Salem Mayor Debate: Dibble, Driscoll Clash On Vaccine Mandates

SALEM, MA — City-mandated coronavirus vaccinations and the state of Salem Public Schools were two major tension points where incumbent Mayor Kim Driscoll and City Councilor Steve Dibble clashed during Monday night's mayoral debate at Salem State University.

While Dibble challenged Driscoll's record on development throughout the night — as she expressed pride in the strides she said the city has made in her 16 years as mayor — the two starkest contrasts came around the schools and vaccination orders.

"We talk about masks and other things," Dibble said. "A lot of those things we've done, I've supported it. What we need to do is let parents be parents and decide what's best for their children.

"Masks are one thing. But requiring a vaccine? I don't agree with that."

Dibble said he is vaccinated and intends to "follow the science" but added the vaccines are still "relatively new" and that he doesn't want to "jump into a family situation where we're dictating to parents."

Driscoll responded that she would "definitely be open to a vaccine mandate — not only for the youngest members of our community, but for city employees.

"Unless everybody is vaccinated we'll continue to have disrupted education occurring in our community."

She noted that while cases and hospitalizations are low in the city overall, there have been cases in the schools since the start of the academic year and that two classrooms at Witchcraft Heights Elementary recently had to be quarantined because of an outbreak.

"Vaccines are safe and that is the only answer to getting out of these continued disruptions," she determined.

Dibble was highly critical of Salem Public Schools as a whole, saying that morale is low and parents are taking their children out of the district. Driscoll countered that Dibble's statement that 25 percent of students had left Salem Schools in the past year was "100 percent inaccurate."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," she responded.

She said the school system is improving and touted the new teacher contract signed this summer as "the best teachers' contract in the state of Massachusetts."

Dibble said he is challenging the four-term incumbent because Driscoll has "lost her way" and that "she doesn't listen to Salem residents any longer."

Driscoll said she wants to serve another term to build on the city's recent progress in affordable housing, climate change, equity and transportation. She said when she first became mayor Salem had more challenges than opportunities but is now on the verge of what will "soon to be a post-pandemic recovery, but we're not quite there yet."

Dibble and Driscoll will face off again in a Salem Chamber of Commerce and League of Women Voters debate on Oct. 25 before the Nov. 2 general election.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)