Gannon Claims Selectmen Chair Snub Was Political

Hingham, MA — Hingham Selectman Paul Gannon claimed Thursday night that he was not elected chairman of the board because of political reasons.

Supporters of Gannon were back at the June 23 of the meeting of the selectmen to deliver a petition calling for the selectman to be named the chair.

On May 5, the selectmen voted 2-1 to give Paul Healey a second term as chair, breaking the rotation that gave each member a year to lead the board.

“I am overwhelmed by the calls to stand up and not get bullied. I think tradition is important in this town and when you break with tradition you should have a good reason,” Gannon said. “I don’t think they were very good reasons, I think they were political and petty.”

Gannon claimed that he was not voted as chairman due to a vote concerning the Avalon project near the Hingham Shipyard. He said that there was a motion to release funds to allow the Zoning Board of Appeals to do work related to the project, but Paul Healey tried to end the meeting before the motion could be passed.

“At the end, Paul (Healey) said no more motions. I said there was one more motion and he said there were no more. I said that’s not right. This will allow the Zoning Board of Appeals to do their job and shows everyone at the Shipyard and Bradley Woods that we care,” Gannon said.

The motion passed but Gannon claims that afterwards, Healey said he crossed the line and the Rubicon.

“On May 5 he followed through to have political payback. Since I was attacked so viciously the other week, I want the truth. Transparency is something I’ve always advocated and now you know what I’ve been told because I had the audacity to speak up for people in town,” Gannon said,

Selectman Mary Power denied any political motivation or collusion behind her vote for Healey.

I made them individually, I didn’t speak to anyone, and I disagree to referrals that Paul Healey and I made it together,” Power said.

The petition in support of Gannon had over 375 signatures, according to petition creator Judy Kelley.