Spathanas wants to continue town involvement with selectman seat

SWAMPSCOTT – Laura Spathanas has no agenda and no ulterior motive tied to her decision to run for the Board of Selectmen.”My reason for seeking the seat on the Board of Selectmen is simple: to give back to my community,” she said in a prepared statement. “Although there are many town issues I have thoughts on and concerns about, I do not have one particular agenda pushing me to seek this seat.”Spathanas said her goal is to be open-minded, listen to anyone who has concerns and do what’s in the best interest for the town and its people.While she may be inexperienced as a selectman, Spathanas may have an edge when it comes to running a campaign. The daughter of Harry and Donna Coppola of Lynn, Spathanas watched her mother run for office on the state and local level on more than one occasion.”I grew up in an extremely civic-minded family,” she said. “My mother, Donna Coppola, continues to serve the community by serving as a member of the Lynn School Committee.”She said watching family members give back and become involved with the community had a ripple effect that has stayed with her.Born and raised in Lynn, Spathanas moved to neighboring Swampscott, her husband Frank’s hometown, a decade ago.”As I grew up, I was always concerned about and active in the Lynn community. When I moved to Swampscott, I made it my mission to become involved in the town, whether through the activities my daughters are involved in, community service, volunteering or joining groups that interest me,” she said.Spathanas said she is a member of the Friends of the Library as well as a volunteer, she has served on the Swampscott League of Women Voters and is co-vice chairman of the Swampscott Democratic Town Committee. In regards to the latter, she said she has been charged with organizing an annual coat drive and monthly food drives.”As a result of these efforts I was honored by being named a 2012 Unsung Heroine of Massachusetts by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women,” she said. “I also hold the office of secretary for the Saint Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church PTA, where we attend worship services and my daughters attend Sunday School and Greek School.”Along with public service, Spathanas also has a bachelor’s degree in sociology and psychology from Framingham State. She spent years working for Delta Airlines before going to work for Lynn City Hall and then becoming a teacher.”I have been working as a special education teacher in the Lynn Public Schools since 2005, and I am a proud member of the Lynn Teachers Union Local 1037,” she said.Spathanas has been married to her husband, a Swampscott letter carrier, for 11 years, and they’re raising three daughters, Angela, Nikki and Christina, all students at Clarke Elementary.”I simply want to be given the opportunity to serve and make a contribution to my town as a dedicated parent, taxpayer and resident,” she said.According to Town Clerk Susan Duplin, Spathanas will face two challengers in her quest to fill one of two open seats on the board. Raymond Patalano and Naomi Dreeben will also appear on the ballot for the April 29 election.”We have a race,” said Duplin. “We also have two names for School Committee, Gargi Cooper and Danielle Strauss ? and William Travascio will be on the ballot for Planning Board.”