To the editor:
I am writing to express my support for David Grishman and Doug Thompson for Swampscott Select Board. I know and have worked with both David and Doug and feel they both possess the commitment, passion, and integrity needed to keep Swampscott moving in the right direction.
I first got to know Grishman when he and I were both elected to the Select Board in 2020. At the time, we were still in the middle of a global pandemic and Swampscott was witness to weekly, sometimes daily, protests.
Instability was the new norm, and calm, thoughtful, and steady leadership was vital. I am proud that as a Select Board and as a community we not only managed to navigate through that period, but thanks to the commitment, work, and leadership of public servants like Grishman, we accomplished an incredible amount of positive, generational change.
In less than three years, Grishman has helped lead the charge in building a new elementary school, acquiring nearly 10 acres of land for open space and conservation purposes, organizing community celebrations and gatherings, and most recently working to create affordable housing for veterans and a new veterans’ center in Swampscott.
All of this while maintaining the fiscal discipline necessary to make Swampscott more affordable for everyone and to ensure we can uphold our future commitments. Grishman is a kind, empathetic person who possesses the unique capability to dream big and the work ethic and commitment to see those dreams realized.
You would be hard-pressed to find anyone in Swampscott who has spent more time over the last two years listening to Swampscott residents about their needs and concerns than Doug Thompson.
Beginning with his run for state representative, Thompson has been walking our streets, knocking on doors, attending community events, and showing up wherever and whenever, to understand what people want and need.
More importantly, Thompson has not just been listening, but has also demonstrated his commitment with action. He has been an integral member and vice chair of the Climate Action Plan Committee, of which I am a member. This committee is finalizing work on a climate action plan for Swampscott that provides a framework for preparing our town for the impacts of climate change and mitigating our contributions to it.
In this work, I have witnessed Thompson’s commitment to moving with the purposeful urgency necessary to take on this existential threat, as well as his ability to lead, collaborate, and be flexible and patient. These are vital requirements to be an effective member of the chief policy-making body in Swampscott.
It is undeniable that incredible things are happening in Swampscott, and now is not the time to change direction or reverse course. Please join me in supporting David Grishman and Doug Thompson to keep us moving on our shared path of progress and action, and towards creating the community we all want and deserve.
Neal Duffy
Chair, Swampscott Select Board
