Who's the victim? Agawam Mayor Susan Dawson and alleged …
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Updated: Friday, 10 Apr 2009, 10:40 PM EDT
Published : Friday, 10 Apr 2009, 9:58 PM EDT
AGAWAM, Mass. (WWLP) - The alleged assault on Agawam's Mayor is the talk of the
town. 22News spoke with Agawam residents about the incident
involving Mayor Susan Dawson and the estranged wife of her
boyfriend.
Over 24 hours after the Mayor of Agawam was allegedly
attacked inside the bar at Max's Tavern, people living in town are
still talking about the incident.
“I don't know what to think. I don't like to get into
personal issues because all of us have been through things that
have been embarrassing,” said Meg Sullivan of Agawam.
The Mayor was walking out of the women's bathroom when she
claims she was pulled by the hair, thrown to the ground, and kicked
twice. She also says she lost consciousness during the incident.
She has filed a complaint in court against 61-year-old
Celeste Benoit who lives on Blokland Drive in Longmeadow.
Mayor Dawson told 22News she knows the woman. “She's
the almost ex-wife of the gentlemen I've been dating and that's the
bottom line. It's not as gross as everyone makes it out to
be,” said Agawam Mayor Susan Dawson.
Some people living in town believe the incident is a private
matter. “I think it's much ado about nothing and it's her
personal life. Personal business and what she does in her personal
life has nothing to do with the town at all,” said Marilyn
Gentile of Agawam.
But other people say that this very private incident has tainted
her public position. “I just think it's embarrassing for
Agawam. It's unfortunate,” said Julie Palazzi of Agawam.
The Mayor says the incident will not affect her ability to
do her job. “I'm going to do the job that I was elected to
do. I will do that in spite of everything that is going on in my
personal life,” said Mayor Dawson.
22News went to Agawam where we asked residents if they think …
The alleged assault on Agawam's Mayor is the talk of the town. …
Mayor of Agawam Susan Dawson says she was viciously attacked by…