Bahrawy: Partisanship in Race 'Unseemly'

In the final stretch of the town moderator race, town moderator candidate and Finance Committee member Ramsey Bahrawy is setting him outside the political back-and-forth the race has generated.

In particular, Bahrawy points to the recent endorsements and letters of support his opponents have garnered. Mark DiSalvo is a Democratic party operative who has the expressed support of Board of Selectmen Chair Tracy Watson and  School Committee Chair Chris Allen. And Frank MacMillan was recently endorsed by the North Andover Town Republican Committee.

"These unseemly, partisan actions differentiate me from my competitors as  I have not sought and/or accepted any endorsements," Bahrawy said. "What does this mean? It means I am the only candidate in this race who can claim the mantle of impartiality."

Both Watson and Republican Committee Chair Rosemary Smedile said their respective endorsements were not partisan but rather a reflection on the individual candidates. Watson is unenrolled and has backed several Republican candidates for office recently. And MacMillan is unenrolled as well.

But the race has become a political lightning rod, and Bahrawy even went so far as to say it will result in cronyism if one of his opponents wins.

"... I am the only candidate who is free to make appointments to the finance committee without the need to weigh political considerations that come with political endorsements," Bahrawy wrote. "My actions won't be influenced by the need to consider a quid pro quo. Neither Mr. DiSalvo nor Dr. MacMillan can credibly make this claim."

The full text of Bahrawy's statement is as follows:

We in North Andover are indeed fortunate that over the generations our candidates for town government have approached their campaign for office  in a non-partisan fashion. As a candidate for Town Moderator I have highlighted my training and skill as a neutral. In my service to the town both as a member of the board of selectmen and finance committee I have always set aside my personal ideology and placed the town's interests first.  It is my experience over 30 years that putting aside partisanship has customarily been the "North Andover way."

However this year 2 candidates for town moderator are departing from tradition. My opponent Mark DiSalvo, a Democratic party operative, has sought and accepted the endorsements of high profile politicians such as  the chairperson of the Board of Selectmen and School Committee. Dr. MacMillan received and accepted the endorsement of the town Republican committee. These unseemly, partisan actions differentiate me from my competitors as  I have not sought and/or accepted any endorsements. What does this mean? It means I am the only candidate in this race who can claim the mantle of impartiality. A quality that is crucial in being an effective town moderator. In other words I am the only candidate who is free to make appointments to the finance committee without the need to weigh political considerations that come with political endorsements. My actions won't  be influenced by the need to consider a quid pro quo. Neither Mr. DiSalvo nor Dr. MacMillan can credibly make this claim. In fact my opponents' judgment, effectiveness and credibility now will always be questioned by voters because of their politicization of this race. This is a taint of which I am happy to be free.

Not only do I possess the best professional qualifications for town moderator but, by their partisan actions, my opponents have also proven me to the true neutral, middle of the road candidate. The candidate who will act with only one thought in mind -  pursuing only the best interests of the town.

Ramsey Bahrawy