JANUARY 2026

The time has come to plan for the annual election in May.

Three years ago, your support (6,000+ votes!) was essential to my success in the hard-fought Select Board contest of 2023.

Later this month, I will kick off my campaign for a third term. Here’s hoping I can count on you as one of my earliest endorsers.

If so, please use this link to confirm the endorsement by email.

We’ve accomplished a lot together:

  • Maintaining Brookline’s traditional strengths in education, public safety and social supports, while earning the highest bond ratings for our fiscal policies and discipline.

  • Our parks, playgrounds and recreation offerings are enviable —with surveys twice ranking Brookline among the nation’s best places to live. Our administrative and departmental staff deserve full credit — and the Select Board’s continued support.

It would be an honor and a pleasure to serve you for three more years. Until those daffodils and lawn signs reappear, keep safe and warm.

Also, if you wish to become a subscriber to my Good Government newsletter, just ask. (It’s free.)

Yours, with thanks,

John VanScoyoc
Select Board
617 888 1663

jvanscoyoc0@gmail.com

Written May 7, 2023

You Did It!

John VanScoyoc, Select Board

Dear Friends —

It’s been five days, and I am still reeling. Thursday morning, in an email to a supporter, here’s how I described the final hours of Election Day, May 2:

“I remained optimistic until the end of the day, fortified myself with a nap prior to the final 90 minutes, and then gathered with a dozen or so supporters at Washington Square Tavern to await results. Chaos. The tavern was filled with customers who had no connection to our small gathering. Loud talk made it impossible to hear the election coverage from our laptop screens. Larry O. walked in and greeted me with arms outspread and kept repeating: John .... John... John. The hour was approaching 9:30 when I finally connected to Tommy V.'s live show on Brookline BIG to acknowledge victory, issue congratulations, and answer questions (softballs, thankfully). Please keep me focused on Truth and Justice if ever I stray.”

Here’s a photo of the scene at the tavern:

And here’s the moment when I stepped outside to answer the call from the producer at BIG who confirmed that I was in first place (by a mere 200 votes) in the final, unofficial vote count.

In the days since, I’ve had chance encounters with several of you who helped me with donations, lawn signs, endorsements, or some combination. My first words are always the same, “You made all the difference!” In church earlier today, during the exchanges of peace (greetings), I blurted out to a friend who had put out signs in the final days, “You saved me.”

“Saved me” was stretching things, but that’s how much gratitude I feel. I am fortunate to have you, and so is Brookline. You believe in local “small d” democracy, and you came through with a turnout (12,000+ ballots) that is a new high for an annual town election in this still-young century.

Please keep doing what you do for the Town. Brookline needs you. In return, I promise to do my best for you every day of my second term. Hold me to it. And please accept my thanks.

— yours, John