Town Election 2025 – Jennifer E. D’Eon seeks a return to the Board of Selectmen six years after she lost her seat

By Mark E. Vogler

Jennifer E. D’Eon has a major advantage among the announced candidates who aspire to winning one of the five seats on the Board of Selectmen in the Nov. 4 Town Election. She has four years and eight months of past experience serving as a selectman.

“I had unfinished goals I wanted accomplished,” D’Eon told The Saugus Advocate this week, explaining her motivation for a possible political comeback after losing her seat in the 2019 Town Election.

“I heard that there was a member not running for reelection. I am experienced. I understand how Saugus Government works. I can get the hard work done,” she said.

Selectman Corinne Riley announced earlier this year that she will not seek a fourth term on the board. That decision was expected to widen the field of competition. D’Eon was one of several potential challengers who emerged this week as nomination papers became available at the Town Clerk’s Office for candidates who plan to run for elective office this fall.

Also pulling nomination papers for a possible run for selectman were:

–Sandro Pansini Souza, an unsuccessful candidate for selectman two years ago when he finished seventh in a field of seven candidates. He currently serves as treasurer on the Saugus TV Board of Directors.

–Precinct 7 Town Meeting Member Frank Federico, who won the most votes in his first town election two years ago. He announced last month that he plans to run for the Board of Selectmen.

–Precinct 1 Town Meeting Member Stacey Herman-Dorant, who topped the field of seven candidates competing for the five seats for Precinct 1 Town Meeting in the 2023 Election. She announced her candidacy for selectman last week.

D’Eon won in three elections

By this week’s deadline for The Saugus Advocate, two potential candidates had taken out nomination papers for a seat on the Saugus School Committee: Brian J. Doherty of Precinct 1 and Robert F. Bruzzese of Precinct 9. Doherty is a member of the town’s Finance Committee, with his term set to expire in June of 2027.

Currently, there are four announced selectman candidates, including D’Eon. There are reports that more selectman candidates may announce this summer, in addition to four incumbent selectmen who are expected to seek reelection: Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta and Selectmen Jeff Cicolini, Anthony Cogliano and Michael Serino.

Fifty certified signatures of registered voters are required for the Board of Selectmen, School Committee and Housing Authority. Ten certified signatures of registered voters are required for Town Meeting candidates.

Candidates have until 5 p.m. Sept. 12 to obtain nomination papers from the Town Clerk’s Office. The deadline for filing those nomination papers is 5 p.m. Sept. 16.

D’Eon has been involved in four separate campaigns for the Board of Selectmen, dating back to 2015. In March of that year, she was one of four candidates elected in a special election involving the recall of four selectmen who had fired Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree. Elected with D’Eon in the special election were Jeff Cicolini, Scott Brazis and Mark D. Mitchell.

During the regular Town Election in November of 2015, D’Eon finished third among 10 candidates to win her first full two-year term. D’Eon finished third among nine candidates as she was reelected to a second full term in the 2017 Town Election.

In 2019, D’Eon lost her bid for reelection, finishing eighth among 12 candidates. But she continued her participation in local government, serving on the Cultural Council and later on the Board of Assessors, an appointed position she still holds.

Ready to serve Saugus again

D’Eon has chosen her daughter Ally D’Eon to serve in what will be her fifth campaign for a seat on the Board of Selectmen.

“I am excited to throw my name back in the ring! After a six year hiatus I’ve decided to run for Selectman again,” D’Eon told The Saugus Advocate this week.

“My family has accomplished many milestones in my time out of office, and I am ready to serve my community again. I have been active on the Board of Assessors for several years and continue to serve the town in a different capacity,” she said.

D’Eon takes great pride in having served on the Board of Selectmen that rehired Crabtree as town manager.

“In my previous terms I advocated for better school facilities and community spaces, which are still a priority to me,” D’Eon said in her interview this week.

“I want Saugus to be beautiful and be a place that our citizens are proud of. I’ll continue the mission I set out on to begin with and continue to advocate for public safety and bringing our community together. To improve our safety I will advocate for the west side public safety building,” D’Eon said.

“I am passionate about history and I would like to see our historical sites rejuvenated and given new life. Saugus is full of history and culture, such as the Iron Works and the Boardman House. I believe that we should advocate for grants to improve the access and quality of our historical and cultural sites. I look forward to running again and bringing my unique voice back to the people of Saugus.”