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Bob Thibodeau ousted from School Committee |
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Tuesday, 04 November 2008 |
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By SANDY McGEE CUMBERLAND - Voters chose to elect several new faces to the School Committee on Tuesday, while ousting a 14-year veteran member.
Incumbent Robert C. Thibodeau, who has served for seven terms on the School Committee, lost his at-large seat on the board. Replacing the veteran member will be 20 year old Ryan William Pearson, who won his first political race in town Tuesday.The tally of votes for the at-large race, in which two seats were available, was 7,524 for incumbent Lisa A. Beaulieu, 5,732 for Pearson, 4,819 for Thibodeau and 3,414 for Paul DiModica.“It’s been a tough two years,” Thibodeau said prior to the results.“I’m very happy about it,” said Pearson at a celebration Tuesday evening at the Cumberland House of Pizza. “I’m ready to move the district forward for the next two years. I especially thank the voters.”Pearson, a lifelong town resident, is a graduate of Cumberland High School and the American University. He is currently attending Providence College.A staff assistant for U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Pearson is the great-grandson of former state Sen. G. Frank Hanaway and nephew of former Sens. Paul Hanaway and Sandra Hanaway.Also returning to the board for a second term is incumbent Beaulieu, a self-employed consultant for local technology firms. During her tenure on the School Committee, Beaulieu has served as chair of the Curriculum Subcommittee, a member of the Strategic Planning Committee and CHS 2010 rededication committee. Another new member to the School Committee will be Daniel L. Pedro, who defeated incumbent W. David Wagner for the District 2 seat. The preliminary tally of votes was 1,057 for Pedro and 955 for Wagner. Many residents Tuesday evening asked, “Who is Pedro?” as the results filtered in. Pedro reportedly didn’t submit any candidate information to local newspapers. Wagner served on the School Committee since 2006.In the race for the District 3 seat on the School Committee, veteran incumbent Donald J. Costa, who has also served for 14 years on the board, defeated his opponent, John V. Gibbons. The preliminary tally was 1,669 for Costa and 980 for Gibbons. Costa is an employee of Vegas Fastener Mfg. and a former employee of Standard Nut and Bolt. He has served as a member of the Democratic Town Committee. Newcomer and former Pawtucket School Committee member Brian J. Kelly will also join the Cumberland School Committee after defeating his opponent Richard S. Hilton Jr. for the District 4 seat. Kelly received 1,918 votes, while Hilton received 1,068.Kelly served on the Pawtucket School Committee from 1994 to 1997. He is also a member of the executive board for the Rhode Island Business Educators Association, advisory board for the business technology program at William M. Davies Jr. Career and Technical High School and as a member of the Cumberland Space Utilization Task Force.He is employed as director of accounts payable for Bright Horizon Family Solutions in Watertown, Mass. Earl T. Wood, who was the only incumbent member running unopposed, received 2,195 votes for the District 5 seat. Wood served on the School Committee from 1998 to 2000 and again from 2002 to 2008. Former School Committee member Rosa Quinonez Crowley will also return to the board after receiving 1,419 votes for the District 1 seat. Crowley, who ran unopposed, served on the School Committee from 2004 to 2006. She is employed as a Spanish teacher at Woonsocket High School. Rosa Crowley’s husband, Frederic C. Crowley, who is not running for re-election, previously held the District 1 seat. |
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 09 November 2008 )
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