No Meet the Candidates on TV9

Seekonk’s annual town election is on April 1 but unlike past years, there will not be any opportunities for candidates to share their views in a televised forum. That’s because three of TV9’s Board of Directors are candidates themselves.

Luis Sousa is running for one of the two open seats on the Seekonk School Committee. David Viera is running for one of the two open seats on the Select Board. Jeffrey Starr Mararian isn’t on the ballot, but he is a write-in candidate for Water Commission.

Board President Andrea Rosseter said because of that, there will be no forums this year.

“TV9 is a privately owned business that is entirely separate than our town government,” Rosseter explained. “The people who volunteer on the Board do not lose their right to participate in municipal government except for recusing themselves from any vote that may cause a conflict of interest as described by the State Ethics Commission. As a matter of routine when TV9 has a Director running for a contested elected position within the Town, the Directors do not film the Meet the Candidates show to avoid any suspicion of bias involving the selection of questions.”

The TV9 Board elected its new members last December. The previous Board of Directors were let go five months earlier. Meanwhile, the state is investigating allegations of discrimination filed by former board members Deborah Hoch and Kristen Montgomery.

Hoch and Montgomery both allege they were discriminated against by Seekonk Cable Access, on the basis of age and gender, after a special meeting was held in July 2023.