The five candidates are competing for two open seats on the Board of Selectmen.

01:00 AM EST on Friday, March 11, 2005

By ALISHA A. PINA
Journal Staff Writer

SEEKONK -- All five have different opinions about the town's financial crisis, but the Board of Selectmen candidates agree: a Proposition 2 1/2 override will not fix it.

One has claimed the phrase "live within our means" as his campaign motto and believes hiring a professional grant writer will help. Another says money is tight in most Massachusetts communities, so leaders have to stop whining and cope with budget restraints.

Two more say analyzing other communities' financial practices will be beneficial and the final contender says it's going to be a "painful" year, but town officials should work with state representatives to get more money.

The five men are vying for two three-year term spots vacated by Selectmen Doreen Taylor and Steven Howitt. Taylor is the board's chairwoman and Howitt is the vice chairman.

The winners of the April 4 election will join David Viera, John Whelan and Francis Venditti. It is the only contested race for taxpayers to decide.

"Live within our means, strict accountability, open government and freedom of speech," said candidate Donald Kinniburgh, a Personnel Board member and former selectman. "Apply these beliefs and Seekonk will survive through these tight economic times."

He said when the good times come around again, then "let the good times roll."

Candidate Webster Larkin said that philosophy, "let the good times roll," is what got Seekonk in trouble in the first place.

"During my last time on the board, people were spending like drunken sailors," the 58-year-old former selectman said. "We always used to have $1 million in our savings and then the reckless spending by the schools wiped us out."

"... The minute good times came, they blew it all. When bad times come, they cry, 'Where are we going to get the money,' and try to put it on the taxpayers. The School Department needs to come up with a plan instead of 'we need this and we need that.' They're selfish and they're responsible for why the Council on Aging and library is in the turmoil they're in now."

Larkin said the school budget proposal for next year is not only too high, but there's also more school costs on the municipal side of the budget. Larkin said about $4.7 million of the municipal budget pays for pension costs, teachers' health and dental insurance, and tuition for local students who attend Tri-County Vocational School in Franklin.

"Enough is enough," he said. "How much more are they going to take? The well is getting dry. This town needs to bite the bullet for the next couple of years."

Candidate James Tusino said that's what he did when he was given his budget from the selectmen while he was the public works director.

"I functioned with the budget I was given," Tusino said. "I trimmed, cut, squished, streamlined and abandoned programs. July 1 is going to be painful, but you live with what you have."

For example, Tusino said when he was a child and wanted to play an instrument, his family didn't have much money, so the school gave him a cello. He didn't know what a cello was, it was seven inches taller than he was, and he couldn't carry it, but he knew that was all that was available.

"I made it work," Tusino said. "That's what we have to do, we gotta make it work."

Tusino, Kinniburgh, Larkin and candidate Michael Brady, a newcomer, have said the town has to put pressure on its state representatives. They say money may be tight all over, but the state is not giving Seekonk what it should.

"I agree everybody needs more money, but the answer is not an override," Kinniburgh said. "The answer is getting on your state representatives so Seekonk can get their fair share of the pie even though it's small right now."

Kinniburgh said the state should evaluate and correct how the money is divided. Tusino said the state should look at expanding its taxation on businesses that sell high-end clothing or legal service agencies.

"There are 350 other towns and cities [in the commonwealth], so why do Seekonk town officials think sitting in their offices will get us more money," Larkin said. "I was out there lobbying when I was selectman. Other towns are really just beating us to the money."

Brady and candidate Robert Richardson said that's why it's important to look at what surrounding communities are doing.

"There are other avenues, but we have to research it," said Brady, a Rehoboth police lieutenant. "We need to evaluate what other communities are doing and lobby [state Rep. Philip] Travis.

"... We also need to let our department heads do their jobs. Why do we pay people $85,000 and $100,000 to run a department if we're going to have five other people countering everything they do? ... The selectmen should be the ones looking for more money."

Richardson said, "I don't think we've done everything we could do. We have to be creative. There are possibilities. We just have to look [at what other communities are doing.]"

He also said the town should look into hiring a grant writer.

"This individual will have the responsibility of writing all grants, which presently is done by each individual department," said Richardson, who's been on the School Committee for the last six years. "The cost savings would add up quickly to where the salary of the individual would be paid back in full by the grants."

Kinniburgh also says there should be a grant writer, a professional one who knows what he or she is doing.

"A grant writer is wonderful," he said. "There are millions of dollars out there, and all we need is someone to find it and apply. And their first job should be to find a grant to pay themselves."

To contact Alisha Pina, phone (508) 674-8401 or e-mail apina@projo.com

MICHAEL H. BRADY

80 Cypress Rd.

(508) 336-4507

lawcop99(AT)comcast.net

www.abllaw.com

Experience: Named Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Officer of the Year (1989); Received a Life Saving Award from the Southeastern Massachusetts Chiefs of Police (1998).

Occupation: Lieutenant for the Rehoboth Police Department and a lawyer at Amaral, Brady & Lee LLP, of Providence.

Education: Graduate of Dighton Rehoboth High School (1979); bachelor of science degree in administration of justice, Roger Williams University, 1995; juris doctorate degree, Roger Williams University School of Law, 1999; valedictorian of his law school class and received an outstanding student achievement award that year.

Personal: Born 1961 in Providence. Moved to town in 1990. Wife: Laurine. Child: Benjamin.

Quote: I decided to run for selectman because I believe town government needs new people with fresh ideas to become involved. I can state unequivocally that I will not support an override of Proposition 2 1/2. This taxpayer protection was passed by voter referendum by the majority of the citizens of Massachusetts, and it should only be modified by the same process. I would ensure that all Seekonk citizens and employees are afforded the appropriate respect and consideration they deserve. And I would allow all of the department heads to manage their respective departments without unnecessary interference.

DONALD KINNIBURGH

119 West Ave.

(508) 336-4283

DonaldKinniburgh(AT)aol.com

Experience: Board of Selectmen member and clerk, 1999 to 2002; Personnel Board member for five years, two years as its chairman; Finance Committee member for three years; and presently on the Personnel Board. Member of American Legion Post 311; the American Legion Board District 9; the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 122, in Warren; Massachusetts Municipal Personnel Association; and American Jail Association. Past member of the Massachusetts Municipal Association. U. S. Navy veteran, 1965-69.

Occupation: Budget analyst for the Bristol County sheriff's office.

Education: Graduate of Cumberland High School, 1965; bachelor's degree in business management, Johnson & Wales University, 1977.

Personal: Born 1947 in Providence. Moved to town in 1951. Wife: Victoria. Children: Scott, Todd and Chad.

Quote: "No Proposition 2 1/2 Override." "Live Within Our Means." "Strict Accountability." "Freedom of Speech and Open Government." Challenging times require leaders willing to explore new ideas while entertaining opposing points of view in an effort to build a consensus towards the solutions that need to be made to keep improving the quality of town government that the citizens of Seekonk deserve. When the citizens look for a leader who has the courage and experience to fight for the issues that they care about, they can point to Donald Kinniburgh as the one who can make the difference.

WEBSTER K. LARKIN SR.

890 Newman Ave.

(508) 399-7983

Experience: Board of Health, 1990-94; Board of Selectmen, 1995-2000; Municipal Planning Organization for District 5, 1999-2002; Police and Fire Building Committee, 1998-99.

Occupation: Project inspector for Massachusetts Highway Construction Division, District 3 Worcester. Member of Massachusetts Organization of Engineers and Scientists, 2000-present.

Education: Graduate of Seekonk High School, 1973.

Personal: Born 1955 in Urbana, Ill. Moved to town in 1962. Married.

Quote: I got additional funding for the Brook Street project through MassHighway. As a board member, I started a relationship with Sheriff Tom Hodgson, which has worked well for the town. The town needs an administration in place for daily operations oversight, no overrides and to settle contracts that are open on the town side. I have always done what was good for the town, be it politically correct or not. If you vote yes, I will again.

ROBERT L. RICHARDSON

42 Pershing Ave.

(508) 761-9658

Experience: School Committee, 1999-2005. Served on various recreational leagues in the last 16 years: North Seekonk girls softball; Seekonk girls softball; North Seekonk junior baseball (as a president, board member and coach); St. Mary's CYO basketball; Seekonk girls basketball, Seekonk boys basketball as a board member and coach.

Occupation: Documentation specialist for Amica Insurance for 26 years.

Education: Graduate of Seekonk High School, 1975.

Personal: Born 1956 in Providence. Moved to town 42 years ago. Wife: Donna. Children: Crystal, Caitlin, Cayla and Cody.

Quote: We need to research other tax structures in other communities and review Massachusetts General Law to explore what Seekonk can do to make up for the state cuts. A 2 1/2 override isn't needed until we look into other possible sources of income. Over the past six years we allocated funds for school buildings as well as the fire-police building. I recommend putting a hold on any other projects until the state begins paying its 70 percent share of the school projects. I'd also like to explore the possibility of hiring a recreation/grant writer.

JAMES TUSINO

63 Oak St.

(508) 336-4312

jimtusino(AT)yahoo.com

Experience: Seekonk Housing Authority Commission, elected in 2000, term expires in 2007; Superintendent of public works, 1995-2004; Town representative to the Joint Transportation Planning Group, Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District, 1995-2004; representative of the Seekonk Recreation and Youth Commission, 1995-2004; deputy director of Emergency Management, 1995-2004; chairman of the Storm Water Advisory Committee, 2002-04; tree warden, 1997-2004; special officer for Seekonk Police Department, 1998-2002.

Occupation: Project supervisor at GB Inc.

Education: Graduate of Milford High School, 1984; associate's degree in business administration, Dean College, 1996; bachelor of science degree in public administration, Roger Williams University, 1999.

Personal: Born 1966 in Framingham. Moved to town in 1996. Wife: Susan. Children: Anthony and Ben.

Quote: I am tired of how our selectmen have consumed their office with the past and lost sight of the future. I know how it feels to be treated unprofessionally. Even if you disagree, you should be professional and respect the position of others. We need to focus on issues in the most positive manner possible. We need to negotiate reasonable labor contracts and develop a clear and understandable financial plan. My accomplishments include a road maintenance program second to none, the Burr's Pond conservation area rehabilitation, and community pride projects. I have proven my ability and commitment to our town.