Swampscott Recall Petition Race Is On

SWAMPSCOTT, MA —Organizers of an effort to recall Swampscott Selectman Don Hause have until July 22 to get 1,708 signatures from registered voters.

Lead petitioner Nick Scibelli and other volunteers have been seen outside of town hall and the Swampscott Farmer's Market since the city clerk returned petitions on July 2. The group is also planning to hit Swampscott beaches and businesses to get the required 15 percent of Swampscott voters to sign the petition.

If petitioners are successful, and Hause does not resign, selectmen would have would set a date for the recall election "not less than 64 days or more than 90 days from the date the board of selectmen called for the recall election," according to the town charter.

The ballot would also include the names of candidates nominated to fill the vacancy if Hause is recalled. The nominee with the highest number of votes in the recall election would serve the remainder of Hause's term. Hause has the option of having his name listed on the ballot as one of the nominees.

Related story: How Does Swampscott Handle Recall Elections?

Hause has denied accusations that he made disparaging comments about the Black Lives Matter movement while having dinner with his wife and another couple at a restaurant last month. He has also been criticized for a letter he wrote to the Swampscott Reporter supporting the local police department and for not signing onto a resolution condemning the death of George Floyd that went before selectmen.

Previous stories on Patch:

• Swampscott Resident Files Recall Petition For Selectman
• Swampscott Schedules Race Forum In Wake Of Selectman Controversy
• Swampscott Selectman: I Misunderstood Term 'White Privilege'
• Swampscott Selectman: I Have No Ill Will Toward Bartender
• Bar Bans Swampscott Selectman, Rehires Bartender
• Bartender Fired After Facebook Post About Swampscott Selectman

Dave Copeland covers Swampscott and other North Shore communities for Patch. He can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).