Thursday, March 22, 2007 Older Editions

The choice is yours

By Neil Fater

Next Tuesday, residents at the ballot box will not have to choose between the lesser of two evils for moderator. Any of the five people on the ballot to lead Town Meeting could do the job. I offer voters a quick, if opinionated, cheat sheet of the moderator candidates. Included is one question for each candidate that the voters will answer at the ballot box:

David Samuels

Strength: For those who seek significant change to the roles of town leaders in forming the budget, he offers a bold, different view for how to run the town and its budget process. This allows him to stand out from the other candidates.

Weakness: Some believe it's healthy for different leaders to argue over budget priorities as they do. Plus, he stuck his foot into two of the messier school issues this past year.

The question: After taking a leadership role in the controversial St. Augustine crossing guard and Wheels of Justice issues, can he be seen as an unbiased leader of Town Meeting?

Ken Ozoonian

Strength: As someone who has never held elected office but is almost always at Town Meeting, he brings no baggage and a knowledge of Andover Town Meeting to the table. His work experience, including being an on-air personality for a small radio show, means he has some experience handling opinionated folks.

Weakness: Who is this guy?

The question: Will people take a chance in this transition year on someone they probably had never heard of a few weeks ago?

Eric Nadworny

Strength: He brings experience and knowledge, and, after a few years away from office, should not be linked to hot-button issues.

Weakness: As a former School Committee member, people worry he may influence budget discussions in the schools' favor.

The question: Do voters view him as as an (unbiased) Andover leader or as a former School Committee leader?

Larry Morse

Strength: He has been a town moderator before, for one year in Ipswich.

Weakness: His one year as Town Meeting moderator in Ipswich. He was voted out because he became involved with a zoning issue.

The question: Will Andover voters believe he learned from his mistake as he says?

Sheila Doherty

Strength: Knowledge of town, plus the Doherty name. Her father is the outgoing moderator.

Weakness: For some, the Doherty name; for a few, the fact that as a Planning Board member she's stated her views on a handful of issues such as over-55 housing.

The question: Will too many residents view voting for her as some kind of voter-approved nepotism?

Next Tuesday ought to answer some of these questions, and a winner will be declared. But each of the candidates deserves a hearty thanks from the community. This race, and the race for selectmen, offer voters five very different and predominantly strong choices. This year is a blueprint for what people would be lucky to have on their ballots annually.

Neil Fater is editor of the Townsman.