William J. Plasko Wins Special Election for Board of Selectmen While Incumbents Survive School Committee Recall-October 25, 1978

27-Year-Old Town Moderator William J. Plasko Elected to Board of Selectmen

Running an energetic and highly visible grassroots campaign centered squarely on the urgent need for administrative change and municipal reform, 27-year-old Town Moderator William J. Plasko decisively won yesterday’s special election to secure a coveted seat on the Board of Selectmen. Plasko captured 1,903 of the total 4,765 votes cast by local residents, carrying seven out of the town’s nine voting districts and comfortably outdistancing his three prominent opponents: former selectman William F. Butters, former finance commissioner E. Peter Bamber, and David W. Wall, who is the son of the late selectman Joseph W. Wall whose untimely passing on August 24 necessitated the scheduling of this special election.

Following his notable victory, Plasko announced to supporters and reporters that he will officially resign from his position as town moderator—a leadership post he has held with distinction for six consecutive years—either immediately or immediately following his formal opening of the upcoming November 15 special town meeting. Reflecting on his campaign strategy and wide electoral margin, Plasko attributed his success to plain, hard work, expressing his belief that local voters viewed him as open, honest, and fully capable of doing an exceptional job for the town.

Meanwhile, defeated candidate William F. Butters expressed disappointment after falling short in his second attempt in six months to return to the board of selectmen, having previously lost in April by a razor-thin margin of five votes to Selectman Mary J. Fox. Asserting his determination, Butters stated that he is fighting for something important and does not believe anyone is going to beat him down permanently, indicating that he intends to run again at a later date and noting that various other problems hindered his ability to wage his usual intensive campaign. E. Peter Bamber, who finished third in the selectman race with 943 votes after resigning from the finance commission to launch his candidacy, announced that he is officially retiring from public life to dedicate all of his time to his private business as a self-employed contractor and pharmacy owner. David W. Wall, the 22-year-old political newcomer seeking his late father’s former seat, acknowledged that he was simply getting his feet wet in his very first try at public office, garnering under 100 votes in each district but vowing to continue his civic engagement.

School Committee Members Defeat Recall Effort

In the concurrent and highly scrutinized school committee recall election—which was originally prompted by voter dissatisfaction and community debate over school budget compromises made back in June—incumbent members William F. Egan and Joseph M. Pentowski successfully retained their respective seats against formidable challengers Richard Joseph and Paul S. Riccardi. Unopposed incumbents Rudith Berkowitz and Joan H. Cuff also comfortably maintained their positions on the committee without facing serious electoral threats.

Joseph M. Pentowski emerged as the second-biggest vote-getter across the entire election day with 2,634 votes, viewing the final outcome as a strong and clear voter affirmation of their collective actions in agreeing to necessary school budget reductions without sacrificing the overall quality of education. “Voters are saying we went the right route in compromising on the school budget without hurting the quality of education,” Pentowski remarked.

However, challenger Richard Joseph—a former police officer and former school committee chairman who lost his bid against Egan by 281 votes—voiced sharp frustration over the closing days of the race, denouncing it as the dirtiest campaign he had ever witnessed. Joseph claimed that anonymous telephone campaigns were conducted warning voters that Egan would close certain schools if reelected, though Egan firmly maintained he had nothing to do with any such telephone tactics.

Norman E. Rickard Wins Finance Commission Seat

In the race for a vacant seat on the Finance Commission, certified public accountant Norman E. Rickard—a 50-year-old newcomer to town politics—emerged victorious by capturing 1,634 votes, finishing roughly 600 votes ahead of his nearest competitors. Rickard defeated three opposing candidates, including Robert A. Dempsey, James A. Barss Jr., and Jeanette Troiano. Rickard attributed his victory to his 16-year business presence in the community and extensive personal acquaintance with local residents, emphasizing that he is not aligned with any particular faction in the voting splits that have historically characterized recent Finance Commission deliberations.

Future Municipal Priorities and Town Administration

Looking ahead to his transition onto the Board of Selectmen, Plasko prepared to join his fellow board members at a special evening meeting to review applications for the vacant fire chief position. When questioned regarding specific municipal programs and administrative directions he wishes to pursue, Plasko highlighted the potential formation of a dedicated task force focused on reorganizing town administration in light of recent personnel changes, alongside establishing more adequate mechanisms for long-range financial planning. He also noted that he plans to thoroughly review applicant resumes and interview top candidates for key administrative vacancies, including state DPW Commissioner John C. Carroll, as Norwood navigates its next chapter of civic development.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger