stay in recovery. My goal is to help those in our community on their journey to sobriety by connecting them with services, removing the stigma of addiction, and fighting to eliminate overdose fatalities. The Bridge Recovery Center would assist in achieving those goals. Again, it would not be a methadone clinic or provide any medically assisted treatment.
RECORD | SEE PAGE 10
Councillors organize Habitat for Humanity Build Day to address affordable housing deficiency and 9/11 BUILDERS CLUB: Clerk of Co m m i t t e e s L i s a C a g n o, Ward 5 Councillor Barbara Murphy, Ward 8 Councillor/ Council President Jadeane Sica-Bernbaum and Ward 4 Councillor Ryan O’Malley peek through sheathing. See page 9 for story and photo highlights. (Advocate photo by Tara Vocino)