Candidates set for Saugus recall election

SAUGUS – Nine candidates, including the four current members of the Board of Selectmen facing recall, submitted the required number of signatures to be placed on the ballot March 17.Due to the impending blizzard, candidates needed to have their nomination papers in by Monday at 5 p.m., according to Town Clerk Ellen J. Schena.Voters will be asked to decide if they want to recall any or all of the four selectmen facing recall: Chairman Ellen Faiella, Maureen Dever, Paul Allan and Stephen Castinetti. Selectman Debra Panetta is not included in the recall.If Faiella is recalled, she will be running against Scott Brazis, Jeff Cicolini, Jennifer Deon and Arthur Grabowski.Should Dever be recalled, she will also face Brazis, Cicolini, Deon and Grabowski.Allan, if he is recalled, will face the same four challengers.If Castinetti is recalled, he will face Mark Mitchell, as well as Brazis, Cicolini, Deon and Grabowski.Four other potential candidates pulled nomination papers but opted not to run, Schena said.Candidates were asked if they are running because they support the recall, simply because they want to serve on the board of selectmen, or for other reasons.Deon, who has a red “I support the recall” sign in front of her house, cited what she called a disheartening atmosphere at the Oct. 29 meeting at which former town manager Scott Crabtree was fired.?They?ve been nicer since then, but I felt like the board was harsh to private citizens who didn?t want Crabtree to be fired, when they spoke at the podium,” Deon said. “I don?t know them personally, but they had nine vague allegations for suspending the town manager.”Dever said she was taken aback by the anger displayed at the podium that night.?I?m not angry with anyone,” Dever said. “I believe in the democratic process, but it?s a difficult decision to have someone?s employment status in your hands. If the board is recalled from office for telling the truth, what do you have for a town?s future that makes decisions based on loyalty and friendship?”Grabowski, a Saugus School Committee member, said he is an independent choice.?I don?t want the election to be hijacked by any political action committee,” Grabowski said. “I?m throwing my hat into the ring as a seasoned candidate, but the recall will be up to the voters March 17.”Save Saugus PAC has been the driving force behind the effort to recall the four selectmen, leading the signature drive to force the election.Grabowski said if he is not successful, he is content to stay on the School Committee, with plenty of work ahead of him either way.Save Saugus director Mark D. Mitchell said he would rather not rehash the negativity on why the PAC was formed.?I will say Jeff, Jen and Scott worked extremely hard with our other 300 volunteers in the recall process,” Mitchell said. “The entire town has seen everything unfold. I think it?s time for everyone in town to start focusing on the future of Saugus and not go back. Everyone needs to get out to vote on March 17 and be part of the process of bringing Saugus back to the town where you are proud to say you are from.”Faiella said the current board has been professional and done its homework.?I certainly think it?s everyone?s right to run for office and that everyone should be involved in town government,” Faiella said. “But we notified Scott five days prior that there was going to be a discussion” on his potential dismissal, “and there was no way that anyone could be surprised. This group I work with currently has done what voters want us to do: ensure that checks and balances are in place.”Cicolini said recall supporters did not pursue a recall until Sept. 16, the day after Crabtree was suspended – and before he was actually fired.?In my opinion, it was pre-determined that Scott would be terminated once the process began,” Cicolini said. “I read a three-page letter asking the board to at least try mediation and eliminate the risk of a lawsuit. Saugus has become the laughing stock of the state.