2026 CAMPAIGN UPDATE

Welcome to the contest

The uncertainty is over.

It’s now official. Three candidates will vye for two seats on the Select Board. Having been elected in 2020 and again in 2023 (with 6,000+ votes!) I’m looking forward to campaigning hard to reach as many of you as possible in the weeks between now and election day, May 5.

My two-point message, in short:

1. Experience Counts

• At a crucial time for Brookline’s future, with another override on the ballot and a much-needed development plan for Chestnut Hill West hanging in the balance, the Select Board needs my informed and balanced approach.

• I’m committed to what’s best for neighborhoods AND the Town as a whole. Commercial tax revenue such as Chestnut Hill West promises is crucial. So is listening and responding to the residents of Sheafe and Heath streets and Woodland Road who will be impacted by a surge in development on the Office Park site. I’ve met with residents AND developers to get the best results for both. That work will continue all the way to Town Meeting.

• As for putting a tax cap override of some $19M+ on the ballot, I’m committed to protecting our services (public safety, schools, parks, recreation, libraries, etc.) — and equally committed to affordability for taxpayers (including tenants through their rents) who only have so much more to give. Finding the sweet spot (enough money for services, with a bearable tax pinch for voters) is my pledge.

2. I’m Independent

Expect the unexpected from me as a candidate. I propose that we:

• Update our inventory of Town properties, in order to test the market value of any that might soon lose their usefulness. (The Water and Sewer garage on Netherlands is just one example that gets mentioned.)

• Pause spending on the Beacon Street bridle path until we get a realistic estimate of the total costs, as well as the expected disruption to Beacon Street during construction, and the inevitable sacrifice of trees, parking spaces, and other amenities currently in the right of way.

• Create a “tax pinch” test for future overrides (after FY27). In short, budget needs AND tax burdens should factor into the calculation of overrides. There’s no perfect formula — but seeking one is worth the effort. (And voters will let us know if we get it wrong.)