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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, August 2, 2019 Page 7 UNANIMOUS | FROM PAGE 1 the community and not questioning your decision making or the fellow board members you serve with.” Mitchell not talking During his arraignment in Suffolk Superior Court last week, Mitchell pleaded “not guilty” to the criminal charges he faces. Mitchell has not commented on his indictment or the unanimous recommendation that he resign. Selectman Jennifer D’Eon admitted to being “frustrated” and “disappointed” about the situation, especially since Mitchell didn’t provide advance warning to his colleagues about the situation. “Until Mark decides to resign, the Board of Selectmen and all of the decisions we make will be under scrutiny,” D’Eon said. “Although we can’t force Mark to resign, he shines a bad light on the four of us. If he’s so determined to clear his name, he should step aside so he can fight these charges,” she said. Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Jeff Cicolini said much of the public sentiment he’s aware of suggests that Mitchell should resign. “I believe in the justice system and that he’s entitled to his day in court,” Cicolini said. “Given the severity of the charges, Mark should step down to avoid becoming a distraction to all of the good things happening in town,” he said. Initially – when a lawsuit by the Boston Center for Adult Education (BCAE) against Mitchell and two others alleging they misappropriated more than $700,000 of the center’s money became public last April – Cicolini said he didn’t have a problem with Mitchell serving on the board. “When this first happened, this was a civil matter. There were no criminal charges,” Cicolini said. “But these are pretty serious allegations. And in order to allow the town to move forward, Mark needs to do what’s right. And the right thing to do is to step down. The general consensus out there seems to be that he should step down,” he said. More than $1.8 million allegedly stolen Mitchell, 49, and another former top BCAE executive – ex-Executive Director Susan B. Brown, 66, of Marblehead – were among three people indicted by a Suffolk County grand jury on July 12 in the theft of BCAE funds totaling more than $1.8 million. Brown’s partner, Karen Kalfian, 62, of Marblehead, was also charged for her alleged role in the thefts. Brown allegedly authorized a series of checks to Kalfian totaling $565,586 between 2011 and last year for marketing services that were never performed, according to the indictments. Mitchell, Brown and Kalfian were each released on their own recognizance with orders to stay away from the Boston Center for Adult Education and its employees.The defendants are scheduled to return to court on Sept. 27. The charges against Mitchell include the following: • Making false entries in corporate books • Publishing of false or exaggerated statements • Common law forgery • Common law uttering • Three counts of forgery • Three counts of uttering • Four counts of larceny by scheme Mitchell was also charged with misusing his political campaign funds for personal expenses unrelated to his campaign (see related story), commingling his campaign funds with personal funds, and making cash withdrawals greater than the $50 maximum set by law. The unlawful cash withdrawals were made at locations in Boston, giving Suffolk prosecutors jurisdiction over the offenses. Mitchell was also charged with misusing his political campaign funds for personal expenses unrelated to his campaign (see related story), commingling his campaign funds with personal funds and making cash withdrawals greater than the $50 maximum set by law. The unlawful cash withdrawals were made at locations in Boston, giving Suffolk prosecutors jurisdiction over the offenses. According to the statement of the case presented by prosecutor Attorney Julien Mundele, Mitchell wrote checks to himself totaling about $900,000. He also wrote checks in the name of Kelly Holt, a BCAE instructor. Then he forged her signature and deposited the funds in his account. “Mitchell embezzled $82,510 by writing checks to the Saugus Wings, an AAU baseball organization which he owned and operated in the town of Saugus,” Mundele said. “...Mitchell wrote checks, in the amount of $242,749 to various unauthorized third-party organizations for his personal benefit and the benefit of his AAU teams,” he said. Riley says resignation calls took too long A political challenger who lost to Mitchell by a narrow HAS HE LOST THE PUBLIC’S TRUST? Colleagues of Selectman Mark Mitchell say the criminal charges against him have damaged his credibility and that he should resign. (Saugus Advocate file photo by Mark E. Vogler) margin in the 2017 town elections stepped up her criticism of the embattled selectman this week. Corinne Riley had publicly called for Mitchell’s resignation back in April. She noted that Mitchell’s failure to disclose serious charges against him showed that he put himself above his constituents. “I stand by what I said then. The fact that he has now been indicted and arraigned now only lends more credibility to the criminal charges against him,” Riley told The Saugus Advocate this week. “Saugus deserves five selectmen that put the needs of the town first. Throughout our country, people, including me, believe that many politicians are crooks and self-serving,” Riley said. “The growing charges against Mark Mitchell only further that belief. However, I know that many politicians are not. Mr. Mitchell has another opportunity to do right by the constituents he claims to serve by resigning immediately,” she said. Riley said she is pleased that selectmen are calling for Mitchell’s resignation. “But, I think these comments would have served the town better if they had been made earlier. Charges against Mr. Mitchell were made nine months ago and finally made public in April, and the only thing I heard from any selectman up until last week was that he is innocent until proven guilty,” Riley said. “While that is true, the issue at hand regarding the town is not his guilt or innocence, but whether Saugus is better off with or without him on the Board of Selectmen. The citizens of town should have come first, whether he is a friend or member of the same ‘pack’ or not.” A.B.C. CIGAR 170 REVERE ST., REVERE OPEN: Mon.-Sat. 8 AM - 8 PM Sun. - Holidays: 8 AM - 6 PM (781) 289-4959 GIFT CARDS! 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