NAHANT– Patty Karras has become only the third woman in Nahant history elected to the Select Board, marking a milestone in the town’s government while bringing years of financial and educational leadership experience to the role.

Karras follows Jayne Solimine, who served from 1983 to 1990, and Elaine Titus, who served from 2010 to 2012. 

For Karras, the historic achievement is both meaningful and surprising.

“It’s a very humbling experience to be elected the third woman in Nahant,” Karras said. “It was surprising to me, considering how old Nahant is. And I really hope that I inspire others to run in the future.”

Ironically, Karras was not in Nahant when the election results came in. She was in Athens, Greece, on a trip she had planned long before deciding to run for office.

“There’s a seven-hour time difference. So I really didn’t sleep that night because I was anxious.”

When she learned she had won, Karras said she was overwhelmed with emotion.

Standing above the city with a view of the Acropolis, Karras said the moment felt especially symbolic.

“I just thought to myself, wow, to learn where the birthplace of democracy started,” she said. 

Karras brings a strong financial and public service background to the Select Board. She earned both a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Bentley University and previously served five years on the Nahant School Committee.

“I think I have a skill set that’s very much needed in the town, especially during a time where finances are a huge concern,” she said. “That is my background. It is my area of expertise.”

Karras moved to Nahant in 2018 from Washington, D.C., as a single mother raising her young son. She said the town’s safety, schools, and sense of community drew her in during a difficult chapter in their lives.

“Nahant attracted me here for many different reasons,” she said. “One, it’s absolutely beautiful to live here, but more importantly, it’s a very safe community to raise a child.”

“I was just in awe in terms of how welcoming this community was not only to me but more importantly to my son,” she added. “And because of that, it inspired me to give back.”

Karras said she hopes her election encourages young girls in Nahant to pursue leadership roles of their own. Recalling a speech she once gave as chair of the School Committee at Johnson Elementary School, she shared the advice she believes matters most.

“I strongly believe in ‘live curious, learn, strive for excellence in everything that you do, give back to the communities and make a difference in the world,’” she said. “It’s okay to take a risk. It’s okay to try something new. It’s okay to fail. Just be curious.”

During the election, voters said they hope Karras would bring a fresh perspective to the board.

She believes the phrase reflects Nahant’s changing demographics as newer families move into a town with deep multigenerational roots.

“There are many new families that are moving into town,” she said. “I don’t want to say that there’s a divide per se, but perhaps there’s a fear that new people are coming in.”

Her campaign slogan, “working together for Nahant,” centered on bridging those differences.

“I really do believe very strongly that all of us, regardless of our backgrounds, need to work together for the greater good of this community,” she said.

Karras said transparency and data-driven decision-making will guide her work on the board as 

Nahant faces financial challenges and competing priorities.

She has already voiced strong support for the town’s proposed $1 million override to support the fire department and emergency services.

“These are services that are very dire, especially to an aging community, and where we live on the ocean, it’s absolutely critical,” she said.

As she begins her term, Karras said her goal is simple: to leave Nahant better than she found it.

“When I leave a job, I always look back and I ask myself, okay, did I leave it in a better place than when I started?” she said. “I feel that way about community service as well.”

And when residents look back on her time in office, she hopes they remember her as “honest, open,” and “a person with integrity in the best interests of this community.”