Meet the Candidates for Peabody State Rep

Peabody Patch and Peabody Access TV teamed up recently to interview the candidates for State Representative in the upcoming special election this spring.

You can watch the special program, hosted by Patch Editor John Castelluccio, this weekend on Channel 99.

The candidates address such topics as the governor's recent budget proposal and tax plan, local aid, improving the local economy, major city projects and slot parlors and legalized gambling.

The show is scheduled to air Feb. 16 at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and again Feb. 17 at 4 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. You can also watch it directly online here.

PATV plans to continue running the special in the weeks leading up to the Primary Election on March 5.

The candidates in the primary will be Republicans Greg Bunn and Leah Cole while Beverley Griffin Dunne appears as the sole Democrat.

Independent or Unenrolled candidate Dave Gravel will not appear on the ballot, as the primary is for political party candidates only. He will appear along with Dunne and the Republican winner on the ballot on April 2.

The 12th Essex District seat in the Mass. House of Representatives was left vacant with the death of Joyce Spiliotis in November.

One last note: PATV did reach out to all four candidates, but was unable to schedule an interview with Cole, which is why she does not appear in the program.