Political Attack Dials Into Seekonk Answering Machines

It's election season in Seekonk, and like local bar stools and darkened parking lots, the phone isn't immune to political attacks. 

In recent days, some residents have been receiving automated phone messages from an unknown party urging them to not elect current Board of Selectmen Chairman Bob Richardson to a school committee seat. Prior to his selectmen tenure, Richardson was on the school committee from 1999 to 2005.

"Bob Richardson [of the Board of Selectmen] has failed ... Three years on the school committee was very bad ... Please let's make sure his tenure is over in Seekonk," says the message. It goes on to say the chairman is interested in his own self-interests.

Resident Martha Manno got the call that reads as a "political message" on her caller ID a couple days ago. She isn't sure who sent it – but says it's the first time a message with a negative political slant has come through her wires.

"The name was garbled. I had to listen to it twice more to hear ... It's the first time I've heard a message like this," Manno said.

Richardson is aware of the message and disagrees with its allegations. In regards to rumors that he tried to put his son-in-law on the full-time firefighter staff through closed-door deals, he said the claims are erroneous. 

"Let me clarify that my son-in-law was a fireman for years, long before he married my daughter ... He works in construction, he's in the union and makes far better money than if he was a career fireman," he said. "There is no nepotism."

Richardson believes he would be an asset to the school committee. He said he has the tools to balance the books in the school district, and he proposes looking at upper management's salaries and then reducing or eliminating positions.

"There are things you can do," he said. "There will be hard cuts, and it's going to hurt. I can get an education for the kids and balance the budget."