Open Melrose School Committee Seat Filled by McAllister-Grande:Report

MELROSE, MA—After debate determining the rightful heir to the open Melrose School Committee seat, Jaime McAllister-Grande was sworn in as Melrose's newest committee member.

According to a report by the Melrose Free Press, McAllister was sworn in on in to the committee on Monday. Melrose residents were torn over whether she, or Jason Kraunelis, were the rightful heirs to the open seat left by Carrie Kourkoumelis on March 8.

Reports Aaron Leibowitz, who broke the story on the Free Press' website:

Carrie Kourkoumelis resigned from the committee on March 8. In the days that followed, Melrosians squabbled over who was the rightful heir to Kourkoumelis’ seat.

City Solicitor Rob Van Campen ruled that McAllister-Grande, the runner-up in the Nov. 2015 election, should get the seat. Jason Kraunelis, who ran unsuccessfully in 2013, argued the seat was his because he was the runner-up the last time Kourkoumelis was on the ballot.

Kraunelis protested the ruling to the Mass. Secretary of State’s office, which responded Friday that it had declined to hear his appeal.

Meanwhile, McAllister-Grande waited to see how it would all play out.

“It was definitely a surprise, pretty unexpected, but exciting, a little overwhelming,” McAllister-Grande said of learning she would be joining the committee. “I’m a little nervous, but I’m really excited.”

McAllister-Grande ran her first campaign this past fall and received 3,181 votes in the Nov. 3 election, 159 votes behind Lizbeth DeSelm and 186 votes behind Ed O’Connell, both of whom were elected as new members.

According the report, which can also be viewed here, McAllister-Grande's seat will re-open in the fall of 2017.