Retired special sheriff takes aim at seat on Saugus board

SAUGUS – Scott Brazis formally announced Monday he will seek election to the Board of Selectmen in the March 17 recall election, opposing Chairman Ellen Faiella.School Committee member Arthur Grabowski is also running for the same seat.Three changes Brazis – a one-time varsity hockey coach at Saugus High – seeks to bring forward include respect and civility, especially in differences of opinion; collaboration to improve youth programs, senior citizen services, public safety, the town?s Capital Improvement Plan, a new Saugus High School and parks/athletic fields; and communication and cooperation between the board and the town manager?s office.?Voters should know that I am not running because I have a hidden or personal agenda,” Brazis said. “I believe the people of Saugus deserve better representation on matters that affect our community?s reputation and image. As a Selectman, I will put Saugus first and lead with honesty, integrity, common sense and without any personal interest.”Prior to his retirement in September 2014, he served as special sheriff/superintendent, second in command to the Middlesex Sheriff?s Office. Brazis oversaw the office?s $65 million budget and approximately 750 officers and employees spanning over three decades. Brazis also spent time on the Sheriff?s Investigation Unit, where he worked collaboratively to secure funding and oversight of the design and building of the $45 million capital expansion project of the House of Corrections in Billerica, which was completed in 2014.Brazis is a third generation Saugonian and a lifelong Saugus resident. He is a husband and father of three children. Brazis is a 1979 graduate of Saugus High School and holds a bachelor?s in criminal justice forensics from the University of New Haven and a master?s in criminal justice administration from Western New England College.As far as continuing studies, Brazis attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government Executive Program at Harvard University and Boston University?s Corporate Education Center, where he furthered his studies in leadership and critical thinking in the 21st-century with a focus on problem-solving in the public government sector.He is also a longtime volunteer coach and past president of Saugus Youth Hockey. He founded the Edna Winslow Alumni Hockey Scholarship in 1983, where a graduating Saugus High School senior receives a $1,000 college scholarship from the foundation.Jeffrey Cicolini, who is also running for selectman, endorses Brazis.?I feel Scott Brazis has the education, business experience and level headed decision making skills Saugus needs to get back on track,” Cicolini said. “His many years working at an executive level in the corrections system and being responsible for hundreds of employees and a budget of close to $70 million provides him with the skills necessary for effective leadership and fiscal responsibility. Scott will be a valuable asset as a selectman.”Brazis is running for a seat because he said it?s time for a change.?The citizens of Saugus want our community to be competitive in every way with other surrounding cities and towns,” Brazis said. “That cannot be accomplished with the elected officials who have been fighting with each other in government for decades and have nothing to show for it. The same old way of doing business may not be the best way.”Brazis said he obtained nomination papers from the Town Clerk?s Office Tuesday, Jan. 20 and returned them Monday, Jan. 26. Town Clerk Ellen Schena notified him that he?s a qualified candidate last week, and the Board of Registrars has certified the requisite number of nomination signatures, posing no challengers to those signatures.He regularly attends Board of Selectmen meetings and speaks on issues of interest. Brazis said he follows the town meetings via Saugus Cable Television Station and town reports.For information, visit Facebook.com/brazisisforsaugus.