Canton’s Staiti embraces challenge of county commissioner race

Dick Staiti has been told that he is “probably the last Renaissance man.” Given his time in seemingly dissimilar fields of medicine, teaching, law, and public governance, the description may not be far off the mark. As noteworthy is Staiti’s obvious enthusiasm for his past pursuits, present activities, and his future plans. He’s a man who relishes a challenge and seems to enjoy the journey, rather than focusing solely on the destination.

Richard Staiti with his sons Andrew and Scott

Currently, Staiti’s destination is winning one of two open positions as Norfolk County Commissioner in the November 3 election. He finished second in a four-person field in the September Democratic Primary — a respectable showing for someone who is well known in Canton but was running his first county-level race.

Staiti’s opponents in the general election include incumbent Joseph Shea of Quincy (D) and independent challenger Heather Hamilton of Brookline. All together, three county commissioners serve on the board, which is headquartered on High Street in Dedham.

Staiti admitted that county commissioner is “down ticket” on the ballot and doesn’t draw the kind of attention that federal and state races are getting this election year. He added, “Many people don’t understand the role and have so many other things going on in their lives they aren’t aware of it.” In contrast, he said, he “always had an interest in the county and in what the county can do for citizens.”

This year, Staiti said, was a good time for him to run, with his work narrowing down, his children grown, and time available. His experiences with the Board of Selectmen (now Select Board), the Norfolk County Advisory Board, and as Canton town moderator have helped prepare him for the role of county commissioner. As a county entity, the advisory board is most obviously helpful; it oversees county finances and spending, which Staiti knows well, having served on the board for over 30 years. His nine years on the Board of Selectmen is also relevant. Staiti explained that the responsibilities of the selectmen are very similar to those of county commissioners, and both require collaborative skills and experience with budgets.

One difference is that county commissioners oversee Norfolk Agricultural High School, a responsibility that Staiti said makes it analogous to the School Committee. He said his experience in the classroom as a CHS science teacher and as the director of the CHS science and technology department means that he is very comfortable with issues relating to public education, including supplies ordering, evaluation, and hiring and firing.

After retiring from teaching in 2012, Staiti finished law school at Suffolk University and embarked on a new — and ongoing — career as an attorney specializing in zoning law. He said his legal background has informed his public service as town moderator and will assist him in county commissioner work, particularly in the board’s oversight of court system maintenance.

Staiti sees problem-solving as a common theme running through his various roles. In college, his original goal was medicine, but he took a detour that allowed him to use his scientific knowledge in teaching and work as an athletic trainer. He become known as “Doc” while an athletic trainer, and then pursued an interest in law, explaining that there are “interesting overlaps” between solving legal problems and the scientific method.

As county commissioner, Staiti said he would work on increasing regional services, which could result in savings for the 28 county towns. He sees potential for coordination and cited veterans services, regional dispatch for emergency services, and buying DPW sand as among the possibilities. He’d also like to see new use of clean energy “wherever possible.” He has a special interest in solar energy and is excited about its use at Norfolk Aggie; he mentioned that one teacher is already implementing a solar curriculum.

Staiti would like to see increased public awareness of the commissioners’ office itself, perhaps through holding meetings in different towns, post pandemic. All meetings are based in Dedham but currently held over Zoom, which Staiti said is more impersonal but has already increased transparency. Commissioner activities tend to go unnoticed, and Staiti would like the public to know more about them, including oversight of county roads (such as Dedham Street) and recreation at Presidents Golf Course in Quincy.

Campaigning, Staiti, said, “has been a challenge but a fascinating time to run for office.” He has met a lot of interesting people and despite a few negative occurrences, it has been an “enriching, rewarding experience.” The father of five, he has run a “very grassroots” campaign with the help of social media, friends and family, especially two local sons, Scott and Andrew, and his daughter, Kacee Staiti Rimer. His frugal campaign strategy has relied on “good old-fashioned hard work with lots of coffee and lots of miles on the car.”

Staiti hasn’t changed his strategy much since the primary, with the biggest revision resulting from the pandemic, which nixed plans for a kick-off event. He’s focused on safe, socially distant campaigning, noting that some avoid taking his literature. Starting with library trustee years ago, Staiti said, he’s spent a long time preparing for community service as county commissioner and is enjoying his “firsthand exposure to America in 2020.”

There are three voting options this year: early by mail, early in person, or in person on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3.

For more information about Dick Staiti and his campaign for county commissioner, go to www.votestaiticommissioner.com.

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Posted by Candace Paris on Oct 15 2020. Filed under News. Both comments and pings are currently closed.