Town Election 2023 – The Saugus Advocate sponsors three nights of Charter Commission Candidate forums next week

By Mark E. Vogler

The 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 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