Saugus may stagger elections

SAUGUS – Saugus town elections may be getting a revamp after the Town Meeting Charter Committee met Tuesday night to discuss the possibility of staggered elections.Saugus? current election system has seats for all elected officials come up for a vote at the same time every other November.?Under our current system you?re running for a seat,” said Town Meeting member and committee Chairman Peter Rossetti. “Under a staggered election proposal, you would be running for a seat and be running against one or more people.”The meeting was called after article 39 passed during the last annual Town Meeting. Article 39, which was written by Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian, seeks to have the committee develop a proposal to have staggered elections for selectmen and the school committee, and come up with an article by the 2013 annual Town Meeting.Manoogian said he wrote the article because staggered elections will allow for “stability with the electoral process.”?It?s better for the voters,” said Manoogian. “The voters will be able to check in more frequently with how things are going without having a tempest just wipe out the whole government at once.”Manoogian cited a recent election in Foxboro, where two anti-casino selectmen were voted in over two pro-casino selectmen.?The anti-casino people won,” said Manoogian. “The voters were able to speak through the election process just what they wanted to see happen.”According to Manoogian, 35 other communities with the same government as Saugus have staggered elections.Town Moderator Bob Long said while some on the committee may not agree with staggered elections, the committee still must come up with an article.?I?m suggesting that even if some of you still have opposition is for all parties to at least work together to put together an article that will benefit the town and not pull back because you may not agree with it,” said Long.The committee will look at several issues surrounding staggered elections, including cost and which other communities have spring and fall elections.Town Meeting member Jeff Moses said the idea has been discussed before, but people had concerns about changing to a spring election, while Selectman Stephen Horlick said he was concerned about a sitting selectman with one year left, running unopposed for an open seat with three years left.?If there?s no runner up, you have to have a special election to fill that other seat. That?s another $20,000,” said Horlick.The committee will meet again on Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. at a location to be determined.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].