SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Doug Thompson, who mounted a campaign for the State House representing Swampscott, Marblehead and Lynn this past fall, is vying to fill one of two open seats on the Swampscott Select Board this spring.
Thompson told Patch he is officially entering the race as of Tuesday and that his goal is to bring his skills as a problem solver and unifier to town government using his experience as a “lifelong public policy innovator managing large organizations.”
“I am running for Select Board to help bring people together and to build a common vision and plan for Swampscott,” Thompson said. “We have an exciting opportunity to build on our deep history and recent progress to form a strong community for generations to come.
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“There are many opportunities coming to the Swampscott community over the next few years. We need to prepare our future through an inclusive, equitable and fiscally sound planning process.”
Thompson joins incumbent David Grishman and political newcomer Stefanie Neumann in the race. Select Board Chair Neal Duffy said he was not running for re-election earlier this month after beginning his position as Salem’s new Director of Sustainability and Resiliency.
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Thompson said his experience as a chief financial officer in the health care industry at companies with a larger annual budget than Swampscott’s $79 million positions him well to help manage the many different interests and needs that the town must serve.
“I have helped guide these organizations through strategic improvement processes in a fiscally responsible manner,” he said. “I have also served as the CEO of a business in the private sector that served senior residents here in Swampscott and across the Greater Boston area. I would like to share these leadership and financial skills as a member of your Select Board.”
Thompson has also served on the Swampscott Climate Action Plan Committee.
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“We have been meeting with people all over town to get input into how we can increase our coastal resilience and decrease our greenhouse gas emissions to make life here sustainable for many generations to come,” he said. “I look forward to helping lead this effort as a member of the Select Board.”
Thompson said during his campaign for state representative, in which Jenny Armini (D-Marblehead) emerged victorious out of a seven-candidate field, that he “came to the doors of over 8,000 residents of the district” to hear their concerns and said he will now use that base to work toward the specific priorities of Swampscott residents.
“We need to balance our needs for affordable housing for families, seniors and veterans, high-quality education, economic development, and addressing climate change with prudent fiscal management,” he said. “We can do this through a public process that shapes a vision and clear identity for Swampscott for the next few years — and the next generation.”
(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)
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