Four front in Saugus search

SAUGUS – The Town Manager Selection Committee has narrowed the field for the open town manager position to four. They are: Anthony Ansaldi, of Malden; Sean Fitzgerald, of Peabody; Mark Rees, of North Andover; and David Van Dam, of Swampscott.Ansaldi has served as the public safety business manager for the town of Brookline for the past 10 years.?It?s been a goal of mine since I?ve been in municipal government,” Ansaldi said. “It?s the ultimate position I?m striving toward, and I feel I?m ready for the next level.?Public service requires a special group of people to do that,” Ansaldi added. “I take great pleasure in working with the public spectrum, and I?m honored to have gotten this far.”He said he has a great passion for helping others and looks forward to the selection process, and that he hopes to be able to move Saugus in the right direction.Van Dam, 50, serves as the chief of staff to the mayor in Haverhill and was a Swampscott selectman for three years.?There?s so much that can be done and so much to do,” Van Dam said. “I?m 50 and in the prime of my career. I?m looking to go into this community. It isn?t my first stop and hopefully not my last.”Van Dam said he chose to apply Saugus a number of reasons.?There?s a lot going on in terms of development,” Van Dam said. “People who don?t live in Saugus just think of Route One, but the bigger piece is actually the residents who live there. I?m absolutely prepared to be the next town manager in Saugus.”Van Dam will graduate with a master?s in public administration from UMass Boston in May.Fitzgerald, 44, of Peabody, has served as the Plaistow, N.H., town manager since 2008 and served on the Essex County Advisory Board for five years, where he spent time at Saugus Town Hall. Like Van Dam, he previously served as the chief of staff to the mayor of Peabody.?It hasn?t been a dream of mine to be the Saugus town manager, per se, but I want to contribute meaningful and important things to public life,” Fitzgerald said. “This opportunity doesn?t come up all the time. A number of people from my family are involved in law enforcement and public safety, and I?m happy to have this opportunity to present before the Board of Selectmen.”Having gone through this process for his current position, he realizes there?s a lot to consider and wishes the other finalists the best of luck.?As a kid, I grew up going to Saugus Iron Works and enjoying the marsh and other environmental areas,” Fitzgerald said. “I?ve been in and around Saugus for a great part of my career. I?m familiar with the challenges and opportunities facing the community.”According to Town Manager Selection Committee member Josh Dellheim, the committee met in executive session with the Board of Selectmen Tuesday night. They presented final selections to the board and answered questions regarding the selection process.?I can say, though, the committee had decided on four candidates before presenting to the board,” Dellheim said. “All four did want to proceed with the next stage, which was very encouraging – all of whom are excited about the opportunity.”