SWAMPSCOTT — Voters will decide on Tuesday the fate of the only two contested races in the town’s annual election. There are two vacant seats on the Select Board and one seat on the Housing Authority Board.
All six precincts will vote at Swampscott High School, at 200 Essex St. The polling station will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.
All absentee ballots must be received by the Town Clerk by 8 p.m. on April 26. If you have not mailed your absentee ballot yet, you may return it in-person on April 26 to the Town Clerk’s office at Town Hall during business hours between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Three candidates are vying to fill the two vacant seats on the Select Board this time around ― MaryEllen Fletcher, Kimberly Martin-Epstein and Catherine “Katie” Phelan.
Fletcher, vice chair of the Finance Committee, long-time Town Meeting member, a Swampscott resident of almost 35 years and an entrepreneur, said that the town needs fiscal discipline, affordable housing and better transparency.
“I promise to ask hard questions and give honest and accurate answers,” said Fletcher. “I am open to bringing all Swampscott into conversation.”
She named ensuring resources for senior residents, improving the town’s infrastructure, preserving reasonable property taxes, preserving open space, and supporting the revitalization of small businesses among her priorities.
Martin-Epstein, chair of the Affordable Housing Trust, a Swampscott resident of 14 years and a managing partner of a law firm, said she would like to understand what is causing residents’ anxiety. She would like to look into the tensions between the town government and various service providers and unions and understand why a lot of organizations in the town that are supposed to have contracts don’t have them.
Martin-Epstein is also a proponent of more mixed-use commercial development downtown on streetscape level in places where people are already trying to congregate.
“We make the best decisions when we listen to one another and when you elect someone that can listen and act on your behalf, then you’ve elected me,” said Martin-Epstein.
Phelan, an in-house counsel for a Fortune-500 company, the PTO fundraising chair at Hadley Elementary School and a Swampscott resident for more than seven years, said that open space would be her top priority. She is looking to unite the town and improve the transparency and communication of the Town Hall and the Select Board with the residents.
Phelan decided to seek a seat on the Select Board to get civically involved in the town.
“What is really important is that we are all using our abilities to the advantage of the community,” Phelan said.
The two opponents for the single seat on the Housing Authority Board are Charles Patsios and Sean Regan.
Patsios, a real-estate developer, has been living in Swampscott since 1990. He is a long-time Town Meeting member and has served on the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee.
Patsios said he will bring to the Housing Authority his many years of experience as a real-estate developer and property manager, coupled with his success navigating various state agencies.
Regan, a University of Massachusetts (UMass) attorney, has been living in Swampscott for eight years. His professional experience includes working with the Boston Housing Authority in the administration of former Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, and making sure that residents and constituents received access to city services.
At UMass, Regan has been involved in board governance of public bodies and with public construction carried out by UMass Building Authority. He said he understands how the government works and how to advocate for residents. He said he would bring new energy and a different perspective to the Housing Authority Board.
Michael McClung is running unopposed for re-election to the town’s moderator position for a 1-year term; Neil Sheehan for the Board of Assessors for a 3-year term; Carin Marshall and Amy O’Connor for two seats on the School Committee for a 3-year term; Neal DeChillo for Library Trustees for a 3-year term; Peter Sheckman for the Board of Health for a 3-year term; Angela Ippolito for the Planning Board for a 5-year term; and Jeffrey Blonder and Gabriele Mongiello for three open positions of constables for a 3-year term.
