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By Mark E. Vogler
With more than seven months to go before the town elections, Selectman Corinne Riley announced this week that she has no plans of seeking a fourth two-year term. “I am very pleased with my three terms, and thankful that the residents who supported me kept me in one of the five seats,” Riley told The Saugus Advocate this week.
“However, I’d like to take this opportunity to announce that I will not be a candidate for re-election to the Saugus Board of Selectmen this year,” she said.
Normally, potential candidates for town office wait until the nomination papers become available in late July before deciding whether to run. And then they have until mid-September to file their nomination papers. But Riley said she had made up her mind earlier this year and shared her decision with supporters and friends at the 4-1-1 event two weeks ago. She decided to make her intentions known now as a courtesy to other candidates who might be considering a run for the vacant seat.
Riley vowed to remain active in the town’s community affairs as a volunteer for various causes. “I look forward to pursuing other interests outside of politics,” Riley said.
“I absolutely plan to stay active. I am proud to be the next president of the Saugus Lions, I will always do what I can for our Veterans,” she said. “I plan on doing as much as I can to help those in need and other ideas that will include the town as a whole. As long as God gives me the strength and time to work for our community, I will be involved as much as I can.”
Riley, a 1975 Saugus High School graduate, previously served two two-year terms on the Saugus School Committee. She has volunteered in the community for more than three decades, serving as a religious educator, a PTO president, a Little League manager and a member of the Library Foundation and the War Monument Committee.
She lost in a narrow race for the fifth spot on the Board of Selectmen in the 2017 town election. Two years later, she ran again and finished second among the five winners, earning the office of vice chair.
“It has been my privilege to serve the residents of Saugus for four years on the School Committee, and six years on the Board of Selectmen,” Riley said.
“My sincere thanks to all that have supported me. Before leaving the Board later this year, I’d like Saugus to focus on a third fire station, the replacement of the Golden Hills Playground, and implementing a subscription-based email/SMS-compatible service for our residents,” she said.
Here are some highlights of this week’s interview with Riley:
Q: Why did you decide not to run for another term?
A: In November, I will have served on the Board for six years. Since being elected as Selectman in 2019, I’ve initiated the annual Saugus 4-1-1 event, Citizens Input Forum, and Empty School Building Forum. I’ve worked successfully with Representative Wong to bring funding for our first flashing crosswalk signs to Saugus, and again to pass a law establishing the Saugus Emergency Relief Fund. I initiated the Covid 19 candlelight vigil, and Thank you reception for all employees and volunteers who got us through it. I served on the WIN Subcommittee and Cliftondale Revitalization Committee. In the interest of transparency and accountability, we’ve insisted on improved communications with the Town Manager, which now happens via quarterly update meetings with the Board, and insisted on public evaluations of the Town Manager.
Q: What are the best achievements of the Board?
A: During my six years, Board accomplishments that I am proud of include approving the replacement of the Route 107 junkyard with a state-of-the-art UPS building and adding 250 local jobs in the process, supporting the conservative fiscal policy of the Town Manager and administration, including higher financial reserves and continued positive bond rating, improvements to our parks and playgrounds, including recent improvements at Anna Parker, doing everything we could to support our local businesses through Covid with outdoor seating and prompt public hearings, improvements to town buildings like the Senior Center, American Legion, Public Safety building and Town Hall, instituting annual performance reviews for the Town Manager and quarterly updates with the Town Manager.
Q: What are you most proud of?
A: I always said I ran for public office to do the work not to just occupy a seat, and I have. I’ve worked with other Board members, the Town Manager, the School Department and our State Representatives to bring positive change to Saugus. Aside from the achievements of the Board as a whole, the Emergency Fund I worked on with Representative Wong was one of my top accomplishments – also working with Representative Wong to get several sets of pedestrian flashing lights installed throughout town. There are many other ideas that I initiated with the support of then-Chair Cogliano and my fellow board members, like our first Citizens Input Forum, Closed School Buildings forum, Saugus 4-1-1, Covid vigil and Thank you reception for those who got our town through Covid.
Q: Would you consider running for another elected position (i.e., Town Meeting)?
A: At this time, I wouldn’t consider it. However, if there is anything I would need/want to advocate for, I’ll do what I can.
Q: Do you have advice for Saugus residents considering running for office?
A: I would tell everyone who is considering it … do it! New voices bring new ideas. I have lost an election and have won them. Losing encourages you to work harder if you truly want to make a difference.
My strongest advice is this: Stay off of social media. Knock on every door and let people find out who you are. Don’t let others who want their candidate to win tell people who they want voters to believe who you are. Do NOT form an opinion on any issue by listening to one person/side. Nothing is ever black or white. Do your due diligence and listen to all sides, ideas and facts.
