Proud 35-year resident of Precinct 8! Town Meeting Member since 2012. Co-Chair Climate Action Brookline. Board Member Biking Brookline, PAX & Friends of Hall's Pond. Livable Community Advocacy Comm @ Brookline Senior Ctr advocate for seniors, esp frail seniors. Career: human service & outdoor retail management. I've successfully led initiatives inc Brookline creating a Sustainability Division & updating our Climate Action Plan, Brookline signing the Paris Climate Agreement, securing Town purchase of Newbury College campus & stronger Tree Protections. I was Pct 8 liaison for the MBTA Communities Act. I believe in community engagement & consensus building. Town Meeting Members are elected by precinct. As your TMM my duty is to represent YOU!
Expand affordable transit-oriented housing to retain our unique blend of historic homes & well-designed complexes.
Expand our commercial tax base to lessen dependence on future overrides.
Lead in our response to the climate crisis. Encourage residents to electify their homes.
Expand our tree cover to purify the air & abate noise & the urban heat effect.
Enable our seniors, esp those on fixed incomes, to age in place. Support high quality schools.
Improve road safety for all, esp the most vulnerable: frail seniors, kids, pedestrians & cyclists.
I've found convening issue-specific groups of concerned constituents, as I've done re the MBTA Communities Act, rat control, renovation projects & other issues, works best to unearth solutions.
Chair Community Preservation Act Committee funding affordable housing, open space/recreation, historic preservation, 2022-present; Select Board 6 yrs; Town Meeting 37 yrs; Advisory Committee 8 yrs; Co-Chair BHS Expansion Advisory Committee 2016-2023, Liaison Council on Aging, Chair Tree Protection Study Committee, Petitioner 2012 bylaw banning polystyrene; Co-Petitioner 2010 bylaw on noise/nuisance, School Committee 12 yrs; Many leadership roles: Environmental Activist, PTO, Extended Day, Day Care, Understanding Disabilities, tree protection efforts, traffic, BHS China Exchange, Friends of METCO; Widow of Dr. Daniel Heller, 3 children grads of Brookline Schools, 3 grandchildren attending/grads of Brookline Schools; Retired Attorney.
P 8 residents care: 1. Improvements: I am pleased to be Chair of Community Preservation Act Committee which uses its funds to create, preserve, and support affordable housing, much of it in North Brookline. CPAC also focuses on open space/recreation, e.g. restoring the Ridley tennis courts. 2. Raise our voices: led by Speak Out Seniors and PAX, on weekends in Coolidge Corner we protest the presence of ICE and other undemocratic actions of the president. 3. We focus on climate concerns and work against the loss of our tree canopy/open space. 4. We support safety/traffic improvements that benefit all users. I believe the most satisfactory communication is by talking with people; I welcome emails. Please contact me about concerns.
I am running for a third term representing Precinct 8 in Town Meeting. I also serve on the Town's Fiscal Advisory Committee where I have advocated for excellent municipal services, transparency, and fiscal responsibility. Professionally, I am a senior analyst who oversees budget development and management for the Commonwealth, including oversight of over $6 billion in public budgets. In my first two-terms, I have led the passage of eighteen warrant articles, with highlights including strengthening rodent control enforcement, protecting local access to reproductive healthcare, and creating the Brookline Youth Council. I am proud that my candidacy has earned the endorsements of Progressive Brookline, Brookline for Everyone, and Brookline PAX.
As a Town Meeting Member, there are several key issues I am focused on. ICE is a rogue agency conducting a campaign of terror against our nation. I am currently a lead sponsor of two warrant articles that will strengthen local protections to keep Brookline residents safe from ICE's abuses by banning ICE enforcement activities on Town property and directing the Town to suspend information sharing with DHS. I have also been a leading advocate for expanding housing affordability throughout Brookline, and I am sponsoring an article to strengthen the revenue streams flowing into the Town's Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Affordability is also a priority, and I will work to expand local tax relief for seniors and low-income residents.
A former scientist with a problem solving mindset and commitment to thoughtful, balanced decision making. I ran in 2023 to improve town services and stand up for our neighborhood. I delivered by helping over 75 residents resolve issues ranging from rodent control and tree protection to crosswalk safety, responsible development, and cutting red tape. I co-sponsored 3 successful warrant articles to protect trees, curb harmful rodenticides, and ensure seniors are considered in every decision. Service: Advisory Committee, Council on Aging, Friends of Hall’s Pond Board, Brookline Neighborhood Alliance 2024 Leadership Award. I’m a longtime resident of JFK Crossing running to keep delivering practical results and strong advocacy for our community.
Brookline’s most pressing issue is affordability, because it affects everything. Rising housing costs are reducing diversity by driving out families, workers, and those on limited income. We must maintain quality education and quality services while easing the burden on residents by expanding revenue through commercial and housing development that will provide a net revenue benefit. As a senior advocate, I work to increase support for seniors who are over 20% of our population. I support local businesses; sustainability and protecting our environment; safer streets and sidewalks for all - cyclists, drivers and pedestrians. We need an outside audit to identify ways of reducing operating expenses without targeting basic or beloved services.
I'm a dad of two Florida Ruffin Ridley kids, husband, statistician, Boston-area startup co-founder, and an incumbent Town Meeting member for Precinct 8 running for my 2nd term. I bring a data-driven, facts-based approach to policy, a consistent pro-housing, pro-schools, pro-environment voting record, and I show up to do the work. I serve as Deputy Chair of the Shared Mobility Advisory Committee (SMAC) and the Bridle Path Design Review Committee, am working with the Yes for Brookline campaign, and I'm proud to be endorsed by Brookline For Everyone, Progressive Brookline, and Brookline PAX. Come see us on Beals St this halloween!
Housing, schools, and fiscal stability are inseparable in Brookline. I support mixed use development in Coolidge Corner and our commercial zones, and will vote yes on the Chestnut Hill West project this May because we must build more buildings to increase Town revenues. We need to pass the 2026 override to prevent catastrophic cuts to our schools and town services. On SMAC, I support Bluebikes expansion and improved T accessibility. I personally support more traffic calming, bicycle infrastructure, senior friendly sidewalks, and an outdoor community pool. I have voted for resolutions opposing federal overreach and will support prohibiting local ICE cooperation. I use data to inform my decisions, and am accountable to P8 voters.
Attendance
Not Incumbent Town Meeting Candidate
Out
11-Mar
‘Siyo! (Hello!) My name is Kailey Bennett, and I am the Chair of Brookline’s Indigenous Peoples Celebration Committee. I am a Cherokee Nation Citizen / ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ and have lived in Brookline for over 11 years. I have a master's degree in History, and work as a large scale event/powwow planner, and theatre stage & production manager. I am a fierce advocate for the performing arts, including musical theatre, opera, and ballet. As a person with epilepsy, I help dispel stereotypes about the disease and advocate for improved accessibility initiatives. When I am not in rehearsals, I paint in my Brookline art studio, bike around the Charles River, spend time with my deafblind cat, Hedwig, and run marathons around the world.
I believe strongly in safety and infrastructure improvements for pedestrians and bikes. Sidewalks should be improved for general accessibility and safety for Brookline seniors. Brookline needs more affordable housing, including along public transit routes. Housing costs should not be a barrier to live in Brookline and attend Brookline public schools. Expanding commercial real estate is critical to increase tax revenue to support schools, police, and fire. These initiatives cannot happen without community voter engagement. The Cherokee idea ‘Gadugi’ means 'working together to support our community' and is my foundation for problem solving. With Gadugi, building bridges breaks down barriers to find solutions and support our neighbors.
Attendance
Not Incumbent Town Meeting Candidate
I am a child welfare attorney and a career civil servant. After graduating from Northeastern University in 2018, I decided to make Brookline my home due to the neighborhood’s walkability, plentiful green spaces, and kind residents. Over the past 8 years, I have loved living in Brookline and want to make sure future generations get to experience the excellent services, education, and quality of life the Town has to offer. I am running for Town Meeting to support strong schools, expand housing affordability, and keep Brookline a safe and welcoming community.
Housing availability and affordability is one of the most significant issues facing Brookline. I support policy initiatives that build mixed-use housing along transit corridors that provide affordable options to more residents. Expanding housing is also a critical way to support and strengthen our schools, address the Town’s budget crisis, and preserve excellent services while reducing the cost burden on residents through growing our tax base. Regarding ICE in Brookline, I support the Select Board’s actions limiting the Town’s cooperation with ICE and pending Warren Articles that would codify non-cooperation into law and limit information sharing with DHS to protect Brookline residents.
