The June 10 election is quickly approaching, and it’s time for Marbleheaders to have their voices heard through their votes.
Early voting is available this week in Abbot Hall today, June 5 from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. and Friday, June 6 from 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Polls will be open on election day from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Voters must vote in the designated areas for their district. Residents of districts 1 and 2 can cast their votes at Abbot Hall, and residents of districts 3-6 can do the same from the Marblehead High School Field House.
The candidates in the following races were asked to tell the community why they are running in this election. Their responses are below.
Select Board
The Select Board has two candidates gunning for one seat on the ballot this year. Neither are incumbents.
Yael Magen: Municipal Attorney
I represent several towns including Lynnfield, Wakefield, Rowley, Princeton and more. My daily job is to advise those who manage towns and help each town perform to its ability and unique interest. I judge each issue with facts, legal standards and an objective point of view.
I love this town, history, uniqueness and character and want to preserve it while thriving toward the future. I live here with my husband of 23 years, Asaf, three kids – David MHS, Eve MVMS, Leia EHS – and my dad.
I believe in a governance that encourages dialogue, discourse and dissent. I believe in unity and finding common ground. Our town is extremely polarized; it is time to unite over our common beliefs and communicate and negotiate our differences. I am a strong advocate for social issues and fighting against antisemitism. We have extremely important issues coming up this year, i.e., 3A, charter, budget etc. and it is vital that we have a strong Select Board member that is not afraid to voice her opinion and will always put Marblehead’s interest above all. I will run the town for YOU because that is what I DO.
Jim Zisson: Registered Professional Engineer
My name is Jim Zisson, and I live over in Naugus Head with my wife Laura and two daughters who you may know from the Muffin Shop. I’m an engineer by training and trade, and that probably tells you what you need to know about me. No BS!
My decision to run has been four years in the making. I have spent the last four years volunteering on town committees, attending meetings and, most important of all, meeting and listening to people in town. And I emphasize the word listen rather than talk!! I am shovel ready for the Select Board. I am committed to Marblehead.
My interest in the Select Board will focus on finance, operations and capital improvements. While much improvement has been made to the Towns’ financial tools, there is still work to be done, and I will support that. One area we need to improve on is timely and accurate free cash forecasting, which has been hobbled by archaic tools.
As a registered professional engineer, project execution is a passion of mine, and as a member of the Brown School Building Committee, I am extremely proud we came in $1.5 million UNDER budget. I look forward to overseeing the many capital projects currently underway. Thank you!!
School Committee
The School Committee has two seats available this election and five candidates on the ballot. Incumbents Sarah Fox, who has been on the Committee for six years, and Alison Taylor, who has been on the Committee for three years, are running for re-election while the remaining three – Emily DeJoy, Henry Gwazda and Kate Schmeckpeper – would be new additions to the School Committee.
Emily DeJoy: Investor
I’m running for School Committee because I care deeply about Marblehead and believe our schools should reflect the very best of our community. I’m a lifelong resident, I attended Marblehead Public Schools, and I am now a new mother to a 1-year-old son, giving me a renewed commitment to the future of our schools.
With over a decade of experience in the investment industry, I bring strong financial expertise that can help strengthen the Committee’s oversight through thoughtful analysis and long-term planning. I want to ensure our budget directly supports student success, teacher support and academic achievement.
In a race that has seen division, I’m stepping forward to bring people together. I believe in cooperation, mutual respect and focusing on what truly matters: creating a school environment where all students can thrive. I’m ready to work with individuals of all perspectives to ensure Marblehead remains a place where our schools prepare students not just for tests, but for life.
It would be an honor to serve the town that shaped who I am and to help lead our schools forward with transparency, unity and a focus on what’s best for our children.
Sarah Fox: Former Interior Designer and Project Manager
I am running for re-election to the School Committee with a strong commitment to prioritizing our students’ needs. My experience has deepened my understanding of the challenges our district faces, and I am dedicated to finding solutions that focus on our students.
Over the past few years, we have encountered significant challenges. It has taken great commitment to maintain our focus on students’ needs while making tough decisions for their long-term benefit. I pride myself on treating others with respect and kindness. I am proud to have helped recruit our excellent new central administration team, and I look forward to supporting them as they work to address the challenges left by past administrations, with the goal of elevating our schools among the top in the state.
Transparency in our budget process is also crucial. As chair of the Budget Subcommittee, I have ensured that our budget documents are accessible, believing that our community must understand how resources are allocated. My extensive knowledge of the Marblehead school budget equips me to address funding complexities and effectively meet our students’ needs.
Additionally, I will continue advocating for the needs identified by the Student Services department. I believe that investing in our special education programs is the best way to serve our students and stabilize our budget.
I have actively worked to combat antisemitism and am honored to be recognized by the Northeast ADL for my efforts. While there is still much more to do, I remain committed to this essential work.
Achieving the district’s goals requires seasoned leadership, and I am dedicated to fostering open dialogue with all stakeholders. My re-election is vital for a positive future for our schools and the broader Marblehead community.
Henry Gwazda: Graphic Designer
I am running for School Committee to rebuild trust, create coalitions with parents, students, teachers and the Marblehead community to focus the School Committee on pressing issues in our schools and help craft a long-term plan that can guide the district through the challenges coming over the coming years.
We need an effective communicator and creative problem solver. I have spoken with so many people who are involved with and care deeply about our schools and who feel that the current School Committee does not listen to them or value their experience or opinions.
It is the duty of the Committee to be an effective voice for the community, to remain dedicated to its primary mission and to engage the resources that already exist in our district.
We don’t need to be in conflict. We can all work together and collaborate to meet a shared challenge. If you agree that it is time for a change on the School Committee, please support me (and the new MHS roof) on June 10.
Kate Schmeckpeper: Attorney
I’m running for School Committee because I believe we need fresh perspectives to find solutions to complex issues. From my 10 years of volunteerism and advocacy for our schools, including serving in numerous roles on PTO boards and co-chairing the campaign that funded the construction of the Brown School, I understand our schools.
From my experience as an attorney, I bring a solutions-oriented mindset. We need leaders who focus on consensus, professionalism and collaboration. Rebuilding public trust and confidence in the school committee is crucial to the success of our students. I believe my commitment to good governance – combined with my deep understanding of the challenges we face – can help move our district forward.
Alison Taylor: Manager Customer Success
I am most excited to continue to support and collaborate with the leadership team I helped to hire and onboard to further improve the district’s culture as well as developing a true strategic plan with benchmarks and sensible measures for success. Maintaining good governance with fiscal responsibility and advocating for budgets that both reflect our educational needs while remaining mindful of the community’s financial realities will be critical in the coming years.
Building off of the work that has been done this past year to enhance our student services and academic excellence is another important goal: supporting their efforts to promote rigorous, forward-thinking practices, to ensure all students have access to opportunities that prepare them for success.
While my first term undoubtedly had challenges, I’ve consistently had hard conversations, voiced differing opinions, advocated for what is best for our schools and worked with this tremendous administration to bring us through this necessary period of change. Being able to collaborate with a diverse group of colleagues, work through disagreements and keep our shared goals at the forefront has remained paramount. It’s so important for our district to continue moving forward – together.
Town Clerk
There are three people campaigning for the position of Town Clerk: two fresh faces – Melissa Flanagan and Terri Tauro – and one incumbent, Robin A. Michaud, who has been the Town Clerk for 18 years and was the Assistant Town Clerk for the six years prior.
Melissa Flanagan: Deposit Services Specialist
Having called Marblehead home for nearly 35 years, I can’t imagine a more beautiful place to live, work and raise my son Liam. My decades of experience here have fostered a deep connection with the people of this town.
For nearly two decades, I helped my father Chet run Chet’s Video, my husband Marty works for the Board of Health and my stepmother Carrie Thomas works with local, state and government agencies in all levels of animal advocacy. Serving the community is something my family takes great pride in.
After my many years at Chet’s, I transitioned to banking which gave me relatable experiences and allowed me to leverage my skills and achieve new milestones while remaining connected to the community.
I would like to take those experiences combined with a customer service attitude to bring an efficient and pleasant experience to the Town Clerk’s office. This is why I am running for Town Clerk: a position I believe will provide valuable opportunities for direct engagement with the people of Marblehead once again.
I am passionate about administrative excellence and ensuring smooth operations. With my strong organizational skills, attention to detail and extensive experience in record-keeping, financial management and coordinating across departments, I am confident I can handle the responsibilities of this role effectively. I’m a quick learner, eager to adopt new systems and technologies to enhance efficiency, and I bring a fresh perspective to any issue the town might face.
At heart, I’m a people person. Serving as Town Clerk would allow me to directly assist residents, use my problem-solving skills to ensure people feel heard and supported, and connect deeply with our community. I am committed to going above and beyond for the people of Marblehead.
Robin A. Michaud: Town Clerk
I am running for re-election because I love the job and Marblehead. I am an 11th generation Marbleheader and want to continue archiving and preserving Town records for present and future generations. Under my watch, we have found and preserved documents containing signatures of John Hancock, Paul Revere and Gen. John Glover.
What sets me apart from my opponents is my experience. I have been a Certified Mass Municipal Clerk since 2010 and have kept my certification for the past 15 years by keeping up with the educational requirements. I’ve run over 45 elections, registered over 2,000 births, deaths and marriages, submitted 24 years of bylaw submittals to the Attorney General’s office, issued over 60,000 dog licenses, hundreds of business licenses, handled hundreds of zoning board of appeals decisions and applications and processed 24 years of town census.
With the special election for 3A just three weeks after the town clerk gets sworn in, why put someone new in the position that doesn’t have any experience or certifications? My opponents would need a town clerk from another community to run the election.
With my combined 24 years of experience, I am amongst the most experienced town clerks in the Commonwealth. I would love to remain your town clerk.
Terri Tauro: Office Manager/Senior Clerk 2 for the Marblehead Harbormaster
I am a sixth generation Marbleheader with a deep love of the town. After looking at a closed door, with an “employees only” sign for five years, I was motivated to create a welcoming atmosphere in an office that should be the face of the town.
Early in-person voting for statewide elections was mandated in 2016, and we have had this opportunity for nine years for local elections. While the Board of Registrars just approved this for the very first time, my plan has always been to hold weekend hours in an accessible location for people with mobility challenges.
Residents have asked me to engage young voters, I believe this can be accomplished by educational visits to the schools as well as to pre-register 16 year olds and use them as volunteers to be paired with our experienced election workers.
As Town Clerk, I will create new energy, take advantage of technology, research best practices for Town Meeting, digitization of records and local elections. I have a proven track record of doing just that in Marblehead Harbor for 15 years, on the Housing Authority and as the Municipal Union President for more than a decade. I will always hear you and work for the voters.
Board of Health
There are two candidates – Kim Crowley and Dr. Amanda Ritvo – going for the one Board of Health seat, and neither are incumbents.
Kim Crowley: Personal Trainer and Fitness Studio Owner
I love this town, and my connection with the Marblehead community is unmatched. The wellness of Marbleheaders is my priority. I am a business owner, Chamber of Commerce and Discover Marblehead member, who also has the best interest of other local businesses in mind.
You can be confident that I will work to meet all of my criteria required on the Board of Health. I will listen. I will volunteer my time. I will collaborate. I will keep Marblehead healthy. I am the person that steps up when you need a hand. I am a problem solver and mediator. I will follow the lead of our state and local governments to ensure public health is protected. I will collaborate and listen to our community members’ needs.
I have several low or no cost ideas. I will continue and expand the Wellness Fair Tom McMahon orchestrated in January. I will plan community walks. I will advocate for our Swap Shed and educate about composting to make an impact on the amount we put into landfills. I intend to increase the number of community members trained in CPR, fundraise for AEDs and make our AEDs more accessible.
Dr. Amanda Ritvo: Family Medicine Physician
I’m running for the Marblehead Board of Health because I believe local public health matters more than ever. As a family medicine physician with over a decade of experience, I’ve cared for people at every stage of life—and I’ve seen how much our health depends not only on what happens in the exam room, but also on the systems, policies and support networks in our communities.
I hold both a medical degree and a bachelor’s in public health, and I’m committed to using that knowledge to promote evidence-based, compassionate and inclusive policies. I believe deeply in the power of prevention — whether it’s through mental health support, early parent resources, environmental sustainability or addressing the effects of technology on children’s well-being.
I’m not running with a personal agenda or for political gain. I’m running because this town has given so much to my family, and I want to give back. I want to help strengthen the services we already have, expand access to vital resources and ensure our health department continues to serve every resident – young and advanced age – with integrity and care.
Marblehead deserves thoughtful, collaborative leadership. I’m ready to listen, to learn and to serve.
Planning Board
There are two candidates for the one planning board seat: Timothy Swigor and incumbent Ed Nilsson, who has been on the Planning Board since 2007 and prior to that for a term of six years, for a total of 24 years.
Ed Nilsson: Principal at Nilsson + Siden Associates, Architects & Planners
Giving back to the town and maintaining the character of Marblehead have always been a top priority for me. Serving on the Design Review Board and the Historical Commission has given me a wider appreciation of Marblehead’s special features. When I was Chair, I initiated numerous changes that have become essential tools in identifying and protecting the unique character of Marblehead. These include: Site Plan Review, the Coastal Overlay Shoreline District and the Comprehensive Master Plan Update of 1989, which is about to be updated again in 2025 with a grant from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC).
Deep knowledge of the Marblehead zoning bylaws is important for the Planning Board to provide a clear and balanced service to the community. This knowledge base helps the Board’s transition from previously one staff planner to the newly created Department of Community Development with its many new staff and committee members becoming familiar with the town.
This past year, I have been active in making sure that all new housing bylaws, such as Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and MBTA Communities Act, include Site Plan Review – a safety net to help preserve the character of Marblehead, now and in the future. Experience counts!
Timothy Swigor: Proprietor of Old Town Antiques
I would like to share a little bit about who I am and why I am running for Planning Board. I am the father of three sons – Cameron, Chat and Christian – and husband to Dr. Carmela Mancini. I have been a resident of Marblehead for 21 years and live on Front Street.
The Planning Board’s role has become much more impactful over the recent years, involving broader town initiatives that affect 100% of Marblehead residents. These issues include MBTA 3A zoning, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), bike lanes and more. It is because of these issues I am running for Planning Board.
I have always opposed 3A from the beginning. I believe Marblehead can’t handle more development, traffic, noise and stress on our infrastructure. I want to keep Marblehead… Marblehead, meaning that Marblehead’s historic charm, scale and sense of community must be preserved and maintained; we can’t afford to lose what exists.
My opponent was appointed to the Planning Board in 1987 and has served on the Board for 24 of the past 38 years. Marblehead deserves a new, fresh perspective on the Planning Board. It’s time for change! A vote for Tim Swigor is a vote to keep Marblehead… Marblehead!
