Q&A WIth Candidates For Selectman

The lone open selectman's seat up for election this spring is for a three-year term. The candidates are incumbent Matt Strauss and challenger Glenn Kessler. We asked each candidate the same five questions.

Matt Strauss

1) Biographical: Please tell our readers in 40 words or less who you are. This can include anything you want such as family, occupation, experience, residence, education, age etc.

I have been a Swampscott resident for 22 years. Town meeting member since 2001. High level hospitality executive for over 20 years. Married for 30 years with three children all products of the Swampscott public school system. I reside in precinct 2 on Duke St.

2) Why are you running for the office? 100 words or less.

I am currently the Chairman Of The Board Of Selectmen and am running for a second term. I am proud of my record during my first term and have a strong desire to serve the town of Swampscott for a second term. I led the board through the process of selecting a new town administrator and now would like to be able to work with him during his first three years on the job. I have proven that I have the ability to make difficult decisions that are in the best interest of the town. The Board Of Selectmen is a young board in terms of years of experience and I have the ability to continue to bring strong leadership and experience to the board.  

3) What is the one thing about Swampscott that you would change, if you could?

I would create a central business office. With our limited resources in Swampscott I believe there are long standing inefficiencies from our current structure that can be improved between town and school administration. If the town accountant and school business manger and their staffs were in the same shared space I feel a better working relationship would develop as well as any duplication in tasks would eventually be eliminated through attrition. Residents always demand transparency in government as they should, and I feel this would go a long way in maintaining that objective. 

4) What is the one thing about Swampscott that you would keep the same?

I would continue to participate in the development of regional services with "willing" partners. We did this with the city of Salem combining our procurement services with their multi-employee procurement department. This has given us access to "economies of scale" in certain bids and a much more efficient procurement process. 

5) What one word best describes you?

Leadership

Glenn Kessler

1) Biographical: Please tell our readers in 40 words or less who you are. This can include anything you want such as family, occupation, experience, residence, education, age etc.

I’ve been a Swampscott resident for 16 years, and my wife and I have 2 daughters that attend SHS/SMS. I’m a town meeting member, serve on the board of directors of Little League and am on the recreation commission.

2) Why are you running for the office? 100 words or less.

I’m running for Selectman because I love Swampscott. I will bring more transparency and accountability to decisions made by the Board and will use my private sector experience as a project manager to review and analyze short-term and long-term financial implications of any future town projects. I’ll encourage democratic participation of all members of the town and expand ways for citizens to share their ideas and experience with the Board. Swampscott is a beautiful town. I want to help publicize our “quality of life” and promote the excellence of our people, schools, sports and youth programs, business community, history and location.

3) What is the one thing about Swampscott that you would change, if you could?

I wish even more people were inclined to get involved in town events, politics, school issues; things that help build a stronger community.

4) What is the one thing about Swampscott that you would keep the same?

Swampscott has a great small town feel where we can enjoy watching our kids play sports, go to the beach and know many of our neighbors.

5) What one word best describes you?

Principled