Phalen Worked Up To (and Beyond) the Closing of the Polls

At 6 p.m., while other candidates were waiving to voters at polling place, School Committee member Carol Phalen was in a meeting on contract negotiations.

Phalen, who was running for re-election, was still participating in the negotiations when she learned she had won. She finished second in a six-man race for three three-year seats.

Phalen, finished her meeting just after 9:30 p.m. and will be back at work as a School Committee member tomorrow night.

Michael Bower, Phalen and David Miles can celebrate tonight their re-election, but tomorrow it is back to some hard work. The School Committee is scheduled to meet tomorrow, April 6 at 7:30 p.m. They are also scheduled to meet next week on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with a public hearing on the school budget scheduled for Thursday, April 14.

"This year we are in the middle of a lot of contracts and negotiations that will have a long-term effect on the schools," said Phalen in a phone interview.

"I don't want to say it, but I have to say finances," when asked what is the biggest issue facing the School Committee.

The Selectmen, on the other hand, have a bit of break. They won't meet again until Tuesday, April 12.

Newly-re-elected Selectman Laurie Lee was celebrating her victory at her campaign manager's home last night. She wanted to thank her team and her supporters.

Lee and School Committee member Michael Bower were both elected for the first time in Framingham three years ago. Both came into politics during a slow down in the economy.

"It has been difficult to come in and try to get things done in this economic crisis," said Lee.

Lee said voters giving incumbents another term means they think they are leading the community in the right direction in these tough times.

First-time candidates Heather Connolly for School Committee and Eric Silverman for Selectmen were both pleased with their campaigns, despite losing.

Connolly finished 99 votes behind third-place finished David Miles. She said she was pleased with her 1,965 votes saying she  was "just a mom with no campaign experience."

"It was an amazing experience," said Connolly, who said she plans to stay involved in school issues and would not rule out running again.

Silverman received 1,292 votes for Selectmen, finishing fourth in a five-way race for two seats.

Silverman, in a telephone interview, said he plans to remain active in town politics. Silverman is a Town Meeting member.

"I don't feel discouraged." Silverman said he was happy with what he set out to do. "I wanted to make public education  a town-wide priority"

He said if he had not run for Selectmen, he doesn't believe education would have been discussed at the forums or debates Selectmen candidates participated in.