Poet Laureate committee approves selection process, defers judge composition
Poet Laureate committee approves selection process; judge composition deferred. The Swampscott Poet Laureate Selection Committee unanimously approved its "Process for Choosing and Appointing a Poet Laureate for Swampscott," but deferred a contentious decision on the judging panel. Committee members
Poet Laureate Selection Committe · Meeting of March 5, 2026
SWAMPSCOTT — Poet Laureate committee approves selection process; judge composition deferred. The Swampscott Poet Laureate Selection Committee unanimously approved its "Process for Choosing and Appointing a Poet Laureate for Swampscott," but deferred a contentious decision on the judging panel. Committee members Steve Iannaccone, Debbie Friedlander, Peter Franklin, and Sami Lawler voted 3-1 to postpone ruling on whether to include high school students alongside experienced poets as judges.
Iannaccone opposed student inclusion, questioning credentials to evaluate poetry submissions; Friedlander supported adding a student judge to encourage community involvement. The committee deferred the decision until its April 23, 2026 meeting.
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Source: the Poet Laureate Selection Committe meeting of March 5, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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