SWAMPSCOTT — Wayne Godfrey has announced his candidacy for the Swampscott Select Board, promising to bring his unique skill set and background in financial management, policy work, and a deep love and appreciation for Swampscott.
Godfrey was born in Arlington, Mass., and studied at SUNY Oneonta and Salem State University.
As a youth leader, he spearheaded several community initiatives generating positive change and community engagement. As part of an undergraduate research project, Godfrey conducted interviews with LGBTQ+ leaders nationwide to document their histories and experiences. He used his unique ability to listen, empathize, and connect with the people he spoke with to find success in this work.
“I learned early in my advocacy that one on one conversation can lead to substantive progress,” Godfrey said. “As chair of the LGBT Caucus of the Student Association of the State Universities, chaired by Gov. Mario Cuomo, one quote sticks by me: ‘true change comes with numbers; you gain those with thoughtful one on one conversations.’”
National leaders took notice, and in 1991, Godfrey was elected from a nationwide ballot to the Board of Directors of the Human Rights Campaign, the country’s largest civil rights organization working on LGBTQ+ issues.
“My tenure at the Human Rights Campaign allowed for vigorous and thoughtful debate. Deliberating the language of ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ was one such experience,” Godfrey said of his time on the Board. “Progress is slow and incremental, requiring an acceptance of some ambiguity. Crafting policy lifting up millions of people is messy and often disappointing — but moving the ball down the field is yard by yard. Action is progress.”
For the past 30 years, Godfrey has been married to his husband David. While creating their home together, Godfrey’s career transitioned naturally into sales. As a licensed real estate agent, Godfrey’s enthusiasm, collaboration, and, most importantly, his ability to listen and help buyers and sellers through a time of equal parts excitement and anxiety led both him and his clients to terrific outcomes.
Godfrey and his husband bought a home in Swampscott in 2007 on Blaney Street, the town’s oldest neighborhood. He has since become very involved in town politics, including as an elected Town Meeting member and as Outreach Coordinator for the local Swampscott Democratic Town Committee.
Godfrey intends to focus his campaign on the town’s fiscal future, the coastline, community engagement, and small business and economic development.
“We cannot tax our residents out of the financial hardships we are facing now and those that are not far on the horizon lest we risk taxing our residents out of town itself,” Godfrey explained. “We must be strategic, forward thinking, and thoughtful in our stewardship of the town’s finances, while being open to progress and change where it is needed.”
Godfrey intends to run a vigorous campaign dedicated to meeting as many residents as possible to hear their concerns to put together a comprehensive platform that addresses the needs of the citizens of Swampscott.
“My fellow Swampscott neighbors deserve nothing less,” Godfrey said.
To learn more about Godfrey, visit GodfreyforSwampscott.com or visit Lincoln’s Landing on Tuesday, March 24, from 8-10 a.m., where Wayne is hosting “Coffee with the Candidate.”
