Meet the Candidates: Mansfield School Committee

Here's some background information on three of the five candidates running for the two seats up for grabs in the Mansfield School Committee.

Michael Trowbridge

Trowbridge is one of the two incumbents for the contested seats. He has served on the School Committee for over 14 years, and has served on the capital improvements Committee for over 15 years. Registered Professional Land Surveyor & Certified Soil Evaluator. He owns and operates his own engineering business, Hutchins-Trowbridge Assoc. Inc., a civil engineering & surveying firm in Mansfield for the past 25 years.

"I feel that my experience on the School Committee is a valuable asset in moving the system forward," he said in an email. "Over the past few years the school committee has struggled to provide a quality education with limited funds.My experience during the economically sound times has helped guide the town through this difficult phase. I would like to use my experience to help reinstate some of the necessary educational assets that the school system once experienced."

Kiera O'Neil

Keira O'Neil is challenging one of the two contested seats. She has lived in Mansfield for over 17 years. O'Neil has spent a few years on the board of the Mansfield Elementary School Association, and served for two years as president of the organization. She also helped to start the organization called the Concerned Citizens of Mansfield, which she said was an organization dedicated to help spread awareness of town issues to the citizens of Mansfield.

"I think that one of the challenges we're facing right now is that we have to look at things differently," she said. " While experience is important on a board, I think it's also important that you need to bring change and fresh ideas on. We're not operating under the same circumstances that we were 10 years ago or even five years ago."

Wayne Smith Jr.

Wayne Smith Jr. is a general manager of Dub's Liquors on Chauncy St. in Mansfield. He has lived in the town for over 25 years, and his wife, Andra Smith, has lived in Mansfield all her life. He said he has been an avid follower of the issues of the Mansfield school for two years, and added that he feels it is time for a change.

"I know that  [the other candidates] have more experience than me, but I think it's time for a change," he said. " I think people can get complacent, and that someone new coming in will have new ideas. I know this will be my first time in the political field, but I think I'll do a good job"

Frank DelVecchio

Frank DelVecchio, incumbent, has served on the school committee for over six years now. He also served a term on the King Philip School Committee in the early 90s representing the town of Plainville.

He also studied educational reform in college. DelVecchio works for the Roosevelt and Cross, which specializes in municipal bonds for the state of Rhode Island.He said that his goals on the committee were focused on keeping the budget balanced while maintaining the highest caliber of staff and teachers as possible.

Delvecchio posted an announcement about why he's running and why he believes he deserves your vote.

Christopher Campbell, challenger, is also running but could not be reached for comment.

To hear what all the challenging candidates have to say, come to the debate this Monday at the at 7 p.m., and tell them about issues important to you.