In the two contesleted races for the April 5 Town Election, most candidates for selectmen and School Committee said they foresee a future Arlington that continues the Lyons five-year plan, as well as a future that includes an override. As to more immediate issues, most of the four selectmen hopefuls called sidewalk snow-shoveling a priority, while most of the five school candidates looked to ways to heal the division marking the past year.

March 29: LWV denies it provided advance look at questions

The March 27 Candidates' Night, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Arlington and Vision 2020, drew about 200 people to Town Hall, a number of whom held political signs outside beforehand. Here is a summary of the answers to many of the questions:

Board of Selectmen

How do you see the impact of Lyons' plan as it enters the fourth of its five years?

Annie LaCourt, a senior information systems manager for YouthBuild USA and on the board since 2005, said the plan help look to the future and focuses the town on its priorities. One weakness, she said, is that the current plan does not take into consideration how some of those priorities might change more than expected. An example, which she did not cite, is the cost of healthcare.

Diane Mahon, a court reporter and on the board since 1998, said that the plan show that "when we make a promise, we stick to it." She noted that the stabilization fund will have $6 million in year six after the plan began, in 2005.

Ken Marquis, who had been newsletter coordinator of the Epilepsy Association of Boston andin his first run for selectman, did not address the question directly but said he hoped to reduce taxes and that he had supported Prop. 2 1/2 with Nancy Higgins.

Tom Caccavaro, president of his town-based construction company and making his first run for selectman, called the "Lyons plan correct," but he said healthcare costs had shot up 13 percent. "We need to sit down and negotiate" these costs, he said.

Should town funds be used shovel snow from sidewalks?

"It's a priority," Mahon said, citing a Town Meeting warrant article calling for further support of town funds for such clearing.

Marquis, who lives of Medford Street, said his neighborhood does not need such town help.

Caccavaro had another view of the same neighborhood. "[I'm] tired of my 84-year-old grandmother walking down Medford Street" on unshoveled walks, he said.

LaCourt noted walks are now cleared around town and school properties, but that curb cuts are a problem.

What contingency plan do you have if local aid is cut?

"You have to set priorities," Caccavaro said, citing his top three -- public safety, education, infrastructure. He said he has a three-year plan for each.

LaCourt pointed to 5 percent held in reserve. "We might have to go into the reserve sooner," she said.

"Need to do a better job on Beacon Hill to improve the local-aid formula," Mahon said

On the other hand, Marquis said "We don't need money from Beacon Hill."

The introductions that the candidates for selectmen offered provided snapshots of who they are:

Caccavaro launched a series of booming sentences, each beginning "I appreciate ...." He concluded with his slogan: "Preserving Arlington's past, building Arlington's future."

LaCourt provided specifics, noting her roles in combing town and school IT functions and launching a town complaint-tracking system.

Mahon delivered chirpy optimism, noting her personal service to constituents and saying she encouraged "listening and learning from each other."

Marquis said he is a "person who is able to get things done" and said the town should again pursue the Park West Program, used when he attended Arlington public schools.

April 5 Town Election information

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School Committee

If there are no significant changes in the town economic picture, would you support an override at the end of the five-year plan?

Leba Heigham, a teacher with 15 years' experience who holds a principal's license and a first-time school candidate, said that once Arlington advocates on the state level for more funding, seeking to partners with the state, then "we can seek another override."

Judson Pierce, a lawyer who deals with family issues, said he plans to attend lobbying day with Stand for Children, an educational-advocacy group, in mid-April to urge more state aid. He did not answer the override question directly.

Joseph Tully, a lawyer and an unsuccessful School Committee candidate in 2003, said he supports an override, but he said "we should do all we can beforehand" and that it should be a last resort. He noted he wants to rebuild Thompson and Stratton and has a plan to do so.

Joseph Curro Jr., manager of online systems integration for The New England Journal of Medicine and a first-time school candidate, cited the wording of question and said the committee has "very little choice but to go back to the voters" for an override. He urged joining with 16 other communities facing overrides. "Need to band together," he said.

Joseph Curran, the lone incumbent and a teacher/coach for the Woburn public schools, took a different position from the other four but a line of thinking he has followed for months. "We don't have the trust of the people because of litigation," he said, referring to the challenge brought by dismissed Ottoson teacher Chuck Coughlin that has led to arbitration. Curran said he estimated close to $300,000 had been spent on legal fees "for that," referring to the Coughlin-Bouris case. "Until the litigation is settled," he said, "there is not enough credibility for an override."

In a related question, candidates were asked:

This has been a divisive year. What is your experience as a unifying force?

Tully cited his arbitration background in business.

Curran did not answer the question directly. He called himself an "independent voice" and "people have to stand strong with conviction."

Curro cited his work as a unifier on issues affecting his neighborhood related to Symmes redevelopment. He said that some who disagreed with him as the plans for the Symmes project were shaping up now support his election.

Heigham called it "essential to have a diversity of opinion on the School Committee." She said all must work together to define the problem.

Pierce said he wants to be a model for his children. He echoed Heigham in saying all should listen and learn from one another.

What action would you take to increase tHe number of minority teachers?

As immediate past president of town Human Rights Commission, Curro said he discussed this issue in an HRC forum last year. He said he would reach out via the media and try to make Arlington a more welcoming town.

"Arlington is a microcosm of the U.S.," Heigham said, saying the schools should seek to hire minority candidates earlier than it does now. She said the School Committee should work with the administration and the teachers' union, the Arlington Education Assoc iation, to identify minority candidates.

Pierce said he attended the international festival at the Thompson School in March. "Events like this are a great way to start," he said, suggested the schools hire a personnel director.

Tully said he was not certain there is a specific course the schools can take on this issue. He said the committee should use its position of influence to make an impression to attract candidates. "Hiring best based on merit," he said.

While the committee is dedicated to hire minority candidates, Curran said, "but fiscally we can't hire many minorities" and noted the higher salaries in Cambridge and Belmont.

Cable-TV information

Treasurer

In his opening remarks, Stephen Gilligan, uncontested in seeking the office he has held since 2006, said he recovered more than $13 million is in state school-building reimbursements that had been allowed to lanquish. That included $5,046,728.71 as a lump-sum payment for the Dallin School rebuild and an additional annual payment of $810,00, or $8.1 million plus for the life of the borrowings, for the other remaining schools.

During questions, he was asked whether the current economic downturn might affect town investments. He said he expected investment return to do less well in the coming fiscal year as it did previously. He said aggressively seeking the best financial deals for the town resulted in exceeding short-term deposit projections by an additional $980,000 in the current year and does not expect that in fiscal 2009.

Asked whether he would invest town pensions in the state retirement system, as some in Town Meeting have suggested, he said he prefers managing that money locally. He said town pension funds have had a 8 1/4% return over the last 20 years, but the last three years have been lower.

Assessor

Uncontested candidate Mary Winstanly-O'Connor was asked whether adjustments wrere expected for taxpayers since value of all properties is lower. She responded that Department of Revenue figures show total is not lower and that a townwide revaluation is coming up this year. She noted 115 applications for abatements, indicating genereal public satisfaction with how properties are assessed.

Housing

Incumbent Richard Murray was unable to attend, and no reason was given. Under LWV rules, challenger Patricia Worden could not speak publicly.