Saugus board member resigns over recall ballot

SAUGUS – Former town clerk and recent retiree Joanne D. Rappa resigned Feb. 20 from the Board of Registrars, claiming a copy of the approved ballot for the March 17 recall election was distributed to the public prior to the town clerk?s receiving the official ballots.Rappa?s appointment on the board was set to expire March 31.?Unfortunately, in my opinion, the integrity of the Board of Registrars and the town clerk?s office has now been compromised,” Rappa said.Rappa also submitted a letter to the town clerk?s office Feb. 19, indicating she would not be seeking reappointment to the board.Citing personal reasons, Rappa said she is unable to devote the time required for the position. She declined to comment further.A copy of the recall election ballot was widely distributed on Facebook and Twitter Friday.Marcia Pollack, Rita Van Steenburg and Town Clerk Ellen Schena also serve on the volunteer board. Schena was away for a few days last week and first read Rappa?s email Monday.?There?s nothing that I can do,” Schena said. “The election being three weeks away is my major concern right now. The ballot is a public document in this office. It?s a copy of the approved ballot, not the actual physical document. The actual physical ballot is being shipped within the next few days.”Part of the town clerk?s mission statement is to remain impartial and neutral as well as to assist in sharing information regarding public access to records.Schena said the Democratic party in town will nominate a candidate to fill Rappa?s seat. Republican Gary Butts, former chairman of the board, also stepped down late last year.?He?s a nice man, and his wife had just passed away,” Schena said. “He also didn?t agree with the recall. This situation is different.”Save the Board of Selectmen chair Dennis Gould said it is unusual to release an official ballot signed by the clerk to anyone before it?s printed.?Saugus voters should be very concerned that two of the three Board of Registrars have resigned in protest of the recall process. From the beginning, there have been serious questions about whether the recall was being conducted fairly and according to the law. The more we learn, the more concern there is that this process is rigged to favor recall proponents.”Gould said voters need to stand up to the abuse of the electoral process and vote no on the recall March 17.Save Saugus candidate Jeff Cicolini said he didn?t receive a copy of an official election ballot from anyone employed in the town clerk?s office nor does he have one in his possession.?I received an emailed image of the ?sample ballot? from a private citizen and felt the need to share it with the residents of Saugus,” Cicolini said. “As far as I am concerned, the residents of Saugus deserve to view the ballot as early as they possibly can as there is so much confusion as to the specifics of the process. Please remember, Saugus hasn?t had a recall election in 40 years.”Tara Vocino may be reached at [email protected].