Swampscott Select Board Chair To Run For State Representative

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Polly Titcomb is seeking to trade her seat at the head of the Swampscott Select Board for one at the State House.

The Swampscott Select Board Chair, who has served on the board for the past three years, will not seek re-election in the spring townwide vote and will instead look to represent Swampscott and Marblehead in the 8th Essex Legislative District. She is running for the seat vacated when Lori Ehrlich was named a regional director at FEMA.

"I intimately understand the challenges and opportunities that face our district and the way in which state assistance can tangibly influence them," Titcomb said in a statement to Patch."I am proud of my work on the Swampscott Select Board and to have been part of the initiatives that have created such positive change in Swampscott in recent years."

Prior to her time on the Select Board, Titcomb spent five years on the Swampscott Finance Committee and was a town meeting member for nine years.

Titcomb cited her work on adopting comprehensive guidelines aimed at creating long-term financial stability in the town, the implementation of Swampscott's waste reduction program that reduced solid waste disposal and increased recycling in the town and the passage of a town override to build the new elementary school as key accomplishments during her time in town government.

Titcomb is a child and family attorney in Salem and Lynn trial courts

"The combination of my professional and municipal experience makes me uniquely qualified to represent our district on Beacon Hill," she said. "Direct experience dealing with relevant, concrete issues is essential for our next state representative. I understand these issues and I have been working toward the solutions. I am ready to work hard for change that will positively impact the daily lives of our residents.

"Public service and advocacy fill my heart and give my life deeper meaning. I hope to bring to Beacon Hill my passion for the issues that matter most to residents of Marblehead, Lynn and Swampscott."

She lives in Swampscott with her 7-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son, both of whom attend Swampscott public schools.

(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.)