North Shore Union Group Endorses Marblehead Election Candidates

MARBLEHEAD, MA — For the first time in more than three decades the North Shore Labor Council issued endorsements in a Marblehead municipal election.

The coalition of 41 unions representing members who live on the North Shore endorsed candidates in the School Committee and Board of Selectmen races.

The Council endorsed Jenn Shaeffner for School Committee and Tony Sasso, Alexa Singer, Anne Stevenson and Jim Zisson for Selectmen.

The Council said the endorsements were determined through a questionnaire asking candidates how they would protect workers at their workplace and support working families of Marblehead, if elected.

"Marblehead's municipal departments are increasingly understaffed and inexperienced leading to large workloads for low wages," said Terri Tauro, President of Marblehead Municipal Employees Union and delegate to North Shore Labor Council. "These endorsed candidates for Selectmen and School Committee believe in the value of the working class and the contributions they make to the infrastructure of our beloved town.

"This election is critical to the well-being of Marblehead."

The Marblehead town election is on June 22.

Fifteen candidates are running for the five Board of Selectman spots. There are also two ballot override initiatives that would fund the renovation at Abbot Public Library and fund a new pumper truck for the fire department.

The full election warrant and polling locations can be found here.

"Marblehead is not immune to the widening wealth disparity," the Council said, "as working families struggle to stay in their hometown. The unprecedented infusion of federal dollars (from the American Recovery Act) provides Marblehead an exciting opportunity for community investments, such as universal kindergarten.

"This election will help determine who can afford to live and work in Marblehead for years to come."

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)