Cavaco Skips Candidates Forum, Alleges Conspiracy

Selectmen candidates Mike Brady and Paul Buckley participated in a forum earlier this week hosted and taped for broadcast by TV9. Missing from the event was incumbent Francis Cavaco, who alleged the event would not be fair because coordinator Bev Hart is biased against him and "part of a group of elected officials, town employees and longtime activists who have a stake in protecting the longtime status quo at Town Hall."

In response to Cavaco's allegation, Hart said she had nothing to do with the questions asked. They were submitted by local media, as has been the case for the past 10 to 15 years.

"I have no idea what Francis is afraid of," she said. "I don't think there's anything that he should be afraid of because we have never had any repercussions from what has been done before, and we've always done it the same way."

She noted the cable channel is allowing Cavaco to make a campaign statement that will air on the station.

Cavaco is not buying the claim of neutrality, even if only questions submitted by the local media were used for the forum.

"It would have been too easy for Mrs. Hart to selectively submit reporter's questions to the moderator that would put me in a bad light," wrote Cavaco in a press released issued a couple days after the forum. "The media questions were submitted through Mrs. Hart, and when I asked TV9 for clarification on how the questions were submitted and forwarded to the moderator, a clear answer was never given to me."

He further alleged Hart is part of the organization Seekonk Concerned Citizens, whose leaders support Brady's campaign and "protecting their personal interests instead of what is best for the citizens of the town."

"There have been coordinated efforts by the Concerned Citizens to unfairly attack me in open meetings to try to upset me and make me look bad," Cavaco wrote. "They do this because they don't want me holding Town Hall accountable for our tax dollars and important projects that must get done."

In response to Cavaco's press release, Brady issued his own. He noted he would attend next week's forum hosted by the Republican Town Committee, even though Buckley recently served as the organization's chair.

"I have no fear or trepidation that I will be not treated 'fairly' or 'impartially' by the sponsoring group," Brady wrote. "Instead, I look forward to the opportunity to lay out my positions and goals for the future of our community. What is sorely lacking at the top level of our government is healthy and robust debate among our elected selectmen. Rather than sniping and bickering, there needs to be true communication, leadership and accountability."

Buckley declined to comment for this story.

The press releases issued by Cavaco and Brady are attached to this story.