POLITICAL POT: There could be some very interesting races on some key boards and commissions this April. Let’s take a peek into the busy world of political maneuvers.

SELECTMAN: The race for Selectman will be fascinating. FinCom guru Frank Basler will be facing off against Kingston native Joe Kelleher. Joel Michaud, who, along with Kelleher, ran in the recent Special Election, has indicated that he may not turn in his papers but could seek another position. That would leave a one-on-one Basler-Kelleher race that would be one for the ages.

SEWER COMMISSION: Next we have Sewer Commission. Perennial candidate Mauro Mazzilli seeks a three-year term. There is also a two-year seat caused by the resignation of Brian Donahoe. So far, very little activity, but that won’t last for long. Those two seats will not go off with a free pass. So far, we hear about a 60-year-old newcomer, and we even hear about a developer who is being urged to jump in. Whatever happens with these two seats will evolve, right up to the March 4 deadline, and will be filled with the stuff that news is made of.

TREASURER: Due to the untimely passing of Treasurer Rocky Cole, there will be a spot on the ballot to complete the remaining two years of the term. Ted Alexiades has taken out papers for the position that doesn’t surprise us, we predicted it in an on-line editorial back on January 31. Finance Committee Chairman John LaBrache will challenge him. Each lives within a few houses of one another on West Street, John at #38, Ted at #42.

HEALTH BOARD: The Health Board will see incumbent Dennis Randall joined by former member Dan Sapir and Paul Barry. Barry sits on the Elementary School Committee, ran two years ago for Selectman, pulled papers for Planning Board several weeks ago and decided instead to give the BOH a shot. Sapir lost his seat a year ago to Joe Casna. Ann Fraser has decided not se seek another term due to a possible re-location.

PLANNING BOARD, aside from the Paul Barry withdrawal, sees the emergence of another O’Donnell as a political hopeful. Rebecca is married to Shawn O’Donnell who sits on the Rent Control Board, Conservation Commission, and submitted formal plans for a large 40-B project on his mother’s land at the sand and gravel pit. Rebecca is listed as project architect. This seat will be contested.

NO CONTEST: It’s hard to say if there will be a contest for Assessor. It is possible that appointee Anne Dunn could face opposition - but there is none yet. More on that later. Seats that will go uncontested are Moderator, Tax Collector, Elementary School Committee, Regional School Committee, Library Trustees, Water Commission, Constables, and Recreation Commission. What with the RecCommission about to manage the Pottle Street fields you’d think there would be a move on that board; but it’s early yet.

SCHOFIELD ROAD: Still in the news, several residents of the street have retained a lawyer in order to get a better accounting of Condo Manager Ed King actions. They want to see invoices and cancelled checks that would show that concerns of the condo owners are being addressed. Ed claims that he threw all the paperwork away claiming it was accepted past procedure. In addition to the $4,200 annual Manager’s fee, Ed received over $19,000 in other direct, unsubstantiated payments during the year 2002. 2002 was used as a sample year and no receipts or cancelled checks were available, having been destroyed. Things have gotten sticky on the street ever since it was reported that Ed took credit for having the road pulled off the list to be sewered. We saw paperwork identifying Schofield as part of the original 1997 sewer plan. It still remains a mystery as to how it got removed. The mystery did save King and Selectman George Cravenho a combined savings of $44,000 since, between them, they owned four units at the time.

Remember last month we told you that one vocal condo owner was hauled into court to answer a restraining order? That man according to court papers, was Edward Costello and the complainant was condo treasurer Sylvia Spinney. King, who signed as witness to the complaint, did not attend the hearing. The judge threw out the complaint. Part of the allegations against Costello included slamming kitchen cabinet doors and leaving a rear outside light on. Costello believes the action was in reaction to his questioning condo management issues for which both King and Spinney get paid.

But wait, there’s more. Copies of the Observer have been showing up on not only Schofield Road but also Prospect Street. It is clear that the papers are being stolen from elsewhere and dumped on the streets. Oddly, someone is taking care to fold them like newspaper carriers do. The latest twist is they are now being stapled. At any rate they are being strewn across the neighborhood for purposes we have yet to learn.

WHAT’S UNREASONABLE? Olly DeMacedo claimed that the Pottle Street torched barn lot owned by Sharon Davis could be hers if she were more reasonable. Let’s examine that. The Selectmen were about to snag a citizen’s property, and indeed began stripping the land. Davis finds the documentation that proves her father indeed bought the parcel from the town after the transaction was approved by Town Meeting. After all the heartache that followed, including the arson burning of her barn, Selectmen are “willing” to give her that which she owns. That’s all they offer. What do we believe Sharon is seeking? Probably the restoration of the land that was desecrated. Probably attorney’s fees. And probably the re-seeding and planting of the parcel. Pretty reasonable to us. Where does it sit now? It will probably go back to court in June. The case received a stay until then in order to try and work out a settlement. After that the process of discovery will resume with depositions. Davis lawyer Mike Pieroni said the only offer the town made was to turn over the land, “Olly’s comments are not founded on reality” he told Ringside.

SCREEN PLAY: We’re still waiting to hear the official plans for the 18 theatres and restaurants to eventually replace the Hoyt’s complex. Mall management said ground could be broken as early as the end of February (which is almost here). The proposal must first go to the Planning Board and that has yet to happen.

SHERIFF WINS: When Sheriff Joe McDonough was successful in defending his actions in firing three employees (including Joe Palombo) three years ago, he put out a press release heralding his court victory. In the release Joe D. said “The suit was without merit and Palombo was using it to advance his political ambitions at the expense of the taxpayers.” Obviously Joe D. forgot about the tens of thousands he spent on a slick, self-serving puff pamphlet he distributed by mail recently. The Sheriff’s name or photo was used about a dozen times. Let’s be fair here. The press release went on to say: “During the trial, Sheriff McDonough testified that he fired the three deputies after hearing their names associated with kickback schemes, strong-arm tactics and conflicts of interest.” We were interested in these assertions so called attorney Thomas Hoopes whose name and phone number was included in the release. The press release stated that he would provide comment on the verdict. We asked Hoopes about the kickbacks, etc. Hoopes said that it was verifiable and agreed to send us the documentation to substantiate the claim…we’re still waiting. The fact is, McDonough should be thankful for the win, cut the sniping and get on with the business of destroying morale in his department. The Primary battle will be entertaining, and if McDonough wins, a lot of Dems will be crossing party lines.

WALSH WATCH: Former Silver Lake Administrator Denise Walsh has certainly has her hands full down in Middleboro where she serves as Superintendent. First she got slammed for failing to communicate with her school committee relative to a chain attack by one student on another, then we read of a teacher involved in internet activity with his students. This after being asked to leave his previous position after being accused of raping a student. Denise could have stayed at SL for sordid headlines.

THE ROCK: The loss of Rocky Cole to the municipal landscape is momentous. He had a 40-year history of service to Kingston that included just about every position you could think of, some of them more then once. He was an imposing, dignified figure with a voice that resonated with intelligence, trust, knowledge and friendship. He was one of our financial anchors and was proud of the town’s A+ rating in the financial markets. Rocky was one of a kind. We will fill his seat in the April elections, but he will not be replaced.

NO COMMENT: Notice that neither Ed King or Attorney Rob Kraus has made any kind of response to the perception of conflict of interest enumerated in the last TKO? On one hand it’s smart to ignore the matter; things like this blow over. On the other hand, if we are to extract any kind of public confidence whenever he and Ed King share the stage, decency would dictate a statement.

RICHIE SIGHTING: We received a call telling us that Richard Cretinon paid a visit to the Reed Building two weeks ago. Word was that he went into Boston to get his busted wrist looked at and got back into town well in advance of his 4:30 home ankle bracelet curfew. So what does he do? Well, apparently decides to visit in the COA quarters and snag some of the day old baked goods from Victory donated to the Senior Citizens. When are these people going to realize that this is serious business and they are in a heap of trouble. Do you sometimes think they treat these matters like it’s a joke?

VOTING DEADLINE: The last day to register to vote in the April Annual Town Elections is March 12. It couldn’t be any easier. The last day to register to vote in the April Annual Town Elections is March 12. Call them at 781-585-0502 if you have any questions; they are a great staff.

WHAA HAPPENED? Something certainly went wrong with the proposal to place the management of the Pottle Street Fields under private management. What we find interesting is that the tweak for the idea came from members of the Ballfield Committee (Ted Alexiades and Bruce Chenard, et al) and in the end they dropped off the planet leaving privatization advocate Marty Crowe holding the bag. Here you have a concept that came within minutes of having a licensing agreement signed, and it implodes. Crowe is a fierce advocate and we hope to see the guy remain involved in matters beyond his presidency of baseball.