How did you get involved in public service and local government?
I have always been interested in politics and government. I studied political science in college and graduate school. My first experience with Brookline’s Town government came in the late 1990s, when I coordinated a neighborhood effort to replace asphalt sidewalks with concrete ones. I then found myself presenting the neighborhood’s perspective on the Beacon Street improvement project. I was invited to participate in the discussions that led to the founding of the Brookline Neighborhood Alliance. I learned a lot by participating in programs of the League of Women Voters of Brookline. In 2003, I was invited to serve on the Advisory Committee, Brookline’s Finance Committee. In 2011, I became a Town Meeting member.
Why are you running?
I want to continue to serve my Precinct 1 constituents and enhance their quality of life. I want to make sure that Brookline makes the key decisions that enable it to be a green community, an affordable community, a community in which all public services (schools, police, fire, public works, parks and recreation) are excellent, and a community that leads by example in showing that progressive politics and government can be innovative and successful.
I am committed to the idea that government at all levels can make a positive difference in people’s lives. My ongoing public service is an attempt to show that this idea is valid.
Before I was in Town Meeting, I became engaged on local issues such as repairing and upgrading sidewalks in my neighborhood, redesigning Beacon Street so that it would be a better transportation corridor, and protecting and renovating Monmouth Park. I eventually found that as a Town Meeting member I could do more to keep Precinct 1—and all of Brookline—a great place to live.
What local challenges do you see?
Brookline needs to address the high cost of living here. It needs to plan for long-run fiscal stability while offering excellent services and maintaining its infrastructure, including roads, parks, and public buildings. It needs to work to limit climate change and to mitigate its effects.
Where will you focus your energy?
I want to continue to serve my Precinct 1 constituents and enhance their quality of life. I want to make sure that Brookline makes the key decisions that enable it to be a green community, an affordable community, a community which all public services (schools, police, fire, public works, parks and recreation) are excellent, and a community that leads by example in showing that progressive politics and government can be innovative and successful.
I will focus my energy on making Brookline a greener community and on adding to the tax base so that revenue grows fast enough to finance the public services we need. It is not always easy to reconcile these two goals, but that’s a key reason why I will focus on both of them.
What do you do as a Town Meeting Member?
For me, being a Town Meeting member means much more than attending the November and May sessions of Town Meeting for a few nights each year. I make every effort to keep neighbors informed. I go to meetings of town government committees to speak on behalf of our precinct. Over the years, I have worked hard to enhance the quality of life for Precinct 1 residents. I have fought to protect and improve our parks—especially Monmouth Park, to promote local commercial development, and to make our streets safer. I do the little things that matter, such as asking Town departments to fill potholes, clear ice and snow from paths in parks, and repair signs. When Precinct 1 residents are trying to figure out how to deal with Town Hall, I try to help them by letting them know who to call and explaining how to communicate with the various boards and commissions that make decisions that matter to the precinct.