Campaigns claim Saugus cable access denied

SAUGUS – Two candidates for the Board of Selectmen in the March 17 recall election say they were denied the chance to record a three-minute campaign spot – a situation that led Mark Mitchell and Jeff Cicolini to question Saugus Cable Television Station?s motives Monday.Candidates who run for local office are allowed to record a video with SCTS, and Mitchell said the SCTS?s denial is a violation of his First Amendment rights in regards to political free speech. However, SCTS Executive Director Bryan Nadeau said Mitchell and Cicolini missed the deadline for recording their statements.The dispute comes from an email Mitchell and Cicolini (Scott Brazis is the third candidate) said Nadeau sent them suggesting an alternate date might be arranged. Later the same day, after conferring with the three-man SCTS board, Nadeau sent a second email overriding the first one, Mitchell said.?As far as I am concerned, said Cicolini, “Bryan had every intention to give us an interview but was overruled by the three members of the board of directors, who were not only appointed by this Board of Selectmen but each also made a donation to the Save (Our) Board of Selectmen PAC.”?(Nadeau) replied, ?let me check into that (an alternate date),?” said Cicolini, regarding the first email. “Shortly after, I received an email that said: ?I?m sorry Jeff, we will need to table this at the moment. Myself and/or my board of directors will be in touch. I apologize for any inconvenience.?”The deadline to submit nomination papers to become an official candidate was Tuesday, Jan. 27, and the deadline for challenges to candidacies was Feb. 12. Mitchell?s and several others? candidacies were not official when the spots were recorded from Jan. 21-24.Mitchell said Nadeau sent an email Feb. 10 discussing the possibility of alternate dates. But, Mitchell said, after Nadeau met with SCTS board members Joseph Cassia, Ed Wawrzynowicz and Greg Tully, he sent another email overriding the first one.?How could a three-member board make such a decision, outside of a posted open meeting?” Mitchell asked. “The disturbing and arbitrary restriction on political free speech and equal opportunity access is troubling on several levels. First, I am a Comcast rate payer. Part of my monthly bill pays for the public access station.”?Several candidates did not schedule time with SCTS,” said Nadeau. “(We) completed the task as outlined, and the show has been broadcast. Additionally, it is not acceptable practice to allow a preview of a competitor?s material prior to taping. As such, there will be no additional tapings.”Cassia said he referred the matter to counsel, since several candidates made references to issues that have legal ramifications in their emails.?With upwards of nine various legal cases filed having direct impact on the station, this step was necessary,” Cassia said. “I am hoping to bring the board together next week to review the materials.”Mitchell urges SCTS to allow all candidates who are officially certified to be on the March 17 ballot to tape a three-minute presentation.?It is further apparent that until the voters of Saugus are allowed to directly elect the cable board of directors, this type of government control of cable operations will not cease in Saugus,” Mitchell said.Cicolini said that if SCTS felt it was unfair to make new videos after the others had been aired, the cable company should not have broadcast the original show.Scott Brazis, also running for selectman, said, “My hope is that SCTS will reconsider its actions and suspect motives.”