Sisitsky Campaign Launch Features Sharp Criticism Of Spicer

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Former allies of Framingham Mayor Yvonne Spicer appeared Sunday at Charlie Sisitsky's mayoral campaign launch, underscoring disappointment with the first-term mayor inside the city's political upper echelon.

Sunday's event, held on the steps of the Historic Village Hall along Oak Street, featured endorsements by School Committee Chair Adam Freudberg and state Reps Maria Robinson and Jack Lewis. Each one gave a speech boosting Sisitsky, but also taking time to castigate Spicer.

"I spent the first several years of her tenure urging my friends and neighbors to be patient, to give her time to get her bearings straight, to give the space to do what all great leaders have to do: recognize we do not know everything," Lewis said, noting he voted for Spicer in both the 2017 primary and general elections.

Lewis went on to say Spicer has instead "alienated" her political allies over the past 3-1/2 years, and spent time engaging in "squabbles" with City Councilors.

Freudberg's split with Spicer has been clear for some time. In April, Chief Financial Officer Mary Ellen Kelley emailed school officials days before the budget deadline to order a $1.4 million cut — the sixth schools budget cut since the pandemic began. In response, Freudberg and School Committee Vice Chair Tiffanie Maskell released separate statements condemning the cut

"She arbitrarily cuts the school budget to whatever round number she wishes," Freudberg said Sunday. He added that he worked with Sisitsky on the Fuller project, where they successfully cut the total cost through collaboration.

Robinson named several initiatives she thinks Sisitsky will handle better than Spicer: installing clean energy infrastructure, fixing traffic problems, expanding local trails and outdoor resources — and building a splash pad. Framingham recently lost out on federal help to begin work on the final leg of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail.

Sisitsky promised to work collaboratively with other elected officials. He also promised to fix the city's "moribund" economic development department, and make sure residents get answers to questions within 24 hours — a City Hall policy Spicer has not followed, he said.

"My vision for the next four years is a city government that works in a cooperative, innovative and urgent way to increase support in the areas of education, the environment, seniors, pandemic recovery and better government and civic engagement," Sisitsky said.

Sisitsky, 75, has a lengthy record of government service. He was a Councilor during the first two years of city government, and was a member of the former board of selectmen. He also ran Natick's public works department for decades before retiring in 2009. He was also a town meeting member and a MWRTA board member.

Spicer was also a town meeting member, but had no previous electoral experience before winning the mayor's seat in a 2017 race against now-Councilor John Stefanini. She formally announced her reelection bid on May 13.

Sisitsky supporters even drew a contrast between his campaign launch and Spicer's. The mayor's announcement came on a Zoom call with supporters while Sisitsky's was in public

"The only way to go for Framingham and move forward is to come together as a truly diverse community and vote for a proven leader, and that person is Charlie," Lewis said.