Candidate eyes vacant Nahant selectman seat; special election in the works

NAHANT – A special election to fill a vacant seat on the Board of Selectmen would be held Nov. 2 if the town receives approval from the state.The vacancy was created when Robert “Skip” Frary resigned on April 27. Frary was elected to his first term as selectman in April 2000 when he upset incumbent James Walsh by a wide margin. There has been a lot of speculation that Frary, who is a lieutenant in the Winchester Fire Department, could be tapped as permanent chief of the Nahant Fire Department if funding for the position becomes available in the future.According to Town Clerk Peggy Barile, the town is asking the state to authorize holding the special election on Nov. 2″We need approval from the state,” she said.Even though the date of the election has not been finalized and papers are not available, one candidate has already announced she would run.Lainey Titus, who served as chief-of-staff to state Representative Steve Walsh for seven years, said her familiarity with the town and its residents would make her an asset to the Board of Selectmen.”When I heard Skip (Frary) had resigned it just clicked,” she said. “The question was not why would I run for selectman but why I wouldn’t do it. Public service has always been a big part of my life and I have work experience. I love the town and would love to serve the town as selectman.”Titus served on the Nahant 150th anniversary committee and is a member of the Democratic Town Committee and Memorial Day Parade Committee. The Swampscott High school graduate received her Master’s degree in Public Affairs from the McCormack Institute at UMass Boston.”During my tenure at the State House, I worked closely with Nahant officials and I am familiar with state programs and agencies,” she said. “My firsthand experience at the state level is crucial at a time when all cities and towns are feeling the budget crunch and funding from state resources needs to be optimized.”