WHAT: The five candidates certified to succeed now-Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll as mayor of Salem will face a full crowd of voters on Tuesday, February 28. Driscoll served as mayor from 2006 to 2023. The forum precedes the March 28 preliminary election that will narrow the field of candidates to two. The final election will be held on May 16 for a term ending in 2025. The 300 reserved seats at the forum filled up within two weeks of the event announcement, and a number of residents have expressed interest in watching a live-streamed version of the forum.
WHEN: Tuesday, February 28, 7 pm
WHERE: The Sophia Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts at Salem State University; 356 Lafayette Street, Salem, MA 01970 | The event will be aired live on Channel 22 in Salem and will be live streamed at this link: Salem Preliminary Mayoral Forum 2/28/23 - YouTube
WHO: All candidates who have been certified for the preliminary election ballot plan to take part in the forum:
- Steve Dibble
- Neil Harrington
- Stacia Kraft
- Robert “Bob” McCarthy
- Dominick Pangallo
The forum will be moderated by Karen Andreas, president and CEO of the North Shore Chamber of Commerce and former publisher of North of Boston Media Group. The forum is organized by the Frederick E. Berry Institute of Politics at Salem State University, the League of Women Voters of Salem, The Salem Partnership, the Point Neighborhood Association, and the Historic Derby Street Neighborhood Association.
GENERAL CONTACT: Questions from the media should be directed to Nicole Giambusso (below). Questions from members of the general public should be directed to Samantha Giffen at BerryIOP@salemstate.edu or 978.542.5023.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Nicole Giambusso
(o) 978-542-3019 | (m) 978-880-0152
Frederick E. Berry Institute of Politics at Salem State University
The Frederick E. Berry Institute of Politics was established in 2019 and aims to engage and inspire a diverse community of learners to pursue careers in political and public service. The Berry Institute of Politics (Berry IOP) is nonpartisan and expands political engagement at SSU and in the North Shore by bringing policymakers, political leaders and public officials to campus. It also convenes public and private sector leaders to discuss and move forward issues of significance to Massachusetts. The Berry IOP leads Salem State’s voter engagement; hosts political discussions and debates; supports students with career interests in politics and public service; and awards competitive scholarship offerings in the areas of government, politics, civic engagement, non-profit and other means of public service.
The League of Women Voters of Salem
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights and ensure everyone is represented in our democracy. We empower voters and defend democracy through advocacy, education, and litigation, at the local, state, and national levels.
The Salem Partnership
The Salem Partnership, created in 1987, is a unique public-private partnership that has helped Salem to grow and prosper, and will work to make sure the growth and prosperity continues. The Salem Partnership is a non-profit membership organization. The Salem Partnership is directly involved in determining the outcome of issues critical to the greater Salem community. The members of the Partnership believe that a strong community creates a prosperous business climate.
The Point Neighborhood Association
Established in 2000, The Point Neighborhood Association works to improve the quality of life of residents of The Point in Salem, Massachusetts through community engagement.
Historic Derby Street Neighborhood Association
Based in Historic Salem, Massachusetts just steps away from Salem Harbor, the Historic Derby Street Neighborhood is dedicated to preserving the history and diverse culture of the Salem waterfront. We live in one of the America's most historic neighborhoods and we share our special corner of New England with visitors from all over the world.