John VanScoyoc
Election Day: May 5, 2026

Re-Elect John
VanScoyoc

Experience. Independence. Brookline.

Brookline Select Board

0+Votes in 2023
0+Years in Brookline
0Years on Select Board
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2026 Election

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 Platform

A Two-Point Message

Point 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 respondingto 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.
Point 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 Road 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 ANDtax 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.)
Track Record

Accomplishments & Challenges

Serving on the Select Board is not a solo act. It requires conversation, collegiality and consensus. With that in mind, credit for this list goes to the 5-member board on which I've served since 2020.

Brookline Select Board in session

Accomplishments

  • We backed up Brookline’s commitment to climate change goals by adding ground source heat pump technology to the Driscoll School project.
  • We committed to an ongoing partnership with the Brookline Housing Authority to seek funds to improve the conditions of BHA units.
  • We completed the purchase of the Newbury parcel on Fisher Hill and won voter approval of the Community Preservation Act — good investments in Brookline’s future.
  • With Town Meeting approval, we recouped the costs of three Town-purchased townhouses on Oak Street by offering them for sale.
  • Our Treasurer borrowed millions for school projects at record low interest rates.
  • As part of Covid relief efforts we appropriated funds for the Brookline Safety Net and Brookline Food Pantry as well as the BHA.

Challenges Ahead

  • Steer the Chestnut Hill West project to a successful 2/3 vote at Town Meeting by balancing revenue needs and project feasibility with respect for neighborhood preservation.
  • Close Brookline’s FY27 budget gaps (Town and School) either through override proposals or revenue initiatives or austerity or “some of the above or all of the above.”
  • Use the expertise of the Housing Advisory Board, CDC, BHA, Community Preservation Act Committee, and advocacy groups to grow housing — public and private, all-affordable or with affordable minimums.
  • Arrive at a community consensus on the opportunity created by the Fisher Hill West campus acquisition.
  • Expand upon Brookline’s sustainability initiatives, including rooftop solar, and our accelerated Pavement Improvement Program, including multi-modal safety initiatives.
Ribbon cutting ceremony

We spread the word of Brookline as a welcoming Town for startup businesses through Project Popup.

Turkey distribution event

We welcomed the Turkeys Around Town project!

Endorsements

Trusted by Brookline Leaders

Bernard Greene

Select Board Chair

David Pearlman

Select Board Vice Chair

Paul Warren

Select Board

Michael Merrill

Select Board 1990–1996, 2004–2007

Skip Sesling

Select Board, 1984–1992

Robert Weintraub

School Committee

Carolyn Thall

School Committee

Danna Perry

School Committee

Jesse Hefter

School Committee

Val Frias

School Committee

Liz Linder

2025 Select Board candidate

Kate Poverman

Former Town Moderator

Sandy Gadsby

Former Town Moderator

Campaign Finance

Local Campaigns. Local Dollars. $250 Cap.

Just as was true in 2020 and 2023, the limits below will apply to my campaign for Select Board. (All other 2026 candidates are invited to adopt these same limits. Local democracy shouldn't favor big dollar donors, outsiders and self-funders.)

  • Solicitations will be limited to residents of Brookline, former residents of Brookline, those who work and conduct businesses in Brookline, and immediate family members (because who wants to say “no” to a parent or sibling or adult child who offers help?).
  • No acceptance of funds from non-local fundraising networks.
  • No donations accepted from political action committees or the leftover campaign funds of other candidates in other elections.
  • And finally, my favorite rule: funds remaining after this campaign committee is dissolved will be donated to local charities.
Donate Online

or mail a check to: John VanScoyoc Committee, 307 Reservoir Rd., Brookline, MA 02467

Join the Campaign Today

Time is short. There are many ways to help re-elect John to the Select Board.

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Help spread the word to friends

Campaign event at Washington Square Tavern

We had fun at the 2023 campaign kickoff at Washington Square Tavern. Special thanks to proprietors Gerry and Alma Finnegan.

Gerry was a Brookline treasure. We suffered a great loss with his passing in late February.

My Story

A Life Dedicated to Community

The VanScoyoc family in Islesboro, Maine, 2022

Meet My Family

Meet my wife Barbara, my children Robert and Ellen, their spouses Jennifer and Caleb, and my grandchildren: Aziza, Lyla, and William. The photo was taken in Islesboro, Maine in 2022 by Caleb.

Robert and Ellen are proud graduates of Heath (now Hayes) School and BHS, where their headmaster was “Dr. Bob” Weintraub.

This family is my pride and joy. They probably think I should give my political pursuits a rest. But I'm glad they've indulged me in this latest contest.

John's grandchildren

My Profession

In 2018, I retired after 23 years as a producer of nightly news/talk programs for New England Cable News / NBC10 Boston. I was honored to work with some notable Boston TV names: most recently, Sue O'Connell (“The Take” host). Prior to Sue there was Jim Braude (“Broadside”); Chet Curtis (“NewsNight”); and R.D. Sahl (“NewsNight”).

Prior to NECN/NBC10 Boston I worked for 10 years as managing editor of Christopher Lydon's 10 O'Clock News on WGBH.

And prior to that, for the first 10 years of my career in journalism, I was editor of Citizen Group Publications — a family-owned weekly newspaper chain for Brookline, Allston-Brighton, and Back Bay/Beacon Hill/Fenway in Boston.

Journalism was my dream job from my days as editor of the high school newspaper (Staples in Westport, CT). I will never take for granted how fortunate I have been to realize my dream.

John's career in journalism
John at a community event in Brookline

Committed to Brookline

And then there is this wonderful town we call Brookline. I can't get enough of it. I've served as president and treasurer of the Brookline Historical Society; Town Meeting Member from Precinct 13; board member (recently retired) at Brookline Center for Community Mental Health; board of Brookline Adult and Community Education; volunteer for the New England Region of Met Opera Auditions.

To my next door neighbors, I'm the guy who mows his own lawn and keeps a raspberry patch that has fed many a passer-by. If only my tomatoes would learn from the raspberries!