YOU should run for Town Meeting!

This May, with historic turnout levels for a May election Brookline voters spoke loudly and clearly for progress, for change, and for investing in our community.

Brookline voted overwhelmingly for change on the Select Board, electing both Amanda Zimmerman and Anthony Buono. As Amanda reiterated throughout her campaign, Brookline has done a great job developing plans to tackle so many of our challenges but has lacked the leadership and political will to turn the plans into action. Brookline for Everyone is excited to join them and the other Select Board members to make real progress for Brookline.

In Town Meeting races across Brookline, voters consistently chose pro-housing, pro-climate, and pro-people candidates everywhere they had the opportunity to do so. Brookline for Everyone endorsed 67 Town Meeting candidates, including 34 incumbents and 33 non-incumbents. Overall, 95.5% of our endorsed candidates for Town Meeting were victorious on Elect Day.

The best plans and leadership still need a strong financial foundation to build upon, and here again Brookline voters came through, voting YES on Question 1 by nearly 3,000 votes and 60% of the total vote. This override represents an investment in Brookline’s future -- for our schools, for public safety, and for the staff we’ll need to help us build a stronger Brookline. This is one step in the financial foundation. The next step must be leveraging the Comprehensive Plan to identify and pursue other housing and mixed-use development opportunities that will increase Brookline's revenue, reducing the need for such large overrides.

However, at the end of the day, only elected members of Town Meeting are actually able to vote for zoning warrant articles. If you really want your voice to be heard, become one of the folks whose voice has extra weight, and run for Town Meeting.

Running for Town Meeting takes some courage, and it takes some determination. But mostly, it takes knowing that you don’t have to run alone. You’ll be supported by folks on our team who will help you with the mechanics of running, from filing papers to forming a precinct slate to helping you create flyers.

While it’s essential for all of us to speak up and be heard, those of us who want Brookline to become a more welcoming, climate resilient community must win the legislative votes to make that happen. We need new voices with innovative ideas in Town Meeting. You are that person!

We have one orientation session in January and another one in February. Learn more about the mechanics of running, who else is thinking of running in your precinct, and the kind of help Brookline for Everyone offers its endorsed candidates.

And even if you feel you’re not the one to run, please join the team and help our endorsed candidates spread the word that Brookline needs new voices with new ideas, and elect Town Meeting Members who will put our values into practice.