Shaun P. Toohey being sworn in by Haverhill City Clerk Linda L. Koutoulas after being named to fill the unexpired term of Joseph J. Bevilacqua early last year. (WHAV News photograph.)
No matter what happens during September’s local preliminary or November final elections, changes are coming to the Haverhill School Committee.
And, possibly, the City Council as well. School Committeeman Shaun P. Toohey announced Monday afternoon he will not be a candidate for re-election. Instead, Toohey plans to seek a seat on the City Council.
“After 13 years of privileged service to the families and students of our great city, I wish to expand my commitment to Haverhill by seeking the office of city councilor,” Toohey said in a statement. “Many citizens have encouraged me to run and build upon my record of fiscal responsibility and advocating equal opportunity for everyone,” he added.
Toohey placed fourth for three available school seats when 2015 final election ballots were counted. He received 3,502 votes—111 less than the third-place finisher. However, he was reseated in February, 2016, filling the unexpired term of Joseph J. Bevilacqua. He received the post after a contentious 8 to 7 vote of a special committee of the mayor, city council and remaining members of the school committee.
Because School Committee terms are staggered, Toohey would have faced his sister-in-law Maura Ryan-Ciardiello and Paul A. Magliocchetti had he chosen to seek election this fall.
Toohey, who has served 13 years on the School Committee, isn’t giving up on education.
“I will always remain focused and committed to providing a quality education to the children of Haverhill,” he said. “I will fight for hard-working families of Haverhill, especially those who are struggling financially, because when our families succeed, our community thrives and remains strong,” he added.
He is vice president of Seaman & Toohey Insurance Agency, president of KC Carpets and regional vice president and mortgage banker at Mortgage Equity Partners. He is a member of Kiwanis and a former Riverside Bradford Baseball and Valley Jr Warrior hockey coach. He and his wife Tatum have been married 19 years and have two children Delainey and Jack.
shaun…thanks for running for the city council. I plan to vote for you. you have done a great job for our city as a school committee member
Scott, when I spoke with you directly in the past about my concern about the vile, hateful things my kids were telling me teachers were preaching in classrooms at HHS about Republicans in general, and GOP presidential candidates, your response was “Ya, my daughter tells me the same things”. When I asked you to take steps as a school committee member to try and eliminate the overt liberal indoctrination happening in city schools you directed me to school principals, saying there was nothing you could do.
As a Haverhill delegate to the Republican State Committee your lack of interest to even try and take steps to eliminate the filthy, blatant lies liberal teachers in Haverhill schools are putting the in the minds of students is very telling about your character as a public official, especially since it affects your own child. If this wasn’t the issue to get your hands dirty, then apparently nothing is.
Sorry Scott, you’re yet another all talk, no action, do nothing politician.
His name is Sean
“Many citizens have encouraged me to run and build upon my record of fiscal responsibility and advocating equal opportunity for everyone,” he added. “Many citizens have encouraged me to run and build upon my record of fiscal responsibility and advocating equal opportunity for everyone,” he added. Sounds like he has the talking points down cold. Seems like he is playing a little of both sides of the isle.
I think they left out that he is also the local state committeeman for the Republican party. Can’t forget those GOP ties which may not play well around here now. After all, Haverhill voted for Hillary yuuuugely !
“After all, Haverhill voted for Hillary yuuuugely !” –
Massachusetts is where the real voter suppression happens, the very same Democrats whine about elsewhere. Gerrymandering in this state was used to split the independent/”unenrolled” vote, a vote that has a 2-to-1 advantage over Democrats and Republicans combined. What do we have to show for it? A convicted felon ex-State Speaker who plead guilty to perjury for such. His punishment? A radio show and a posh lobbying job.
As we now, it is so much worse than most realize. Here in Haverhill, the old boy network is as bad as anywhere. Family politics is a bloodsport here.