Brookline Town Meeting - Pct 17 - Two Years
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 Races, Attendance Record for last three years is shown.(NP) shows for all candidates and races. The Brookline Municipal Election is Non-Partisan.
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Katherine Elizabeth Haenschen
(NP)
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Christopher Kahl
(NP)
What should your responsibility be to your precinct and how will you communicate and engage with your constituents?
Campaign Phone
773-343-4954
Attendance
Not Incumbent TM Member
Hi, I'm Katherine! I'm 42 years old, a Mom to two small kids (ages 2 & 4), and a professor of Communication. I'm also a Brookline resident who knows firsthand how housing costs are hurting members of our community. My family moved to Brookline in 2020, and despite holding two professional jobs we struggle with high housing and childcare costs.
I'm running for Town Meeting to represent residents getting squeezed by high housing costs and limited options. I want every Brookline resident to be able to afford to stay here, raise their family here, and see their kids and grandkids stay Brookline if they want. Our community can and must do better to create housing options for families, young people, and seniors who want to stay here.
As a Town Meeting member I will listen to constituents' concerns, connect them to relevant government services whenever possible, work diligently to get answers to problems, and report back transparently on my actions whether I succeed or not.
My primary policy goals on Town Meeting will be to support the creation of dense housing near transit to address affordability and climate change, and to look for ways to lower our highest-in-the-nation childcare costs.
The best way to contact me is via email. I'll acknowledge receipt, and if I don't have an immediate answer I'll let you know next steps and when you can expect a response!
Campaign Phone
617-947-5698
Attendance
Not Incumbent TM Member
I have been a resident of Brookline since 1986 and a homeowner since 1992. My wife and I have two daughters that went through the Brookline school system from kindergarten through high school. In addition, I have previously served two separate terms as a town meeting member. I currently work in the utility industry serving customers mainly in New Hampshire and Maine.
In my current position, my responsibilities include helping the company reduce its carbon footprint and promoting less carbon intensive energy sources.
My responsibility is to support the voters of precinct 17 through various channels including town meeting votes, attending key meetings that impact the precinct, and by communicating with various departments at town hall in order to make my constituents voices heard. I will monitor the town hall website for key meetings and will communicate and consult with other precinct 17 town meeting members when important issues come up that impact the neighborhood.
I will communicate with my constituents through emails, texts and phone calls. This approach was successful when communicating with constituents during my prior terms as town meeting member.
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