Voke School Committee Candidate's Residency Claims To Be Reviewed

MELROSE, MA — The Board of Registrars will on Monday meet to review the voter registration status of a Northeast Metro Tech School Committee candidate who has already said he is withdrawing from the race after allegations of lying about his residency came to light.

Andrew White told Patch on Oct. 12 he was pulling out of the race, hours after Patch published a story in which Joshua White said his father hadn't lived at 35 Otis St. in years. His son provided Patch with a copy of a recent lease that did not list Andrew White among the occupants.

White denied the allegations, declining to say on the record why his son would say make the claims. But he soon after told Patch he would "withdraw from the school post," citing family concerns.

At the time, City Clerk Amy Kamosa said her office was aware of questions surrounding White's residency, but no formal complaints had been made. White's son told Patch he planned to file one.

The review comes just eight days before Election Day and after thousands of ballots have already been cast — ballots that list 35 Otis St. as White's address.

Ward Hamilton is the only other candidate in the race.

The School Committee is made up of 12 members from Chelsea, Malden, Melrose, North Reading, Reading, Revere, Saugus, Stoneham, Wakefield, Winchester, Winthrop and Woburn. The school is in Wakefield.

The seat will finally be open after more than three decades being filled by former Melrose President of the Board of Aldermen and School Committee member Henry Hooton.