Maurice Cunningham
{{Infobox Politician (general)
|image =
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|name = Maurice Cunningham
|birth_date= February 11, 1940
|birth_place=
|death_date= May 6, 2006 (aged 66)
|death_place= Bonita Springs, Florida
|restingplace =
| nationality =
| website =
| occupation =
| residence =
| party = Democratic
| spouse =
| alma_mater = Boston College
Suffolk University Law School
| title = Saugus, Massachusetts Town Manager
| term_start = 1974
| term_end = 1976
| predecessor = Robert Hagopian
| successor = George O. Gregson
}}
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
The son of Judge C. Carol Cunningham and Theresa I. (Conner) Cunningham, Cunningham grew up in Saugus.{{cite news|title=Judge C. C. Cunningham, Saugus Official; 63|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=September 20, 1968}} 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.{{cite book|title=Sub Turri|year=1961|url=https://archive.org/stream/subturriundertow1961bost#page/288/mode/2up/}} 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.{{cite book|title=Boston College Alumni News|year=1965|url=http://www21.us.archive.org/stream/alumninews1965sbost#page/36/mode/2up/}}
Board of Selectmen
From 1963 to 1967, Cunningham was a Saugus town meeting member. He also served as acting town moderator.{{cite news|title=Candidates for state representative|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=October 22, 1968}}
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.{{cite news|title=Cunningham Tops Selectman Vote|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=November 8, 1967}}{{cite news|title=Saugus|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=October 15, 1968}}
During his tenure on the board, the selectmen unanimously voted not to renew Town Manager Paul H. Boucher's contract.{{cite news|last=Corneau|first=Roland|title=Saugus Ousts Town Manager|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/1929231462.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712115608/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/1929231462.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 12, 2012|access-date=11 November 2011|newspaper=Boston Globe|date=February 21, 1968}} 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.
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.{{cite book |title=Election Statistics | url=https://archive.org/stream/electionstatisti19671968mass#page/310/mode/2up }}
Town Manager
In 1974, Cunningham was chosen by the Board of Selectmen to replace Robert Hagopian as town manager.{{cite news|title=Saugus town manager fired|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=September 28, 1974}} 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.{{cite news|title=Saugus faces manager loss to school board|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=September 12, 1976}} During his tenure, Cunningham was heavily involved in getting community development grants and funds for new sewers and water extension programs.{{cite news|title=Saugus again seeks manager|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=September 19, 1976}} 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.{{cite news|title=Town Hall theft probed in Saugus|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=December 12, 1975}}
In 1976, the School Committee unanimously voted not to extend Cunningham's leave and he stepped down as Town Manager.
Later life and death
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.{{cite journal|title=Classes|journal=Boston College Magazine|date=Spring 1981|url=http://www26.us.archive.org/stream/bostoncollegemagsp1981bos#page/44/mode/2up/|access-date=October 31, 2012}} 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.{{cite journal|title=Classes|journal=Boston College Magazine|date=Winter 1991|url=http://www30.us.archive.org/stream/bostoncollegemagw1991bost#page/8/mode/2up/|access-date=October 31, 2012}} He later retired to Bonita Springs, Florida.
Cunningham died on May 6, 2006, after a long illness.{{cite news|title=Maurice F. Cunningham|url=http://www.wickedlocal.com/saugus/news/x1817132732#axzz2Aq5xNJNp|access-date=October 31, 2012|newspaper=Saugus Advertiser|date=May 10, 2006}}
References
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Category:People from Bonita Springs, Florida
Category:Massachusetts Democrats
Category:People from Saugus, Massachusetts