THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, OCTObEr 13, 2023 Page 11 Town Election 2023 The Saugus Advocate sponsors three nights of Charter Commission Candidate forums next week By Mark E. Vogler T he ballot for the Nov. 7 Town Election features one of hottest political races in recent town history. Twenty-seven candidates – including the top elected and appointed leaders in local Saugus government – will be competing for nine seats on the proposed Charter Commission. Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano – the one who instigated a campaign for charter reform – Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Debra Panetta, School Committee Chair Vincent Serino, Town Moderator Steve Doherty and Finance Committee Chair Kenneth L. DePatto are the notable officials among the field of candidates who want to participate in an in-depth review of Saugus government should voters approve a ballot question to create a commission. Saugus residents will get an opportunity next week to learn more about the candidates who will be running for the Charter Commission. The Saugus Advocate, collaborating with SaugusTV, will present three consecutive nights of Charter Commission forums – on Oct. 16, 17 and 18 – live from the second floor auditorium at Saugus Town Hall, from 6 to 7:15 p.m. each night. There are 27 candidates seeking nine seats on a commission (if approved by voters) to study the town charter. The candidates will be broken up alphabetically over the three nights. Every candidate received an email or phone call about the forums and was given the option to switch nights if there was a conflict. This is not a debate, but an educational forum. There will be three questions with a time limit, to allow each candidate an opportunity to state their position. Opening Question: Why are you running and do you want to see a change in government? Three minutes. Second Question: What makes you best qualified to serve on the Charter Commission if the voters approve it on Nov. 7? Two Minutes. Closing Statement: Briefly summarize the major changes you would want to see and explain why they are needed. Three minutes. The aim will be to let the ~ Political Announcement ~ James Tozza announces candidacy for two Town Committees Dear Saugus Community My name is James Tozza, lifelong Saugus Resident. I live at 12 Saugus Ave. I am on the Board of Disability Resources Center of Salem, on the Board of First Parish Church of Malden, the Board of Statewide Independence Council for Disability, I am also on the board of Public Information Education. I am running for Two Town Committees. 1st, I am rerunning for Saugus Housing Board & 2nd Town Meeting Member of Precinct 10. While on the Housing Board I have listened to my Constituents that live in the Housing complex. When they call my phone I call them right away. I handle their complaints, and lead them in the right direction. I do love the job that people of Saugus voted me in for. (I am an Advocate not a politician.) I have fought hard to get the Northern Strand Community Trail through our town and now we have over 12 miles of rail trail going from Lynn to Encore casino & in two years or so we will have a new Mystic River Bridge going from Encore to Assembly Square Mall Somerville. You may see me in the town riding my orange cargo bike. It’s my only transportation, lots of people honk & say hi. Lots of people on the rail trail know me in Malden. I am always going to my Dr’s or doing something in Malden or going to Lynn. I will listen to my constituents about Winn landfill & the compactor. We need to close it down. I live behind it. While riding my bike to BJ’s I have to wear a mask because the smell is bogus. James Tozza (courtesy photo) Wallace seeks TM reelection in Precinct 5 Ron Wallace is seeking re-election for Town Meeting Precinct 5. I am a lifelong Saugus resident and a SHS class of 1987 graduate. I am a proud 36 year member of Local 103 IBEW class of 1991. My wife Amy is a Lynn Public School special education teacher. My Son Andrew 21 is a Senior at Bentley University majoring in accounting. My Daughter Abigail 19 is a Sophomore at St Anselm’s in Goffstown NH. My youngest son Alex is a Junior at Saugus High School. I have been on Town Meeting since 2015 and some of my accomplishments include… --Getting a sidewalk installed at the former Lynnhurst school --8 years with 100% attendance both (annual and specials) --2019 I fought hard to save the school custodians --Voting on the new Middle/ High school and parks & playground renovations --Cemetery Commission member since 2020 I would like to continue if Precinct 5 residents think I have done a good job and vote me back in. I am number 6 on the ballot. Thank you Ron Wallace Grabowski seeks TM seat in Precinct 8 A rthur Grabowski of 66 Denver Street Saugus has announced his candidacy for Precinct 8 Town Meeting Member. Arthur has previously served one term on Town Meeting and five terms as a member of the Saugus School Committee. Arthur is running because he is concerned with the attendance record of several of the Precinct 8 Town Meeting Members. “If your representative does not show up, how can he represent you?” Arthur is also concerned about the lack of discussion on the Town Meeting floor about the budget for the Saugus Public Schools. “I find it appalling that members of the School Committee do not present their budget and it is obvious that members of Town Meeting are not even aware of what is in the school budget.” Arthur is greatly concerned about the quality of life of all Saugus residents when it comes to the WIN incinerator and ash pile…while there are no optimal alternatives for solid waste disposal...it is certainly obvious that expansion and continued use of the ash dump is not in the best interest of Saugus residents. Arthur acknowledges that he is not shy to speak up. As a Veteran who actually served in Vietnam, he explains that people have given their lives so that others can be free to speak and be heard. “I take freedom of speech seriously and I will always advocate for what is right,” concludes Grabowski. public know why each of the candidates are running, why they are best qualified to serve, whether they support the current form of town government and what changes they want to see. Charter Commission forums Schedule: 6 to 7:15 p.m. each night in the second floor auditorium at Saugus Town Hall. SaugusTV will provide live coverage of each forum on all three nights. Group One, Monday, Oct. 16 1) Robert James Camuso 2) Donald Cicolini 3) Anthony William Cogliano 4) Eugene F. Decareau 5) Kenneth L. DePatto 6) Stephen Doherty 7) Lori A. Gallivan 8) Frank V. Federico 9) Peter Z. Manoogian, Sr. Group Two, Tuesday, Oct. 17 1) Ryan P. Fisher 2) Robert J. Long 3) Jeannette E. Meredith 4) Lawrence Anthony Mingolelli 5) Julie Ann Mitchell 6) John J. O’Brien 7) Sue Palomba 8) Debra Carol Panetta 9) Matthew David Parlante Group Three, Wednesday, Oct. 18 1) Peter A. Rossetti, Jr. 2) Michael J. Serino 3) Vincent A. Serino 4) Anthony D. Speziale 5) Christopher M. Tarantino 6) Richard Edward Thompson 7) Thomas E. Traverse 8) Joseph John Vecchione IV 9) Judith A. Worthley
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