Swampscott Selectman's Forum Doesn't Slow Recall Effort: VIDEO

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — In a nearly three-hour Zoom call with constituents, Swampscott Selectman Don Hause tried Tuesday to outline his version of the events leading up to an effort to recall him.

Hause has denied accusations that he made disparaging comments about the Black Lives Matter movement and called white privilege "a myth" while having dinner with his wife and another couple at a restaurant last month.

He has also been criticized for not supporting a proclamation condemning the death of George Floyd and for writing a letter to the Swampscott Reporter supporting the local police department.Hause said Tuesday he and his family have been attacked on social media since the controversy began. He also said his business has been "adversely affected" by the controversy.

Hause said the proclamation was presented to selectmen two hours before a meeting where they would sign it. He wanted to delay it by "a day or two" to think through it. Hause said he has since signed the proclamation.

"My simple comment at the time was...I haven't had the time to review it," Hause said."It wasn't presented as condemning the death of George Floyd. There was a larger narrative."

The meeting opened with Hause sparring with Nick Scibelli, the lead petitioner in the recall effort. Scibelli acknowledged Hause's assertions that he has been trying to better educate himself about racial issues in Swampscott, but said the position of selectman was too important for "on-the-job learning."

"I've taken for granted that I have no bias whatsoever and learned that, like most of us, I have bias and I'm trying to be more cognizant of this," Hause said.

Organizers of the recall effort have until July 22 to get 1,708 signatures from registered voters. If petitioners are successful, and Hause does not resign, selectmen would have would set a date for the recall election "not less than 64 days or more than 90 days from the date the board of selectmen called for the recall election," according to the town charter.

Related story: How Does Swampscott Handle Recall Elections?

Hause said his decision to host the forum was not aimed at trying to dissuade petitioners from dropping the recall effort. And the petitioners vowed to move forward after the call, which lasted two hours and 44 minutes.

"Don is still not holding himself accountable for the effects of his words and actions. He has done nothing in the past month to deepen his understanding of racism in our town," Abigail Goff, one of the organizers of the petition effort, posted on Facebook Wednesday morning. "As such, he is not equipped with the necessary tools to be an effective town official at this time."

Previous stories on Patch:

• Swampscott Resident Files Recall Petition For Selectman
• Swampscott Schedules Race Forum In Wake Of Selectman Controversy
• Swampscott Selectman: I Misunderstood Term 'White Privilege'
• Swampscott Selectman: I Have No Ill Will Toward Bartender
• Bar Bans Swampscott Selectman, Rehires Bartender
• Bartender Fired After Facebook Post About Swampscott Selectman

Dave Copeland covers Swampscott and other North Shore communities for Patch. He can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).