Iacobucci appointed to fill District 5 vacancy.

By Kevin Doyle
Amesbury News, Thursday, March 15, 2007

As Tom Iacobucci was sworn in by Town Clerk Bonnijo Kitchen to fill the District 5 Municipal Council seat vacated last month by Hank Brennick, many residents angered by the appointment stormed out of the packed Town Hall auditorium Tuesday night.

One yelled "What a fraud!" as he departed. Of those who remained, several questioned whether the council had violated its own Rules and Procedures in making the appointment. (See related story, Page 6).

Iacobucci lost the 2005 mayoral race to Thatcher Kezer and has a lengthy resume of political involvement. He previously served on the Board of Selectmen (1994-96) and Municipal Council (1996-2001) and last year was appointed as a resident member of this council's Ordinance Committee.

His critics contend Iacobucci has undue influence over Council President Chris Lawrence, At-Large Councilor Donna McClure and Councilors Michelle Thone (District 1), Mario Pinierio (District 2) and Alison Lindstrom (District 6).

Iacobucci understands many view him as a polarizing figure and didn't seem surprised by the crowd's reaction.

"Look, there are a lot of people that accuse me of things and who blame me for things. I don't know who most of these people are. I've never met or spoken to them, but they give me an incredible amount of credit and responsibility for things that happen in this town. I understand that you can't win with everybody or make everybody happy," he said Wednesday.

"I have nine months to do this job and I'm going to work with everybody. Now is the time to move forward," he said.

He said he has requested a meeting with the mayor and will ask that he co-sponsor a measure to have Amesbury adopt Section 19 of Chapter 32B of the Coalition Bargaining Law. The goal would be to provide the town flexibility in addressing rising health care costs.

"One question nobody has asked me about is my working with Thatcher. I've known Thatcher longer than I've known my wife (Liz). We first met in the early 1980s when were both involved in party politics, him in Salisbury and me in Amesbury," Iacobucci said.

"If I hadn't been running for mayor in 2005, I would have supported Thatcher. He and I aren't that far apart, not as diametrically opposed as people would like to paint us. I have no problem working with Thatcher and I never have," he said.

Iacobucci planned to meet with Police Chief Michael Cronin Thursday morning.

"I talked with (Fire) Chief (Bill) Shute after the meeting Tuesday and will meet with him and, hopefully, every other department head to discuss issues and learn their concerns. My job is to listen, not to talk. I'll ask open-ended questions. It's a listening tour, I guess you could say," Iacobucci said

Iacobucci was one of eight applicants for the position and was one of three nominees along with former Council President Joe McMilleon and current Finance Committee member Allen Neale, whose nomination by Councilor McClure failed when it was not seconded. The remaining applicants included library trustee Dallas Haines, Don Meskie, Alfred Motsis, Russell Davenport and Robert Martin. Haines (1999) and Motsis (2005) have both run for mayor in the past.

Each applicant was given time to speak before the appointment. Pinierio conducted the bulk of the council's questioning, seeking views on the split tax issue and the School Department's request for a 13 percent budget increase for the coming fiscal year.

Lawrence, Pinierio, Lindstrom and Thone voted for Iacobucci. District 3 Councilor Ann Connolly King and At-Large Councilor Roger Benson voted for McMilleon while McClure abstained. District 4 Councilor Bob Lavoie was not in attendance.

The meeting got off to a rocky start when Benson's motion to suspend council rules and change the agenda to allow for public comment on each of the candidates failed. Connolly King pleaded with her fellow councilors to re-consider, but Lawrence explained that the council rules do not allow for
public comment before filling a vacancy.

"This is not an election; this is an appointment and it's handled just like every other appointment in town," McClure said.

Iacobucci said accessibility would be a high priority.

"I need to get out there and talk to people of District 5 and communicate with them. I've created a specific e-mail address for my council business, I plan to e-mail a district newsletter and I will have office hours. I want to meet with constituents and hear their concerns," he said.

"I'm the seventh of eight kids and my parents were always actively involved. Dinner was fun in our house because there was always lively debate and discussion. You had to stand up for yourself and you had to present yourself. I've never been afraid to argue my point and take my hits when they're deserved. But, I do my homework and I do my research," he said.

Iacobucci went on the record last month saying he will not run for mayor later this year. However, whether he runs for the District 5 seat in the fall remains to be seen.

"It's a decision that has to be made in about six months. You never say never, but right now my concern is to do the job for the district and then go from there," he said.