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Haverhill’s city election season is promising early excitement with a two-term member of the Haverhill School Committee choosing not to seek re-election.
Current School Committee Vice Chair Richard J. Rosa, who has served since the start of 2018, told WHAV Sunday he will not seek re-election during this year’s balloting. He said he chose to make his plans known early so that “those interested in running for an open at-large seat on the Haverhill School Committee have ample time to plan and campaign citywide in a geographically large municipality.”
“A competitive election with engaged, serious, and thoughtful candidates benefits our schools and community by bringing informed and fair-minded voices to the conversation about education,” he explained in a statement.
Rosa was the only newcomer chosen for School Committee by voters during the 2017 election, filling an opening created when member Shaun P. Toohey decided not to seek re-election to the body.
At the time, School Committee terms were staggered with three people elected to four-year terms during every other city election. In 2024, Rosa, along with members Paul A. Magliocchetti and Maura L. Ryan-Ciardiello, was allowed to serve out his remaining two years after the city switched to mostly ward-based elections.
Rosa originally ran as a parent of twin boys attending Haverhill Public Schools. He said then, “I am running for the Haverhill School Committee because I care about our students, our schools and our city’s future. I want to help. The City of Haverhill has been good to me and I want to give back.”
At his first meeting in 2018—unusual for newcomers—Rosa successfully proposed changing the title of what was School Committee “president” to “vice chair” instead. He argued the title of president is a non sequitur, considering the role of the mayor is “chair” under the city’s form of government. The organizational meeting also eliminated the role of vice president, then assigned to a third ranking member of leadership. Rosa was elected by his colleagues as vice chair in 2020—the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic—and, again, this past January.
Rosa told WHAV he is “deeply grateful to the voters for their trust and support, allowing me to advocate for our schools and help shape policies that positively impact the future of Haverhill’s students.” He added, he remains “fully committed to supporting our schools and working hard for the remainder of my term. I look forward to continuing to advocate for the success of Haverhill’s children in the years ahead.”
For those considering running in Haverhill’s city election this year may take out nomination papers beginning Monday, May 5, from the Haverhill city clerk’s office.