Candidate to run for Swampscott selectmen seat

SWAMPSCOTT – Two incumbents will not be running for re-election this spring. Selectman Adam Forman and School Committee member David Whelan have both announced they would not seek re-election.No one has taken out nomination papers for the School Committee but Matthew Strauss has taken out papers to run for a seat on the Board of Selectmen.Strauss, who has worked in the hospitality industry for more than 30 years, ran for Selectmen last year when there were two seats up for grabs, but lost to Jill Sullivan and Robert Mazow. When Strauss was a candidate last year, numerous residents expressed concern regarding a conflict of interest because his wife Danielle Strauss is the recreation director in town.Strauss, who has been a Town Meeting member for eight years, pointed out the recreation director salary is not included in the town budget and the salary is paid for by fees generated by recreational programs. Strauss added if elected he would not be the first selectman to have a spouse or family member employed by the town.Strauss said he believes he would be effective as a selectmen.”I think I can bring the people’s perspective to the Board of Selectmen,” he said. “I know I could collaborate and work well with other members of the Board.”Strauss said, if elected, one his priorities would include adequate funding for public safety.”We need to make sure our police and fire departments are strong,” he said. “I have lived in other communities where I saw the quality of life deteriorate after funding for public safety was cut.”A three-year term on the Planning Board is also up for grabs. The vacancy was created when Jeffrey Blonder, whose term was to run through 2012, resigned on Oct. 8 because he was deployed to Afghanistan. Angela Ippolito has taken out papers to run for Blonder’s unexpired three-year term.Incumbent Patrick Jones has already taken out nomination papers to run for another five year term on the Planning Board and Incumbent Nelson Kessler is running for another term on the Board of Health. Housing Authority member James Hughes has also pulled nomination papers.Moderator Martin Goldman is also running for another one year term and John Karwowski is running for re-election to the Board of Library Trustees.Other terms of office that are up this spring include John Phelan III’s seat on the Board of Assessors.The last day to take out nomination papers for the April 28 town election is March 6 and all nomination papers must be returned to the town clerk by March 10.Incumbent Town Meeting members must notify the town clerk in writing of their intention to run for re-election no later than March 10.The last day for candidates to withdraw their names from the ballot is March 26.Residents have until 8 p.m. on April 8 to register to vote in the upcoming town election.