Haverhill’s Ward 4 Candidates Discuss Issues From Holy Family to Rural Charm

Three candidates are facing off in Ward 4 for two spots on the ballot in the general election Nov. 4. Incumbent Melissa J. Lewandowski is being challenged by Guy E. Cooper and Kenneth E. Quimby Jr. Lewandowski and Quimby are lifelong Haverhill residents. Cooper moved to Haverhill as a child and graduated from Haverhill High School. He is retired Haverhill police office. Quimby works for Bethany Homes in Haverhill and Lewandowski is an attorney who represents children in neglect and abuse cases in juvenile and probate court.

Each candidate appeared on WHAV’s morning show and answered five questions about issues specific to their ward, Ward 4. Answers are presented in the order candidates appear on the ballot.

Ward 4 is home to Holy Family Hospital Haverhill. What services would you like retained or brought back? What services would you add? Would you convert part of the complex for housing?

First, Quimby responds, “As far as the housing there, I would vote no. We need to keep that hospital. I was one of the persons that went to Boston, brought petitions to Gov. Healey to fight to keep it open. But I am disheartened. I am really still upset about it. When Lawrence General bought them, I thought it was going to be a full -capacity hospital. We need to have that hospital full.”

Cooper gave this response, “Well, I can certainly say that I would like to see Haverhill, being such a big city, I’d like to see that hospital up and running a little bit more fuller than what it is. The services a little bit more. It’s a great location. We have a lot of cities and towns. And I really think Haverhill needs to keep a hospital there. For part housing for that?  I think we really need to take a long look at our infrastructure and what we can sustain at this time before we start adding,” he said.

Lewandowski said, “Ideally, I would like to see geriatric services there, a geriatric ward, particularly geriatric and mental health. I would like to see prenatal brought back because I think that’s obviously a very important aspect that people need access to. It would be great to have a breast imaging lab as part of some women’s healthcare. I think that the radiology department, while it is intact, my understanding from talking to some nurses that are boots on the ground, is that a lot of time what primary care physicians are finding is they’re sending tests there, whether it be for x-ray, CT scans, blood work, and they don’t get them back within a timely period of time to be able to make a diagnosis so I would like to see that particular area which is intact there enhanced. If housing was proposed there, I think that it would have to be senior housing,” she said.

What traffic and sidewalks improvements do you believe are needed in Ward 4? 

Quimby said, “Some of the traffic lights, when you push the walk signal, people are still taking a right turn even though it says ‘Yield to pedestrians.’ And it’s not enough time for them to walk.”

Cooper responded, “Well, Ward 4, I know it came up down on Amesbury Line Road at Merrimac Road that there was an issue with a stop sign, wide roads, people running it and accidents. And being a police officer patrolling that area for several years I think maybe a little bit more enforcement if we could get it down there. On top of that people really need to pay attention. There are stop signs. They do need to stop and pay attention.”

Lewandowski offered, “This is very timely because I just had an agenda item on about Amesbury Line Road because there were a lot of complaints about people going too fast. The way that the intersection is configured makes it very confusing for folks. There have been accidents there, etc. We put it on the agenda and had a very robust discussion involving the city engineer as well the police department and the mayor’s office. They were