SWAMPSCOTT — Candidates for Select Board and the Housing Authority will face off in a candidates’ forum on April 14.
Organized by the Swampscott Democratic Town Committee and Republican Town Committee, the forum will offer candidates a chance to appeal to voters before they head to the polls on April 26.
The third annual forum features hopefuls for the town’s two contested races. MaryEllen Fletcher, Kimberly Martin-Epstein and Catherine “Katie” Phelan are competing for two open seats on the Select Board. The two Housing Authority candidates vying for one open seat on its Board of Directors are Charles Patsios and Sean Regan.
“It is important to hear from all of the candidates in the same place where they can be asked questions that truly are coming from the community,” said Debbie Friedlander, chair of the Swampscott Democratic Town Committee. “Many people in town don’t know everybody.”
The local races do not get enough media coverage, said Dana Swanstrom, chair of the Swampscott Republican Town Committee.
“So giving an opportunity for candidates to talk about themselves, talk about the issues and let voters better understand where people sit on issues is really important for the democratic process,” Swanstrom said.
The event will take place at the Swampscott High School from 7 to 9 p.m. It will be moderated by Jim Peterson, co-vice chair of the Democratic Town Committee, and Nicole Dooley, treasurer of the Republican Town Committee.
Those who are unable to attend the forum in person will be able to watch it on Swampscott Government Access TV on channel 22 on Comcast, channel 41 on Verizon, and on Facebook.
The organizers are planning to start the debate with the Housing Authority candidates and switch to the Select Board debate after about 45 minutes, since the second race has more candidates, said Swanstrom.
Residents are welcome to submit their questions for the candidates via email at [email protected]. A Question Committee formed of an equal number of representatives from each of the organizing committees will review the questions, check the accuracy of any facts mentioned and combine any repeat questions.
“It is done very fairly to represent what the constituents are interested in,” said Friedlander.
Friedlander expects that residents would want to hear from the candidates about affordable housing, development, transparency in local government, and how changes in the environment are impacting the Swampscott shoreline. From talking to people around town, Swanstrom anticipates that taxes, infrastructure, the Harbor Master Plan and town-employee retention will be part of the discussion as well.
Since the town election is nonpartisan, Friedlander encourages the candidates and residents to stick to the issues and be respectful of one another.
“Dana, myself, and our committee members are opposed to questioning people about political affiliation,” said Friedlander. “There are different viewpoints, but we all just want what is good for the town.”
Both she and Swanstrom believe in good governance, she said.
At the same time, Swanstrom said it was possible that the public might want to know how the Select Board candidates are planning to unite the town and get everyone to work together as a community.
The Swampscott Democratic Town Committee and the Swampscott Republican Town Committee have a great working relationship, said Friedlander and Swanstrom.
“We really enjoy doing it,” Friedlander said about the candidates’ forum. “And we’ve gotten really good feedback.”
“Debbie and Jim Patterson have been great partners in this endeavor, and, actually, I look forward to it every year,” said Swanstrom.