Last Hurrah For 3 Braintree Town Councilors

BRAINTREE, MA — For the last time, three members of the Braintree Town Council, including two original councilors, were present in their capacity as elected officials.

Tuesday was the final meeting for Councilors John Mullaney, Dan Clifford, and Mike Owens. Mullaney and Clifford leave the council after a decade of service, while Owens departs for law school following a four-year stay.

“I think it’s interesting that John and Dan are moving on at the same time. I don’t think they agreed on anything while they were here but they had a good sense of serving their community while they were here,” Sullivan said.

On Owens, the youngest member of the council, Sullivan said, “I think his perspective, doing his homework for the meetings, the conversations that we’ve had I’ve appreciated. You’ve given me insight into how a millennial thinks. That perspective is important to me.”

In his remarks, Mullaney said the council faces many challenges including development, marijuana regulation, and the ongoing opioid crisis.

Clifford’s remarks consisted of a quote from former General Electric CEO Jack Welch.

“Good leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision and relentlessly drive it to completion,” he said.

Owens said he was most proud of his work improving South Braintree Square, local investments in businesses like the Braintree House of Pizza, and his work fighting the opioid crisis.

With the latest departures, three of the nine original councilors remain. This year’s turnover is the biggest since the council’s first election in 2007. The three also received citations from both chambers at the state house, gifts from the mayor and council, and departing words from the men of the hour.

Image Credit: Dan Libon