Challengers Kevin Flaherty and John Maida beat incumbents Chuck Dello Iacono and Mary Sugrue on Saturday for two seats on the Parks and Recreation Commission.Both candidates ran on platforms of change and accountability, and gained office in an election that saw incumbents in several races removed from their posts.
“It’s time for a change,” Flaherty said, echoing comments he made on the campaign trail.“The people of Dedham have spoken and the status quo just isn’t acceptable.”
Flaherty won in precincts one, five, and seven, while Maida took two and four.Dello Iacono won in East Dedham’s precincts three and six.Maida and Flaherty each took roughly 11% of the vote while the two incumbents each garnered slightly less than 9%.
“We changed the minds of the voters,” Maida said, “and Dedham wants to go in a new direction.
Flaherty said he knew there was still more he had to learn about the inner workings of the Parks and Recreation Department and would focus on that as a first step.“I know I’m not going to change anything over night,” he said.
Maida said examining the financial records would be his first order of business.
“I’m going to go in and look at the budgets and look at the numbers and see where we can save and what we need to do,” said Maida.
Saying that everyone could be doing a better job, Maida attributed the win to dissatisfaction among voters.“I think people were tired of what was going on,” he said, “and that’s why people voted for me and Kevin.”
Both thanked their supporters for all the work they put in.
“I’m satisfied, I’m happy, and I’m very proud of the whole campaign,” said Flaherty.“I’m very much looking forward to getting to work.”
