To the editor:
In small towns like Swampscott, the work done by our elected board members can often be tiresome and thankless, yet our dedicated neighbors constantly step forward to do the hard work to support and improve our community.
More than a year into a once-in-a-generation pandemic, no one has exemplified this spirit in Swampscott more than health board member Marianne Hartmann.
As with all public health professionals this past year, Marianne’s role was quickly transformed from a critical cog in the town’s infrastructure to frontline leader in a literal fight for our lives.
Throughout these difficult months, she has consistently led with distinction, following the science at a time when many of her peers on the federal level were failing to meet these same standards.
It was with great interest, therefore, that we tuned into the town forum for the contested Swampscott Board of Health seat between Hartmann and George Potts.
And as encouraging as it was to hear her expertise and record laid out firsthand, it was incredibly disheartening to observe her challenger, and to try to discern why he should earn the right to serve the town of Swampscott.
Juxtaposed with Hartmann’s detailed responses on Swampscott’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic — in which she explained how the town has been consistently one step ahead of the state’s own public health guidelines — Potts often appeared confused and unprepared for questions around the minutiae involved in serving on the town Board of Health.
Most concerning was the apparent motivation behind his choice to oppose a qualified nurse and experienced public health official: Over a year ago, during a public Zoom meeting on the town’s COVID-19 response, he was removed after being repeatedly warned by Hartmann and other town officials for making racist remarks over the origin of the coronavirus.
When pressed on his exact comments, including “China virus,” and “Kung flu,” Potts’ rambling response delved into the near conspiratorial, promoting an unfounded theory behind the origins of the coronavirus in a Wuhan virology lab — a theory since debunked by the World Health Organization.
Against the backdrop of skyrocketing anti-Asian violence, and with clear links between that violence and comments such as Potts’, I find this response alone to be disqualifying to anyone running for a position of authority in our town.
Potts’ performance was a tiring yet unsurprising reminder that a qualified, experienced woman must face a electoral challenge from a man with no clear qualifications for the position simply because she once stood up to his behavior in a public forum. That’s why it’s important for us to step up, support our community volunteers and get out to vote.
And that’s why I’m writing to declare that I’ll be voting for Marianne Hartmann’s experience, qualifications and record on April 27.
Alex Jafarzadeh
Swampscott
