[Editor's note: The following information is from a press statement submitted by Assistant Town Clerk Maria Sagarino.]

Assistant Town Clerk Maria Sagarino recently announced that she will seek election to the vacant position of Town Clerk.

Since the unexpected passing in July of Town Clerk John Hanright, Sagarino has led the office and performed all the functions of Town Clerk.

“Since his sudden passing last summer, I have spent a great deal of time focusing on the job that John loved so much. Having served as his assistant for several years, I’ve thought long and hard about how I can best continue to serve Stoneham, and running for Town Clerk is the best way I know to continue the great work John did for so many years,” Sagarino said in the statement.

As the Assistant Town Clerk, Sagarino assumed all of the required duties of the Town Clerk upon Hanright’s death in July. Since that time she has been fully responsible for the day-to-day operation of the office. 

With the support of the Hanright family behind her, Sagarino has begun her campaign for office, but stressed that politics have never been her focus. “I am not a political person. I consider myself more of a public service professional that has the opportunity to continue the work I love,” Sagarino said in the statement.

Sagarino has managed the Town Clerk and the Elections & Registration departments, as well as focused on important improvements and the required duties of the office. Recently she led the effort to receive federal recertification of the Town Clerk’s Office of Elections & Registration as a Passport Acceptance Facility, helping to keep thousands of dollars in additional revenue coming into the community. Additionally, she has performed the formal role of Town Clerk at the October 2011 Special Town Meeting, made the approved by-law changes and certified the necessary appropriations.

Under her leadership, Sagarino has most recently developed and released the 2012 annual Street List (Census) to more than 9,000 households in Stoneham. She recently preprared the Special Town Meeting held on Tuesday night at Town Hall, and is currently preparing for the Presidential Primary election that will take place on March 6.

“I began working for John Hanright in January 2001. He helped me to master all facets of the Town Clerk’s office from vital records and Town Meeting, to voter registration, elections and everything in between. John taught me not only the important role the Town Clerk serves, but just as important, the personal touch that became the cornerstone of his tenure as Town Clerk,” Sagarino said in the statement. “He served our Town with integrity, professionalism and dedication. He was committed to doing all he could for the residents of Stoneham. Customer service was his number one priority. If I am fortunate enough to earn a vote of confidence in my work by the voters of Stoneham, I hope to follow in his footsteps. On a personal note, it would be an honor for me to finish the remaining year of John’s term.”

Although the position of Town Clerk is elected, Sagarino stressed that it is not a political job. She states that it is a professional position requiring substantial knowledge and experience in order for the Town Clerk to effectively administer the many duties and responsibilities required under the Massachusetts General Laws and the By-laws of the Town of Stoneham.

“My candidacy represents eleven years of experience working in the office of the position for which I am seeking election,” Sagarino said in the statement. “I understand what is required of the Town Clerk. I perform that job every day. I’m confident in both my ability and qualifications. I can only hope that the voters will feel the same way. Having worked in the Town Clerk’s office for so many years with John Hanright, I feel a strong commitment to the office.”