LAWRENCE — Where's School Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy? And why is the city still paying him?
Those are two questions many of the city's 10 mayoral candidates have heard over and over again as they've campaigned this summer.
The paid suspension of Laboy, who makes more than $200,000 per year, is weighing heavily on the minds of voters. The mayoral candidates say they are hearing about it — loud and clear.
"People keep asking me why the city doesn't fire him," said Pedro Payano, a Lawrence public school teacher who is running for mayor. "I explain that I wish we could fire him. But we have to go through due process."
Fellow candidate Julia Silverio said Laboy's suspension, amid two potentially criminal School Department investigations, is a major concern for voters.
"That's a biggie," said Silverio, a former city councilor who owns an Essex Street travel and insurance agency. "People can't understand why the superintendent is still being paid, especially under the circumstances the city is in."
In just 16 days, on Sept. 22, voters will head to the polls for the primary election, where the crowded mayoral field will be narrowed to two finalists.
Meanwhile, the two investigations involving Laboy continue.
The superintendent has been out on paid leave since late June, when the School Committee voted to suspend him following police raids of his office and home.
Mayoral contender Patrick Blanchette described Laboy's paid absence as "a hot button issue with most people I talk to on the trail.
"People feel that he should be off the payroll completely," said Blanchette, the City Council president.
Candidate David Abdoo agreed.
"A question I hear often is 'What is the status of the superintendent?'" said Abdoo, a city councilor.
He said many people he has spoken with feel Laboy "either needs to come back to work or he needs to be discharged for services not rendered. They are sick and tired of hearing about it and sick and tired of reading about it."
If Laboy remains on suspension, Payano believes the city should stop paying him as soon as possible.
"What is this connection he still has?" Payano asked. "(If) the evidence demonstrates he's innocent, we can always pay him back later."
Candidate Daniel Cotnoir, a local funeral director, said "not only is Laboy getting paid, he's also costing us more money.
"He's tying up police officers and tying up school department workers," he noted.
During a police raid of Laboy's office last spring, officers found numerous bottles of liquor. Alcohol is prohibited on public school property, Cotnoir noted.
"That was all the reason we needed to fire him," Cotnoir said.
Fellow candidate Nilka Alvarez-Rodriguez, also a city councilor, agreed that Laboy's suspension is a concern. However, she said she's hearing more from voters and supporters about crime in the city.
"We've had quite a few serious crimes this summer, and people are very afraid for themselves and their children," she said.
The state's Office of Campaign and Political Finance is investigating the use of the School Department's printing press to illegally create signs and fliers for political candidates, including Lawrence School Committee members and state Rep. Barry Finegold, D-Andover.
Mayoral candidate Israel Reyes has been identified as a target in the printing press investigation, although he denies any wrongdoing.
In previous interviews, Reyes has called for Laboy's firing, but he did not respond to e-mails seeking comment for this story. Mayoral candidates William Lantigua, Marcos Devers and Nunzio Dimarco also could not be reached.
Lawrence and state police are also continuing a probe into financial improprieties in the School Department under Laboy's command. Over the past few weeks, an Essex County grand jury has been hearing testimony in the case.
Israel Reyes was issued a subpoena to testify before the grand jury but to date has not. He won't say when he's scheduled to appear, referring all questions to his attorney, Walter Underhill, who could not be reached for comment for this story.
The mayoral candidates say voters are weary of the Laboy matter and yearn to see the two cases closed and the superintendent dealt with. They feel it's time for the city to move on.
"People are basically waiting for this to be over," Silverio said. "They can't understand why the superintendent wasn't just let go."
Cotnoir said the time to act is immediately.
"Right now, this is the city's biggest downfall," he said.
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