Katie Phelan Launches Swampscott Select Board Re-Election Bid

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Katie Phelan has launched her bid for a second term on the Swampscott Select Board, saying she is "eager to continue the work of strengthening the community through thoughtful leadership, collaboration, and a commitment to progress."

During her first term, Phelan said she played a key role in several initiatives that have had a lasting impact on Swampscott. She supported the acquisition of open space, including the largest land acquisition in over 50 years, ensuring the town remains committed to conservation. She also said she helped secure $1.7 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to improve Fisherman's Beach and advocated for a $3.5 million Sewer Revolving Fund to repair critical infrastructure affecting Swampscott’s shoreline.

Phelan cites here championing of long-term planning efforts, including supporting a feasibility study for a Swampscott Community Life Center to explore ways to enhance services for the town’s growing and aging population. She worked to bring in a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consultant to ensure the town is actively fostering an inclusive environment for all residents.

She said one of her most significant accomplishments was facilitating the execution of the Hadley School Land Development Agreement, which paves the way for a boutique hotel that will bring jobs, economic growth, and a vibrant new destination to the town.

Phelan said that looking ahead she is "committed to continuing the work of listening to residents and shaping policies that reflect the needs of the entire community."

"As a graduate of Saint Anselm College, I was shaped by the Benedictine value of listening with intention," she said in a news release to Patch. "The Rule of Saint Benedict instructs us to 'Listen with the ear of your heart,' and that belief has guided me not just in my role on the Select Board, but in my life.

"Over the past three years, listening and engaging with residents, employees at town hall, and my fellow Select Board members, has been at the core of my approach, and I look forward to continuing those conversations."

Phelan is a mother of two and said that makes her especially passionate about making Swampscott a place where families can thrive.

"I want to ensure Swampscott remains a town that balances progress with preservation, fosters inclusivity, and invests in its future," she said. "There is still important work to do, and I would be honored to continue serving as a Select Board member."

(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.)