The Swampscott Tides is hosting a local election debate with the four candidates in the contested Select Board race.

The event will be held on Tuesday, April 14 at the Swampscott High School at 7 p.m., with streaming accessibility on the public access channels. The four candidates, Ted Dooley, Wayne Godfrey, Charlie Patsios and Wayne Spritz, will introduce themselves and answer questions submitted in advance by the audience.

To submit questions for the debate, email editor@swampscotttides.org.

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. 

Current Select Board Member David Grishman and Vice Chair Doug Thompson are not running for re-election.

Dooley moved to Swampscott in 2019 and has served on the Planning Board since 2021. He graduated from Boston College, where he is currently completing his Masters of Business Administration. In 2022, he received a public leadership credential from the  Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Godfrey is a Massachusetts native who became involved in policy during his time at SUNY Oneonta. He is a licensed real estate agent and manages a large department retail store. He is a Town Meeting member and an outreach coordinator for the Swampscott Democratic Town Committee.

Patsios moved to Swampscott in 1990 and has had two children graduate from Swampscott High School. He serves as the chair of the Housing Authority, as one of the Board of Assessors and on the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee. He also created the 501c3 Swampscott Housing Development Corporation. 

Spritz has lived in Swampscott for 26 years, where he raised his family. He has worked as a mechanical engineer for 30 years. He serves as the chair of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee and is a member of Save King’s Beach. 

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.