Melrose Election 2019: In Ward 5, MacMaster Looking For A First

MELROSE, MA — Shawn MacMaster is almost two years into his time with the City Council. He's the only incumbent running uncontested, the only City Councilor guaranteed to be on what will be an almost entirely new Council come January.

Yet he's spent nearly $5,000 on a re-election campaign that he could sleepwalk through. Signs sprout up all over Ward 5 — and not just on Brazil Street, where he lives and made headlines all summer following a highly publicized sewage backup.

The reason for the spending spree is simple: MacMaster has never been elected by his constituents. He was voted in by the then-Board of Aldermen as a replacement for Gail Infurna, who became mayor in the middle of Rob Dolan's term when he left for Lynnfield.

And as much of a layup as this election will be, the support of the voters means a lot to him.

"I came into this without a mandate from the residents of Ward 5, so I'm getting out to work for every single vote," MacMaster said. "Going out, knocking on doors, holding signs. Trying to earn every vote that I can so it's a clear mandate so that Ward 5 wants me representing them."

MacMaster's role will be different next term. He and Kate Lipper-Garabedian — a favorite to be re-elected to one of the four at-large seats — could go from the two junior members of the Council to the two senior members, pending results in Wards 1 and 4. At most, MacMaster will be the fourth-longest serving Councilor.

"I have value to a [Council] of newcomers to try to share what I've learned and seen," he said.

While MacMaster's primary concern will be for Ward 5 residents, he said, he knows he represents the entire city as City Councilor.

"I think people see me as a neighborhood guy — and I am — but I do a lot of things with public policy," he said. "I like to think I'm able to combine my ability to advocate for my constituents with my ideas on how to effect policy."

The neighborhood reputation comes from his fierce advocacy for his Brazil Street neighbors. MacMaster gained a lot of fans — and some consternation from a few colleagues — for his public spat with Infurna following in the aftermath of the sewage backup. He also was vocal in his opposition to a marijuana dispensary on Lower Washington Street and heavily involved with the other issues, such as the impending development of Marty's Furniture.

"I'm not one to talk just to talk ... but when I feel that it's important to be heard on an issue I speak loudly and clearly," he said. "I think in my two years a lot of these issues have brought themselves to me."

MacMaster, who has a master's degree in public policy, wants to address things outside of Ward 5, as well.

One is traffic and pedestrian safety near the Lincoln School.

Two other priorities are making sure police have resources to tackle things like traffic enforcement and the fire department having the necessary infrastructure and tools to do their jobs.

"When it comes down to determining the future of our public safety buildings, one of the things I'm opposed to is going from three fire stations to two," he said.

Lastly, MacMaster hopes to find ways to provide tax relief to seniors in an ever-changing city.

"Growth and positive change are good things, but not at the expense of leaving some behind," he said.

Maybe none of those are as ambitious as his other goal: MacMaster has long pined for a footbridge over the railroad tracks that would connect the ward's two precincts, giving quick access from those on the Washington Street side to Pine Banks and the retail shops at Oak Grove.

The election is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Subscribe to Patch for free for more previews and live updates.

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• Ward 4 To Determine What's Next At Ballot
• In Ward 5, MacMaster Looking For A First
• Ward 6 Is A Real Door-To-Door Race
• One Way Or Another, Ward 7 Will See Change