Maurice Cunningham
Maurice Cunningham | |
|---|---|
| Saugus, Massachusetts Town Manager | |
| In office 1974–1976 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Hagopian |
| Succeeded by | George O. Gregson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 11, 1940 |
| Died | May 6, 2006 (aged 66) Bonita Springs, Florida |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Boston College Suffolk University Law School |
Maurice F. Cunningham was an American attorney, educator, and political figure who served as Town Manager of Saugus, Massachusetts from 1974 to 1976.
Early life
[edit]The son of Judge C. Carol Cunningham and Theresa I. (Conner) Cunningham, Cunningham grew up in Saugus.[1] He graduated from Boston College's School of Education in 1961 with a B.S. in history. He was also vice president of his class, co-chairman of the Jazz Committee, a member of the Student Senate, and a member of the Class Council.[2][3] After graduating he began working in the Saugus Public School system. In 1965 he graduated from the Suffolk University Law School with a Bachelor of Law degree.[4]
Board of Selectmen
[edit]From 1963 to 1967, Cunningham was a Saugus town meeting member. He also served as acting town moderator.[3]
In 1967, Cunningham was elected to the Saugus Board of Selectmen. He topped the ticket with 4,388 votes and was named chairman of the board.[5][6]
During his tenure on the board, the selectmen unanimously voted not to renew Town Manager Paul H. Boucher's contract.[7] To replace him, the board selected Clarence Wilkinson over former Keene, New Hampshire City Manager Frank A. Saia by 3 to 2 vote, with Cunningham voting for Saia.[6]
Cunningham was a candidate for the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1968. He won the Democratic nomination, but lost to Belden Bly in the general election 6059 votes to 5188.[8]
Town Manager
[edit]In 1974, Cunningham was chosen by the Board of Selectmen to replace Robert Hagopian as town manager.[9] He was later given a five-year contract by the board and the School Committee granted him a two-year leave of absence from his position as assistant principal of the Saugus Junior High School.[10] During his tenure, Cunningham was heavily involved in getting community development grants and funds for new sewers and water extension programs.[11] In 1975, $30,000 in municipal funds (about $19,000 in cash and $11,000 in checks) were stolen from a vault the Collector–Treasurer's office. Cunningham stated that he could not explain why the money had not been deposited in a local bank as it usually was.[12]
In 1976, the School Committee unanimously voted not to extend Cunningham's leave and he stepped down as Town Manager.[11]
Later life and death
[edit]Cunningham later left the Saugus school system and moved to North Andover, Massachusetts. He opened a firm that assisted professionals establish non-investment second incomes.[13] He then worked as an attorney specializing in personal injury and worker's compensation. In 1991 he negotiated the largest settlement for an industrial accident case in Massachusetts history.[14][15] He later retired to Bonita Springs, Florida.[16]
Cunningham died on May 6, 2006, after a long illness.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ "Judge C. C. Cunningham, Saugus Official; 63". The Boston Globe. September 20, 1968.
- ^ Sub Turri. 1961.
- ^ a b "Candidates for state representative". The Boston Globe. October 22, 1968.
- ^ Boston College Alumni News. 1965.
- ^ "Cunningham Tops Selectman Vote". The Boston Globe. November 8, 1967.
- ^ a b "Saugus". The Boston Globe. October 15, 1968.
- ^ Corneau, Roland (February 21, 1968). "Saugus Ousts Town Manager". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
- ^ Election Statistics.
- ^ "Saugus town manager fired". The Boston Globe. September 28, 1974.
- ^ "Saugus faces manager loss to school board". The Boston Globe. September 12, 1976.
- ^ a b "Saugus again seeks manager". The Boston Globe. September 19, 1976.
- ^ "Town Hall theft probed in Saugus". The Boston Globe. December 12, 1975.
- ^ "Classes". Boston College Magazine. Spring 1981. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
- ^ "Personal Injury Attorney". Retrieved 23 March 2016.
- ^ "Classes". Boston College Magazine. Winter 1991. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
- ^ a b "Maurice F. Cunningham". Saugus Advertiser. May 10, 2006. Retrieved October 31, 2012.