Swampscott Election Field Set: Candidates Running for Local Offices

Candidate papers are in for Swampscott’s local election, with 112 residents running for various positions.

Swampscott’s local election will be held Tuesday, April 28. Residents will elect candidates to a variety of positions, from the Select Board and School Committee to Town Moderator and Town Meeting Members.

Here’s a look at who is officially running.

Town Moderator

Ryan Hale is running uncontested.

The Town Moderator is a one-year term. The moderator presides over the annual Town Meetings as well as any Special Town Meetings. They regulate proceedings, decide questions of order and declare the outcome of votes.

The person elected is also responsible for appointing members of the Finance Committee, which consists of one voter from each precinct and two additional voters at large. They also appoint five Capital Improvement Committee members.

Select Board

There are two open positions for three-year terms. In alphabetical order, those running are:

Edward Dooley
Wayne Godfrey
Charles Patsios
Wayne Spritz

The Select Board acts as the town’s chief executive body, responsible for setting policies, issuing licenses, appointing various town officials and overseeing the daily direction of Swampscott’s administration. Select Board members play a key role in ensuring the town’s overall financial health as well. The board is a collective decision-making body.

Board of Assessors

There is one open position for a three-year term. No one is running for the position.

The Board of Assessors establishes the fair market value of real property to ensure equitable taxation for homes, commercial properties and land. The board reviews property tax exemptions and manages tax abatement requests.

Board of Health

There is one open position for a three-year term. George Allen is running uncontested.

The Board of Health promotes public health by preventing disease and enforcing health regulations. They work to set policies, adopt ordinances and manage local resources.

School Committee

There are two open positions for a three-year term. Katherine Arrington and John Giantis are running uncontested.

There is one open position to fulfill a two-year term. Martha Driscoll Cesarz is running uncontested.

The School Committee acts as the board of directors for the local public school district, responsible for setting school policies, approving the annual budget, and hiring as well as evaluating the superintendent. The board reviews major curriculum and policy changes while also acting as a liaison with other local officials as well as the state.

Trustee of the Public Library

There is one open position for a three-year term. Debbie Friedlander is running uncontested.

Trustees oversee financial and strategic planning for the Swampscott Public Library. While advocating for the library within the community, the board also develops long-term plans and policies for the library’s services.

Planning Board

There is one open position for a five-year term. No one is running for the position.

The Planning Board guides the community’s development by managing land use and reviewing development proposals. The board advises on land use policy, infrastructure and development projects, with the mission of orderly growth both in long-term decisions and more immediate projects.

Housing Authority

There is one open position to fill a one-year term. Kenneth Shutzer is running uncontested.

The Housing Authority develops and manages affordable, state-funded or federally subsidized housing for low-income families, older residents and people with disabilities. The group also ensures the housing adheres to state and federal regulations.

Town Meeting Member

Town Meeting members serve staggered three-year terms, leaving 108 seats up for election each year.

For the first precinct, In alphabetical order, those running are:

Jorge Briones Jr.
Ronald Burgess
Michael Contreras
Ralph Edwards
William Hancox
Cynthia Hellmann-Flatt
Colin Loggins
Reggie Pagan
David Pitcher
Michael Serino
Susan Tweed

For the second precinct, In alphabetical order, those running are:

Jaime Bloch
Susan Buonopane
James Cassetta
Eden Clark
Jennifer Galacar
Susan Gambale
Amanda Geil
Shauna Guidici
Virginia LeBlanc
Donna McHugh
Terri Morgen
Geralyn Stephan
Natalie Swanstrom
Christian Urbano
Frances Weiner

For the third precinct, In alphabetical order, those running are:

Caitlin Bova
Constance Carman
Martha Curry
Charlotte Daher
Marsha Dalton
Susan Diehl
Kraig Hitchcock
Loring Lincoln Jr.
Edward Mulvey
Catherine Phelan
Sydney Pierce
Gail Rosenberg
Jacqueline Ruckel
Shayne Spaulding
Wayne Spritz
Rebecca White
Catherine Wilson

For the fourth precinct, In alphabetical order, those running are:

George Allen
Michael Brison
Gary Callahan
Lisa Carangelo
Torey Cummings
Justin Eppley
John Giantis
Wayne Godfrey
Michelle Gosselin
Merle Hyman
Laurie Lebbon
Tania Lillak
Michael Paquette
Albert Pica IV
Maura Pilotte
William Quinn
Leonard Russo
Joe Roman
Robert Scheier
Martha Schmitt
Lauren Shrestha
Bidesh Shrestha
Andrew Willison

For the fifth precinct, In alphabetical order, those running are:

Deborah Caniff
Diana Caplan
Martha Cesarz
Edward Dooley
Nicole Dooley
Amy Kyle
Brian Longin
Stefanie Neumann
Gregory Racki
Adrian Rodriguez
Alfred Rose
Leonard Rotman
Shelley Sackett
Joseph Simons
Lynette Simons
James Smith
Andrew Whitman
Karen Whitman

For the sixth precinct, In alphabetical order, those running are:

Barrie Atkin
Lawrence Block
Damon Demady
Debbie Friedlaner
Kelsey Henry
Trevor Henry
Lisa Hickey
Jonathan Leamon
Bonnie Levine
Robert Levine
Victoria Maher
Jill Simmons-Wetmore
Alison Stewart
Rachel Taradash
Helen Tieger
Jeffrey Wilson
David Zucker

What Happens With the Vacancies?

Residents can run write-in campaigns. Write-in candidates must receive at least 10 votes to qualify, according to Assistant Town Clerk Michael Brison.

If no one is elected, the seat will remain vacant. According to Massachusetts General Law, the Select Board “shall in writing appoint a person to fill such vacancy.”