Brookline Town Meeting - Pct 12 - Three Years Choose 5
Town Meeting is Brookline s Legislative arm of government. It consists of 255 elected Town Meeting Members plus the members of the Select Board, and any state representative or state senator who resides in Brookline. In addition, the Town Moderator, who presides over Town Meeting, and the elected Town Clerk, who acts as secretary, are voting members. The 255 membersare elected by precinct, with 15 members elected from each of the Town s seventeen precincts. The members are elected for staggered, 3-year terms so that 5 members are elected from each precinct each year in the May annual town election. Depending on vacancies some precincts will have more members to be elected.Town Meeting is responsible for passing a balanced annual town budget and enacts all town by-laws. An Annual Town Meeting is held in the spring to enact the following year s budget, plus whatever other matters are placed on the Town Meeting Warrant, either by the Select Board or by citizen petition. The Annual Town Meeting is usually held the last week in May or the first week in June. A Special Town Meeting is held each fall, usually in November, to deal with any budget changes, zoning by-law amendments or other matters placed on the warrant. (No salary; no health insurance.)‘*’ following a candidate name indicates an Incumbent.For Incumbent Town Meeting Candidates, Attendance Record for the last three years is shown.(NPE) is the party for all candidates. The Brookline Municipal Election is a Non-Partisan Election.
Biographical Information
Biographical Data:
Public Service:
Lead/Co-Lead Petitioner on 3 Gun/Firearm Regulation bylaws (2 passed at TM, Approved by MA Attorney General, 3rd TM May 2025).
Appointed/Served: Brookline Fiscal Advisory Committee (Moderator's Committee).
Elected/Served: Runkle School Council (Community Member).
12.5 Years service Brookline Community Foundation's, Investment Committee 2013-Present.
Professional Experience: 20 Years Consulting for Endowments and Foundations, Specialties in Governance, Planning, Investment, & Team Development.
MA International Law (Fletcher School at Tufts University).
MBA (MIT Sloan School of Management).
Mother of 3, Champion of Neurodiversity, DEI, Belonging. Community Engagement/Hope Heart Project on Tappan Street 2020-Present.
What three issues are most important to your constituents, and how would you address and/or resolve them?
The Big Three: Housing, Taxes, Schools/Town Services. Most want lower taxes, few want higher. Some more housing yesterday and at all costs, others more comprehensive urban planning first. Some more school funding, others spending on town services. There is no panacea. It is *critical* that we foster a working consensus when weighing competing priorities and fiscal realities. If re-elected, that's what I will continue to do. With a promise to always listen to what burns most brightly for you, my neighbors, l will cultivate compromise in an increasingly polarized town government (and our society), and I will remain devoted to balanced and thoughtful consideration of every perspective, article, and vote in town meeting. Thank you.
Biographical Information
Campaign Phone
617-620-1171
Attendance
30 of 30
Biographical Data:
Town Meeting Member since 2021, with perfect attendance. Parent of two voters (Joseph and Marco, Runkle/BHS graduates). Brookline Education Foundation, Advisory Board (2020–), BEF Board President (2017–20), Runkle PTO cochair (2010–13), Brookline HS PTO class rep (2014–18). Brookline Community Foundation, BHS Scholarship Fund Committee, member (2023–24). Electrify Brookline, Precinct 12 coordinator (2023–). Brookline Library Foundation, Board member (2024–). Graduated from Williams College. Taught English for a year in a high school in southern Poland. Freelance editor and published author of nonfiction books, mostly for young people. (Next book is about World Cup soccer.) Endorsed by PAX, Brookline by Design.
What three issues are most important to your constituents, and how would you address and/or resolve them?
(1) Excellent public education for every student. Mission of equity and belonging in our PK–grade 12 schools. (2) Planning for commercial, residential, and recreational growth that includes all stakeholders. (3) Climate action and greener living. I am not a single-issue candidate: I was excited by Fall 2023’s MBTA Communities Act Consensus Article, an encouraging example of collaboration. I worked with ElectrifyBrookline.org, a campaign to move beyond fossil fuels. I am most involved supporting our students, teachers, and families. Being part of Town Meeting requires the ability to gather and share information, listen closely, keep an open mind, and ultimately, cast what you believe to be the best vote for Brookline and all who live here.
Biographical Information
Campaign Phone
617-731-0549
Attendance
30 of 30
Biographical Data:
Business law and ethics Instructor; J.D.
Town Meeting Appointments: Advisory Committee 2011 – 2023, serving on the Capital Subcommittee, Long Term Planning & Policy Subcommittee and chairing the ad hoc Budget Practices Review subcommittee; Surveillance Technology and Military Type Study Committee; Face Surveillance Ban petitioner; Redistricting Committee, 2010; Open Space Planning Committee, 2018.
Community Involvement: Runkle School Council 2011-2012; PTO co-president 2007-2010 (during the contentious renovation); Runkle Override co-chair 2008.
What three issues are most important to your constituents, and how would you address and/or resolve them?
Maintaining excellent schools, preserving open space/climate initiatives, and supporting commercial development/revenue, continue to top my list of priorities; however, I view the Town and our community like a single organism; it has to work for all or eventually, it works for none. That is why housing development is inextricably linked to the priorities listed above. It is my hope that the comprehensive planning process underway is inclusive and instructive. With an open mind, legacy planning in view, and the ability to embrace compromise in Town Meeting, I will continue to balance community goals, quality of life expectations, and a general sense of fairness for all: seniors, families and working professionals.
Biographical Information
Campaign Phone
617-913-8900
Attendance
30 of 30
Biographical Data:
I've lived in Brookline for 18 years and have been a Town Meeting member since 2013. I am the author of the book 'Great Runs in Brookline'. I've served on the Bicycle Advisory Committee, and am currently on the Board of Brookline Music School. My two children attended Runkle and BHS. My spouse Jennifer Meader is a lifelong educator and worked at Driscoll School for several years.
Professionally, I've had a career as a telecom consultant, working for larger companies and also running my own firm. I'm also the founder of GreatRuns.com -- the ultimate guide to the best places to run in destinations worldwide.
What three issues are most important to your constituents, and how would you address and/or resolve them?
1) Quality of Schools. The feeling is that the educational 'product' is deteriorating. We need to come up with a multi-year operational solution for the budget. And also think differently about capital allocation.
2) Taxes and Budget Issues. I'm concerned there is 'override fatigue', given inflation and ever-growing costs of items such as housing and childcare. Solution: create more opportunities for commercial revenue, to lower the burden on property taxes.
3) Housing And Affordability. Precinct 12 has a large number of renters who want to buy and live in Brookline. I'm endorsed by Brookline for Everyone and am all for increasing the housing stock while maintaining the character of Brookline's neighborhoods and green spaces.
Biographical Information
Campaign Phone
201-566-5040
Campaign Website
http://https://www.p12partners.com/
Attendance
Not Incumbent Town Meeting Member
Biographical Data:
I am 38 years old. I grew up in Teaneck, NJ. Later in life, I moved to New York City, got a Ph.D in mathematics, got a job as a software engineer, got married, and moved to Brookline to join my wife, who is a native to the Boston area.
What three issues are most important to your constituents, and how would you address and/or resolve them?
1. Housing affordability. I would seek to increase density (so the high land prices of the area could be divided among more people), while considering and mitigating the costs of doing so.
2. School budget. I would attempt to avoid cutting the portion of the budget going to the classroom (about 1/3 of the total), and be very cautious about cutting specialists (about 1/4) especially if it might impact those with special needs, but I suspect we can balance the budget in other areas.
3. Not certain what's third place, but if I had to guess I'd say town governance type. I am open to some changes, but separation of powers is very important to me, and I believe the "town" model provides that better than the "city" model.
Biographical Information
Campaign Phone
603-859-9005
Campaign Website
http://https://www.p12partners.com/
Attendance
Not Incumbent Town Meeting Member
Biographical Data:
I moved to Brookline in 2022 from Worcester after switchin jobs and deciding I wanted to be closer to the office. Turns out, I picked the worst apartment in terms of commuting to Cambridge, but a great apartment that allowed me to fall in love with all Brookline has to offer. A graduate of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas in Austin, I work as a Medicaid consultant, and have previously conducted research on health policy and sex education, domestically and in the Middle East. Having lived in a variety of cities, towns, and countries over the years, I would be very happy to settle in Brookline permanently. I am running for Town Meeting to bring to life a Brookline that works for all its residents.
What three issues are most important to your constituents, and how would you address and/or resolve them?
The three most important issues are the schools, housing affordability, and climate change. We can address issue with school funding and concerns over quality by smartly and sustainably expanding our tax revenue, through increased property taxes from new housing and new commercial real estate. Second, we need to address the affordability crisis in Brookline. Young professionals like myself are increasingly priced out. We need to build more housing options for young people and families, while also finding other ways to manage increasingly challenging rents. Third, we need to encourage more people to use non-motor vehicle forms of transport and enhance our green spaces to help meet the challenges of climate change.
Biographical Information
Campaign Phone
571-245-4997
Campaign Website
http://https://www.p12partners.com/
Attendance
Not Incumbent Town Meeting Member
Biographical Data:
I am a Brookline resident of 5 years, and purchased a home here in 2023 with my wife, Liz. I am a green energy professional- I work at one of North America's largest wind developers, Enel, and work on software for enterprise batteries and grid stability. I am a runner, and deeply passionate about human-scale streets; I have taken that passion and experience to serve on Brookline’s Pedestrian Advisory Committee. I am also working with the town to install a pollinator garden at the corner of Addington and Winthrop. My wife and I frequent Schick park with our dog, Skyy, and our foster dogs. We hope to raise a family here- part of the draw of Brookline was the wonderful schools and services for residents of all ages.
What three issues are most important to your constituents, and how would you address and/or resolve them?
(1) Schools in Brookline are a draw for so many, including myself. I believe it is important to have more parents and parents-to-be represented Town Meeting, because of our stake in our schools and our willingness to invest in an excellent education. (2) Housing- we are pricing far too many people out of our community, and our current developments are not addressing the affordability needs. I believe that we can provide ample housing at affordable prices without sacrificing the look-and-feel of our neighborhoods, through initiatives like form-based zoning. (3) Fiscal sustainability- how can we ensure that our town's robust services are funded, without going to overrides each year? Now is our opportunity to expand our commercial tax base.
Biographical Information
Campaign Phone
617-529-1622
Campaign Website
http://p12partners.com
Attendance
Not Incumbent Town Meeting Member
Biographical Data:
I've lived in Brookline for just a year and a half, but it already feels like home. With my wife Jennie, a long time PSB teacher, we're thrilled to be raising our twins here; both attend Runkell in the 5th grade. In 2012, I co-founded Salsify -- an e-commerce software startup -- and helped grow it into a successful global company employing over 500 people. With the company in great hands, I left early last year to pursue public service and the many passions I'd put on hold to start a company and raise our twin boys. I've spent my time since volunteering with a wide array of local organizations from Elevate Youth to BUILD Boston to the Brookline Food Pantry, and have recently joined the Brookline Pollinator Pathway.
What three issues are most important to your constituents, and how would you address and/or resolve them?
The three issues that I hear the most about are: (1) Schools. With schools such a central part of why many were attracted to Brookline, I will work every day towards a better long term planning process to ensure our schools continue to sustain excellence for the next generation. (2) Housing. For a truly vibrant town we need to address the affordability crisis by providing thoughtful housing solutions to meet the needs of renters and owners alike. (3) Fiscal responsibility. I will work to address the current fiscal challenges while still leading on climate, improving our transportation infrastructure, and ensuring that our schools and affordable housing funds have the resources we need to succeed.