Schools

Chairwoman Understands Candidate's WIthdrawal Decision

Stephanie Greenfield's name will still appear on the local election ballot.

School Committee Chairwoman respects Stephanie Greenfield’s decision to withdraw from the race.

And fellow candidates understand Greenfield’s preference to stay involved with the school system as a PTA member and volunteer at the Stanley School.

announced publicly today that she has reconsidered her decision to run for the committee and is withdrawing her nomination.

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She said she enjoys her role on the PTA and at Stanley, and wants to continue to work on behalf of local education in those ways.

 Kinney said that Greenfield had told her before she filed papers for the race that she was worried about having to give up her existing school roles.

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 Roles change when people take seats on the school panel, Kinney said.

At that point they represent all the schools in town not just those their children attend.

Still, Kinney respects Greenfield’s decision.

“If she wants to impact the school where her children go (to school) that might be the best way to do so,” Kinney said.

There were four candidates running for two open seats on the committee, but now the three remaining candidates are Marianne Speranza-Hartmann, Rick Kraft and David Matela.

Candidate Speranza-Hartmann said it sounds to her like “Stephanie is making the best decision for her and her family” ... .

“It sounds like she feels she can be most effective in her role with the PTA at this time,” Speranza-Hartmann said.

Candidate Rick Kraft said, “There are many ways to be involved in and impact our children's school environment.”

Kraft said he understands Greenfield’s ”desire to focus her attention on the school her child attends.”

Candidate David Matela was not immediately available for comment.

Town Clerk Sue Duplin said the date to officially withdraw from the race has passed. That date was March 24.

The ballots have gone to the printer and Stephanie Greenfield’s name will appear on them at the town election April 26, she said.

If Greenfield were to win and resign, the vacancy will "be filled by a majority vote of the Board of Selectmen and the remaining members of the office, board or committee," according to statute.  

The appointment remains in effect until the next annual town election, when the vacancy would be filled by ballot for the remainder of the office's term, statute states.

There are 9,957 registered Swampscott voters.

Last spring during local elections 18 percent of the town’s registered voters casted ballots.

Editor's Note: Due to incorrect information given to Patch, an earlier version of this article incorrectly indicated the method for filling a vacancy. 


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