Thompson, Grishman Take Top 2 Spots In Swampscott Select Board Race

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — One familiar face will return to the Swampscott Select Board and one new face will join the Board when it next meets after incumbent David Grishman and newcomer Doug Thompson prevailed in the race for the two open spots on the Board in the annual town election held on Tuesday.

According to unofficial results, Thompson was the top vote-getter with 1,022 votes with Grishman holding off Stefanie Neumann for the second seat with 887 votes to her 828.

The Select Board was the only townwide contested seat on Tuesday's ballot with all other candidates running unopposed. Town meeting members were also selected for each precinct.

"I think it was because my message was about bringing people together and building an overall plan for the town," Thompson told Patch Tuesday night. "I think there is a lot of good happening in town. But we also have to be very careful and work harder at being transparent and inclusive in our process so that we're getting all the best ideas and having a good discussion about the direction going forward."

Neumann told Patch that, while she did not win, that she came within 50 votes of an incumbent was a sign that her push for a Select Board that was more responsive to all citizens and their ideas has an audience and that she will continue to work for those residents in the town.

"He's the incumbent and people know what getting with him," Neumann said of Grishman. "People didn't know what they are getting from me and to come that close speaks volumes.

"This shows that those who govern the town need to have more sympathy with how residents feel about the town and I definitely want to make an effort to get their voices heard. Part of that is hoping that people will see this and be inspired to take part in the governing of Swampscott and not just let a few people dominate how the town is operated."

Grishman thanked voters for their support on his campaign social media page Tuesday night and congratulated Thompson on joining the Board.

"Now the hard work for all of Swampscott begins (and continues)," he said.

Thompson ran unsuccessfully in a crowded, seven-candidate field for state representative this past fall but said that experience helped him approach the Select Board race with a knowledge of what was most important to residents.

"Undoubtedly, it was helpful," he said of the previous race. "I got to know thousands of people here in Swampscott and got to know the issues in a very deep way. That's the way it should be.

"People should be electing people who understand what the really important issues are in town."

Thompson also congratulated Neumann and Grishman on their campaigns and said he hopes that Neumann and her supporters will stay engaged and "contribute to making Swampscott even greater."

(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.)