To the editor:
Newly elected Swampscott Select Board member Danielle Leonard’s platform centered on cleaning our beaches, enhancing infrastructure, maintaining fiscal responsibility, and bolstering Swampscott’s resilience against climate change, all while prioritizing community inclusivity. Her landslide victory in the April 30 election not only secured Danielle 72% of the vote but also saw an impressive 24% turnout rate among Swampscott residents, a level of civic engagement not witnessed in years, all in enthusiastic support of her platform and values.
Based on the election results, the message sent by town voters to Swampscott’s leadership is that it should achieve tangible outcomes while equally prioritizing and fostering unity among residents, ensuring that progress is inclusive, residents with dissenting opinions are respected, and our community grows stronger together.
By the time this letter is printed and as a sign of listening to Swampscott voters, hopefully the Select Board has elected MaryEllen Fletcher as chair, given her alignment with similar community-minded messages, similar views, and the town having cast the most votes for her and her message in the 2022 election. Another sign the town’s leaders are listening would be to institute and market a transparent process with dates that allows for enough time to solicit input actively and systematically from Swampscott residents to understand their aspirations for the valuable Hawthorne waterfront property. This process should encompass a series of community meetings, workshops, and online surveys aimed at eliciting all perspectives on the property’s development. Another example would be maximizing the utilization of ARPA funds to address sewage leakage issues that are polluting the Swampscott beaches without burdening residents with increased sewer rates. This approach underscores our commitment to fiscal prudence while safeguarding the current cost of living in Swampscott. These initiatives would mark a promising beginning toward a more collaborative approach in Swampscott, though we would want to see continued examples of the electorate being heard.
The message of delivering results while building a stronger sense of community has been delivered by the voters, but the actions of the Select Board and other town leaders will determine if the message was received. Only time and actions will tell.
Regards,
Dana Swanstrom
Swampscott
