Politics & Government

Candidate Rejects Debate Invitation

Paul Buckley says the debate host, a group headed by activist David Saad, lacks credibility.

Seekonk Board of Selectmen candidate Paul Buckley says he will participate in debates prior to the Sept. 24 election, but not one hosted by David Saad and his group .

The group next week on Thursday at the . Invitations were sent to Buckley and Nelson Almeida, the two candidates whose names will appear on the ballot, and Saad said Tuesday night he planned to invite write-in candidate Jeffrey Starr Mararian. Almeida, who is a Concerned Citizens member, accepted. Buckley didn't respond.

"I wouldn't give him the time of day," Buckley said of Saad, who unsuccessfully ran for the state House in 2010, when asked by Seekonk Patch why he didn't respond to the invitation. "For me, he has no credibility and his organization has no credibility. I will participate in debates if they are hosted by the many legitimate groups in this town, but I'm not participating in one hosted by his group."

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He added that Saad is a man "known as someone with an agenda" and that Concerned Citizens "is another way for him to do whatever he's trying to accomplish, and I'm not going to be a part of it."

Saad said he was would not attend the debate if that is "the stumbling block" for Buckley's participation.

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"I think that Paul is making a mistake discounting the Seekonk Concerned Citizens group as they too want to improve our town," Saad wrote in an email to Patch. "I'm sorry that he feels towards me the way he does. The SCC will miss the opportunity to find out exactly what his plans are for improving our town."

Almeida called Buckley's decision not to participate "selfish."

"It's a committee for concerned citizens," he wrote in an email to Patch. "I guess he feels our residents aren't real?"

The special election is scheduled to take place Sept. 24. The final day to register to vote is Sept. 4, but you need to register by Aug. 17 if you want to participate in the Sept. 6 state primary. The winner of the selectmen election will fill the seat vacated in June by Bill Rice.


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