Former Save Saugus head seeks board seat

SAUGUS – Mark Mitchell said he is running for the Board of Selectmen because he is seeking respect.?I first became involved with the recall because I was horrified the way the four selectmen facing recall treated the residents of Saugus in public at their meetings,” Mitchell said. “This needs to change immediately.”Like Arthur Grabowski, who is running for all four seats up for recall, Mitchell has goals to partner with the new town manager, Sean Fitzgerald, including to re-establish the long-term financial and capital plans for Saugus that will strategically improve education, youth programs, senior-citizen services and public safety.Mitchell is running against Selectman Stephen Castinetti. Mitchell said Castinetti was quoted in The Item as saying “Saugus? loss is Nahant?s gain,” and “I wish there was some way we could have kept him here” in regards to Castinetti?s support of former town manager Andrew Bisignani, who is facing charges that he committed fraud while working for the towns of Nahant and Saugus.Mitchell has served on the Board of Assessors since January 2013, he co-founded the Saugus Wings Baseball Program in 2009 with John Furey and he is the treasurer of the Saugus Diamond Club.He also started the Save Saugus PAC that led to the drive to recall selectmen Castinetti, Maureen Dever, Paul Allan and chair Ellen Faiella.A third-generation Saugonian, Mitchell graduated from Saugus High School in 1988. He attended Northeastern University and earned a bachelor?s degree in accounting and finance. He has two children, Christopher, 18, and Isabella, 10.Mitchell is the controller at Boston Center for Adult Education and has worked in various industries, including advertising, IT consulting, education and travel.?It is my hope that the voters will consider both my professional background as well as my commitment to youth and athleticism as clear evidence that I will serve as a Saugus selectman who is capable of progressing Saugus in a manner that includes cooperation and team effort,” he said.