Politics & Government
Beverly Candidates Split On Renewable Energy Initiative
In a poll, the candidates had differing views on whether to make a resolution to switch to 100% renewable energy sources by 2035 binding.
BEVERLY, MA — A three-question survey of candidates running in next month's Beverly election offered some stark contrasts in how the candidates would deal with sustainability issues. The survey conducted by Green Beverly was completed by half of the 18 candidates on the ballot for mayor and city council in the Nov. 5 municipal election. A key question on the survey asked whether the candidate would support making a 2017, nonbinding resolution to switch to 100% renewable energy sources by 2035 binding.
The survey was sent to candidates in contested and uncontested races. Here are how the candidates responded. Candidates for reelection are marked with an asterisk in the chart below. Click on a candidate's name for his or her complete responses to the Green Beverly survey:
| Candidate | Office Sought | Answer | Comment |
| Mike Cahill * | Mayor | Did not respond | |
| Timothy P. Flaherty * | At-Large City Council | Did not respond | |
| Julie Flowers * | At-Large City Council | Yes | Not only do I believe this goal is highly achievable, I believe it is critical. |
| Paul M. Guanci * | At-Large City Council | No | At this time a non-binding resolution is fine and in essence states what we are already doing without the pressure of a binding drop dead time line. |
| Todd Rotondo | Ward 1 City Council | Did not respond | |
| Estelle MM Rand * | Ward 2 City Council | Yes | |
| Stacy M. Ames | Ward 3 City Council | Yes | Our city government, must make our reliance on fossil fuels a primary consideration with building, renovation and infrastructure projects. |
| Kris A. Silverstein | Ward 3 City Council | Yes | I would certainly support considering moving from a non-binding to a binding resolution once a full discussion of progress and needs is had. |
| Scott D. Houseman * | Ward 4 City Council | Did not respond | |
| Kathleen M. Feldman | Ward 5 City Council | Yes | Particularly as a coastal community, we have no time to waste and we owe it to the Beverly residents of the future to engage in science-based planning now. |
| Donald G. Martin * | Ward 5 City Council | No | The City has made great strides towards renewable energy sources, including solar panels on the two newest schools, electric vehicles and the recent agreement with Bluewave to install a solar farm on the former Brimbal Ave. |
| John P. Frates Jr. * | Ward 6 City Council | Did not respond | |
| Rachael O. Abell * | Ward 1 School Committee | No | I am weary of resolutions, binding or not, where the actors and actions are not identified with milestones and stage gates for the near term. For a 2017 elected official to commit to a 2035 date is doing so with a recognition they will likely no longer be in office, possibly no longer in the community. |
| Kelley A. Ferretti * | Ward 2 School Committee | Not listed on Green Beverly survey responses | |
| Kimberley J. Coelho | Ward 3 School Committee | Did not respond | |
| John J. Mullady * | Ward 4 School Committee | Did not respond | |
| Jeffrey C. Silva | Ward 4 School Committee | Did not respond | |
| Kaarin L. Robinson | Ward 5 School Committee | Did not respond | |
| Lorinda K. Visnick | Ward 6 School Committee | Yes | Certainly there are things we could be doing as a municipality that we are not yet doing; there are opportunities that we are missing. |
More information on the survey is available on the Green Beverly Website.
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