Saugus Selectman’s history dragged through mud

SAUGUS – Not unlike the last election, the Board of Selectmen race has taken a nasty turn.Two years ago it was the re-election bid of Maureen Dever that was brought down by anonymous hate mail and ads. This year incumbent Stephen Horlick has been targeted.”It’s a smear campaign launched against me,” Horlick said Monday. “They do not want me running and asking ?Where’s the money?’ “Last Friday, a seven-page document detailing Horlick’s past brushes with the law was mailed to town officials and various residents. The pages include police incidents dating from 1987-2000 and include two charges of assault and battery with a deadly weapon, two charges of assault and battery, stalking and littering.A note that stated the disposition of each assault and battery case and the stalking as dismissed followed the charges. He paid a $50 fine for the littering charge.The packet also included the copy of a restraining order taken out against Horlick by a Saugus landscaper, the late Scott McLaughlin, and his father Donald McLaughlin, as well as a scathing indictment against Horlick’s character.The anonymous writer claimed Horlick was a stalker and prone to violence and should not be allowed to mingle with school children or visit recreational areas. It went on to ask if Horlick was the best the town could do in terms of selectmen and suggested residents deserved better.Horlick initially said he could not comment on the mailings because of an ongoing investigation and the fact that who sent the documents may soon become known.Later, he said he has been threatened and harassed and he believed he was being targeted because of his stance as a selectman.”They don’t want me re-elected because I continuously stand up and ask the tough questions,” he said. “Like where are all our tax dollars being spent.”Board of Selectman Chairman Peter Rossetti said he was dismayed at that mailing.”I can’t believe politics are getting to this level,” he said. “Why are they putting this out there?”Rossetti said he thought the attack on Horlick was actually more vicious than what happened to Dever.”With Maureen it was more innuendos,” he said. “Even in a court of law you can’t introduce evidence of a conviction more than 10 years old. This is more than 10 years old.”The report included in the mailing states that Horlick was charged with assault and battery and assault and battery with a deadly weapon in 1987 and it states the case is closed. It did not state whether he was convicted.During the 2005 election, Dever faced several vicious attacks on her character by an unnamed group. Police were also called in to investigate when a threatening letter and threatening phone calls arrived at her home.Like Dever, Horlick is undeterred in his pursuit for re-election and said neither the mailings nor the harassment will stop him from running. Whether the incident will affect his chances to retain his seat will be determined on Election Day, Nov. 6.