Braintree Candidate Profile: John Mullaney For Town Council

BRAINTREE, MA — November's election will bring some new faces to the Town Council. There's 17 candidates running for nine seats, and five of those races are wide-open.

District 2 is among those open races and is where John Mullaney will square off against Steven Sciascia. The seat became open after Town Councilor Thomas Whalen didn't seek re-election.

Patch asked the candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near. Here's a little about Mullaney before the Braintree town election on Nov. 5.

Previously on Patch:

• Braintree Candidate Profile: Thomas Reynolds Jr. For Mayor
• Braintree Candidate Profile: Charles Kokoros For Mayor
• Braintree Candidate Profile: Timothy Carey For Town Council
• Braintree Candidate Profile: Lawrence Mackin For Town Council
• Braintree Candidate Profile: Julia Flaherty For Town Council
• Braintree Candidate Profile: David Ringius For Town Council
• Braintree Candidate Profile: Steve Sciascia For Town Council
• Braintree Candidate Profile: Gisca Bonhomme For Town Council
• Braintree Candidate Profile: Donna Connors For Town Council
• Braintree Candidate Profile: Meredith Boericke For Town Council
• Braintree Candidate Profile: John McKinley For Town Council
• Braintree Candidate Profile: Shawn Cody For Town Council
• Braintree Candidate Profile: Anthony Preston For Town Council

The single most pressing issue facing Braintree is ____, and this is what you intend to do about it?

With the retirement of Mayor Joseph Sullivan, I believe that the Town of Braintree is facing a political tsunami. We will have a new mayor who is untested in dealing with the everyday problems of the town as well as planning for the future. In addition, there will be five new town councilors. For the last 12 years, the town has faced many problems and handled them well.

Having been a Braintree town councilor for 10 years, I believe that I will bring the necessary experience to assist the mayor and the council in resolving problems. My experience has allowed me to reflect on my mistakes and successes. My accounting skills will allow me to effectively serve on the Ways and Means Committee and help to manage the expenses and prevent future attempts at 2.5 override proposals.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

My opponent has stated his opposition to 40B and 40R. He has taken credit raising the issue that 1.5 percent of the general land area minimum for affordable housing. The Town of Braintree lost this issue at the Department of Housing Development (DHCD). The town again lost under a decision by the Housing Appeals Committee and most recently the town’s position was again rebuffed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Housing Appeals Committee. The failure to win has placed the town in an unenviable position of trying to negotiate with a contractor when he has spent much legal money and pulled off two legal victories. I believe in compromise and believe that the town should have been trying to work a compromise on the Holland Project on Storrs Avenue.

I believe that the Braintree should be trying to clean up areas that are virtually abandoned. We should be working with contractors to encourage them to build Over 55 housing for those in Braintree who want to sell their homes but stay in Braintree. This can be accomplished through compromise. Such housing does not impact on our schools and at the same time, it brings additional tax money to Braintree.

We should be all working together for a better Braintree.

Finally, let me itemize my experience. For thirty five years, I worked for the Internal Revenue as an IRS Agent and an Appeals Officer. During that time, I was also a Chapter President for the union. During that time, I learned to negotiate and to compromise. One learns the value of compromise after you lose what you thought would be a sure victory. For the last sixteen years, I have worked as a Tax Attorney in my own practice. I described my specialty as “Resolving Problems.” For many years, I have served as a volunteer. Soon after I moved to Braintree, in 1978, I joined the board of the Center for Brain Injured Children. During that time, I started to see the wonderful volunteers that make our town thrive. In 1984, I was able to coach my son in Braintree Little League. That continued for 8 years. I also coached my daughter in Braintree Girls Basketball. About 20 years ago, I became a Town Meeting member and then served on the Finance Committee for 6 years. Again, I observed the volunteers that make Braintree work so well.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I believe in a fully staffed police force. Twelve years ago, the Canton Chief of Police retired and gave this message for all to heed: “We focus on visibility in the streets, so that if would be criminals keep running into police as they drive through town, they might just keep on driving to find a softer town.” We need to maintain quality education and make sure the facilities are worthy of the teachers and students. The Public Works Department should be provided with up to date equipment in order to provide good services to the residents.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

For six years, I served on the Finance Committee. I also served as a Town Meeting member. For 10 years, I served as a Braintree Town Councilor. All of this positions, including my participation in Braintree youth sports helped me to know and understand Braintree.

As a Town Councilor, I chaired the Ways and Means Committee for six years. I served on the Rules and Ordinance Committee and with Lee Dingee and Hank Joyce, we rewrote the laws of the Town of Braintree. As a Town Councilor, I proposed the meals tax increase of .75 percent. This is less than 1 percent and it brings in annually $1.300, 000 to the Braintree every year. It took three years to pass this ordinance. I supported the building of Dave and Busters which passed by a five-to-four vote.

What's your favorite thing about Braintree?

From the time I first became a Town Meeting member, I realized that Braintree is special because of the volunteers. Recently, I visited Independence Manor and remembered when I first met Liz and Jack Connors. They had just created Independence Manor, a place for seniors to live and be served. The Manor was founded in 1976 and still serves our seniors. There are too many volunteers for me to list but they all have made a difference.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

For 35 years, I worked for the Internal Revenue as an IRS Agent and an Appeals Officer. During that time, I was also a Chapter President for the union. During that time, I learned to negotiate and to compromise. One learns the value of compromise after you lose what you thought would be a sure victory. For the last sixteen years, I have worked as a tax attorney in my own practice. I described my specialty as “Resolving Problems.”