Framingham Mayoral Race Heats Up With Controversy

FRAMINGHAM, MA —The hottest topic in Framingham isn't so much an issue of "he said, she said" as much as it is a question of where he and she say the line should be drawn.

Mayoral candidate John Stefanini on Saturday moved unattended campaign materials set up by volunteer Norma Shulman in the Framingham Public Library lobby. Shulman was there on behalf of opposing candidate Yvonne Spicer. Stefanini also removed three articles about Spicer posted on Shulman's board.

Stefanini told Patch the unattended display violated campaign rules. He has apologized for any "misinterpreted intentions" but said he is "disappointed that someone would knowingly violate well known campaign rules."

Shulman says it was a mistake to leave the materials, but the state assured her there is no law regarding leaving unattended nomination papers. The bigger story to her is that a mayoral candidate would move and remove his opposition's campaign materials. Stefanini's attempt to blame her is "yet another example of Mr. Stefanini's character," Shulman told Patch.

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Here is what we know so far: Shulman set up campaign materials for Spicer inside the lobby at the Framingham Public Library. The materials included nomination papers and a poster with articles about Spicer. You can see the display in this image:

Around 9:20 a.m., Shulman left the materials to enter the Costin Room and listen to a school budget meeting.

During the meeting, Stefanini, who had been inside the Costin Room, stepped outside to take a phone call. He noticed the materials had been left unattended for some time. He moved the materials to where he says was "plain view." Shulman says she found them behind the trash.

Stefanini left, then returned shortly after to remove the three clippings at the top of the board. They were articles about Spicer from local publications, including Patch.

Shulman returned shortly before 11 a.m. to find her display was gone. She reported it to library staff, who asked if Shulman would like to involve the police. She said yes.

A video camera from the library showed Stefanini moving the materials, leaving, and returning to take the clippings.

"I was really disappointed when I saw the video surveillance and when I saw that it was a candidate for mayor," Shulman said. "I would expect better. Better judgment, better character, and better behavior."

Stefanini says he took the articles as public campaign literature and wanted to read up on what was Spicer had been up to. He said the stories were attached by clips; one had been partially glued down. Shulman says Stefanini appeared to have ripped the articles off - she meticulously stuck all of them down to the board with her own glue stick. The clips, she says, were only to keep the blue poster board to the foam.

Police are in possession of the library video and the poster board. A report was filed but no charges have been introduced.

Stefanini said in a statement to Patch he was disappointed in allegations that he would maliciously destroy property. He went on to illustrate what he said happened - "I moved the materials across the hall from the library shelf to the wall near the recycling bin and took copies of articles about the candidate to read" - and lamented that he took matters into his own hands rather than contacting the authorities.

"In retrospect, I should have contacted the authorities to remove the campaign materials," Stefanini said. "At that time, I did not contact the authorities as I believed that I knew the activist who had placed them there and did not wish to escalate the matter. I now realize I made a mistake in not contacting the authorities immediately."

He also apologized to the people of Framingham and Spicer for the firestorm the incident has created.

"I have deep respect for civil minded political activity and diversity of opinion as I have repeatedly demonstrated over three decades of intense engagement in the political process," he said. "In addition, I believe that the rules of civic and political engagement need to apply to all equally. I look forward to a positive, spirited discussion about the future of Framingham in the months ahead."

Shulman said Stefanini could have just as easily told her she should move the materials. They spoke earlier in the morning, she said.

"People are saying that I abandoned them, that I left the premises," Shulman said. "No, I was 10 feet away.

"The primary issue is that as a mayoral candidate who is also an attorney removed his opponent's materials from the ledge, put it behind the trash, and took the three glued articles about the candidate off the display poster."

The library rules say people may "not leave any packages or other belongings unattended." Another rule says "Soliciting or canvassing is generally prohibited, except in the outer lobby of the Main Library." Shulman's materials were in the outer lobby, where candidates and volunteers have permission and equal opportunity to get signatures. She had set the materials up a couple of hours before the time promoted for people to come down.

Stefanini said as of early Monday afternoon his call to Spicer has not yet been returned.