by Brian Keaney

Voters swept a number of incumbents from office yesterday and brought in several challengers who have promised change and accountability in the departments they will now oversee.  The dismal weather, holidays, and low key campaigns kept turnout low, with 3,217 voters, or slightly more than 20%, casting a ballot.

First time candidate Kevin Coughlin topped the ticket in the School Committee race with 1,700 votes.  He will be joined on the Committee by fellow newcomer Joe Heisler and Dave Roberts, who narrowly held on for a fourth term.  Coughlin won in five of seven precincts, while Heisler took his and Roberts home third precinct, as well as precinct one.

Roberts, the only incumbent to be returned to the Committee, found himself 139 votes behind Heisler, and only 51 votes ahead of Joanne Flatley, who was voted out of office.  Margaret Matthews did best in precinct four, where she lives, but it was not enough to return her to a second term.

Several voters said yesterday that issues that have been brought up on the myDedham.org blog influenced their vote.  One woman at the Riverdale School, who declined to identify herself, said she was troubled by what she saw as special favors being given to a School Committee member’s child, and the inadequate response from the Committee in the face of a public outcry.

This sentiment could be seen from bloggers as well.  myDedham user Pink Princess wrote a post on Thursday entitled “I support change” in which she declared her intent to vote out the incumbents.  In a comment on the same post, user quemar said “I cannot in good consciense (sic) support a school committee that has responded so inadequetly (sic) to questions about special ed services. …  I support the new guys.”

Only hours after the polls closed, user Craig said, “I've already heard rumblings that this blog is responsible for the outcome of the school committee election.  Who knew that faceless bloggers have so much power!!!!”

The winning candidates were all gracious in victory, and thanked their friends, family and supporters.  Roberts made particular note of his wife Gerri.  “Let’s face it,” he said, “she’s the brains behind the whole operation.” 

Many “jubilant” supporters gathered with Roberts at his home for a victory party. 

“The people of Dedham are committed to their public education system and have returned one of the most devout members to the board,” said David A. McNulty.  “His tenaciousness and hard work have proven him to be an asset.  It was a pleasure to work for Mr. Roberts and I look forward to watching him work for our children for the next three years.”

Roberts also thanked his Matthews and Flatley for their service on the Committee. 

“They deserve to be commended,” Roberts said.  “I hope sincerely that they will continue to be a part of the fabric of this community.”

With the defeat of Matthews and Flatley the School Committee lost two-thirds of the team negotiating contracts with the unions.  Negotiations with the teachers union, which have been ongoing for nearly a year and a half, are currently in mediation. 

Heisler, who during the campaign called for all employees making more than $35,000 a year to take a wage freeze, said last night that he would seek one of the newly open seats on the team.

 “I want to carry on a much more open, general dialogue, especially with the unions,” Heisler said.  “We’re not adversaries here.  I think we are on the same team and I think somehow that gets lost in the translation, this unwillingness to talk openly about it. 

“I pledged to talk openly and I plan to talk openly, whether the unions like it and whether the other side likes it or not.  We’ve got a fiscal reality that we are facing here that is very daunting.  If we don’t work together it will mean problems for everyone,” Heisler said.

All the victors said they were looking forward to getting to work.

“I am just ecstatic that Dedham has given me this amazing opportunity,” Coughlin said.

Ed. note: The Contentment Company, which owns myDedhamNews.com, also owns myDedham.org.