Sullivan Drops Out of Selectmen's Race
Hammond Road resident departure leaves two running for full-term position.
Days after being the first candidate to submit the necessary paperwork to the Town Clerk's Office, Matt Sullivan official withdrew from the race to replace Angelo Firenze on the Belmont Board of Selectmen.
The letter, signed and delivered Jan. 10 to Town Clerk Ellen Cushman, said he "was no longer a candidate" for the three-year term to be decided at the April 2 town election.
Sullivan is currently a member of the Board of Library Trustees, winning a seat on that board in last year's town election.
Sullivan's departure leaves two potential candidates – the Planning Board's Andy Rojas and Dan Scharfman of the School Committee – in the race. They, and anyone else, interested in filling the full-term Selectmen's position or any other contested seat has until Feb. 13 to submit 50 certified signatures to Cushman.
tess_shiva
4:41 pm on Thursday, January 12, 2012
I've found Mr. Sullivan's frequent posts (and tirades) to the Belmont Patch over the past few weeks to be rather strange for a public figure seeking election. A seemingly manic "in it to win it" middle-of-the-night post then resigning his campaign? Defensive, argumentative posts punctuated by the comment "Time to grow up"? I resolved that I wouldn't vote for him after that last outburst, regardless of his seemingly good intentions or qualifications. I wonder if others might have felt the same.
Matt Sullivan
6:28 pm on Thursday, January 12, 2012
I love when people hide behind screen names on here and on wickedlocal.com. At least I'm not afraid to stand behind what I say.
Waverly Watchdog
3:06 pm on Friday, January 13, 2012
At least Matt has stood up for Belmont Taxpayers and against another massive, multimillion dollar waste of Other Peoples' Money in opposing the reelection of Hal Shubin.... swo a majority of the votes feel as he does.
To hear others tell it, the current library is too old and decrepit to repair, while a "historic" barn at McLean is a national gem.
At least Matt has his priorities correct.... if you cannot afford it, don't do it. You have already maxed out your grandkids' credit card.
Rich Snow
6:57 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
I can't blame him for being involved. But you're all dead wrong about replacing the library. There are a lot of us that would rather have a new library and one less school.
Matt Sullivan
8:27 pm on Friday, January 13, 2012
This was a very hard decision to make but I feel strongly that I made the right one at this time. I love Belmont and will continue to stay involved as a TMM and member of the Board of Library Trustees. I
Matt Sullivan
10:13 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Rich,
Where would you put all the kids that are in the school that you would close?
I don't think that is an option. I know as a School Committee candidate I wouldn't recommend closing any of the schools.