Recall Supporters, Opponents Face Off In Debate

STOUGHTON, MA — The emotions behind the Stoughton recall election were on display last week at the first debate in the lead up to the special election.

Wednesday night, Stoughton Media Access Corporation and Stoughton News held the first of two planned debates. The first saw representatives of Stoughton First and Citizens Against the Recall debate the recall.

Mark Zamanian of Citizens Against the Recall called the recall a coup and hostile takeover by recall supporters and selectmen Robert O’Reagan and Michael Sullivan. He argued that there have been no ethics violations filed against selectmen David Sousa, Robert Cohn, and Peter Brown, who are the target of the recall.

“If there had been any illegalities, where’s the investigation? The charges? The state police?” Zamanian said.

Citizens Against the Recall member Peter Buckley added that with Cohn’s and O'Regan's seats up in April, it will be less costly to wait for the scheduled election rather than hold a special.

Pam Carr of Stoughton First said the recall is warranted because of what she called, “a pattern of behavior that has become acceptable and commonplace with the current board.” Fellow Stoughton First member Michael Horan said the board’s failure to protect the town from lawsuits and the process involving the firing and hiring of town managers was justification for the recall.

When asked to explain why their candidates were the best set, Zamanian pointed to the addition of 12 firefighters, nine police officers, a second ambulance, the sale of tax liability town properties, the implementation of LED lighting on streets, and the improved bond rating as some of the accomplishments of the recalled candidates. Carr, however, declined to address speficic candidates backed by the pro-recall movement.

“I think it’s important that we were invited here to argue why to recall 3 selectmen rather than why to vote for three candidates. I know there are going to be opportunities for (Stephen) Cavey, (Rick) Hill, or (Christine) Howe to argue. This debate is to be for or against the recall, not about candidates,” Carr said. “Our purpose here is to be pro-recall or anti-recall not pro-candidate or anti-candidate.”

Much of the discussion centered around the ousting of former Town Manager Michael Hartman, who anti-recall supporters say was lawfully removed from the position with the expiration of his contract, pointing to a decision from a Norfolk Superior Court judge to deny Hartman a preliminary injunction. Pro-recall supporters said Sousa did not allow O’Reagan and Sullivan to read the contract for Interim Town Manager Steve Anastos when they called a meeting to appoint him hours after the proposed contract was emailed to board members.

The one thing both sides did agree on was the tone of social media discussions. Zamanian said the sadden by the one time he looked at discussions happening on Facebook. Carr added that she hoped that issues could be discussed in a civil manner, but she was proven wrong.

A second debate among the candidates is scheduled for Nov. 15.

Below is the full debate:

Image: File Photo