Town Meeting is made up of 36 members from each of the Town’s eight precincts, with each member serving overlapping, 3 year terms. That means each year, twelve Representative Town Meeting Members from each of our eight voting precincts are elected. Should a Town Meeting member resign before their three year term is complete, a replacement Town Meeting member will be elected for a one, or two year period to replace them.
Click on the links below to view the candidate’s survey. A check mark (✓ ) indicates candidates who have submitted surveys.
Three year position (vote for not more than 12)
Patricia A. Kelley | 30 Grove St | Candidate for re-election
No survey received.
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Michael McNamara | 41 Marlboro St | Candidate for re-election
| Name | Michael McNamara |
|---|---|
| I’m a candidate for: | Town Meeting |
| I am running as a: | Candidate for re-election |
| I live in: | Precinct 7 |
| I am seeking my ___ term in office: | 3rd |
| Volunteer & community activities? (optional) | Volunteer on the Precinct 1 & 7 Joint Town Meeting discussion group |
| Candidate’s Statement | As an incumbent town meeting member in Belmont’s precinct 7, I wanted to politely ask the residents of my precinct to please consider voting for me on April 5 2022. A quick list of my achieved goals this past term: As a Belmont Town Meeting Member in precinct 7, I have spoken out in favor of making all significant votes by Town Meeting be part of the public record. I feel that it is important for voters to know how their representative voted. I also spoke out for this information to be easily accessible to our residents on the town’s website. We voted and I am proud to say it passed. Additionally I have fought to increase the percent of affordable housing in the McLean development project. This is a joint project the town is doing with McLean hospital. We are working as a town to (at least) have 10% of our housing in Belmont be affordable. We worked with the Belmont Housing Trust and won changes from the developers. I am looking forward to continuing the push for more affordable housing in Belmont. |
| Your Precinct | I want to assure the residents of precinct 7 that I am working hard for you. I am pushing for our neighbor to the west, McLean hospital, to work with the Town of Belmont to create more affordable housing to help with our housing shortage. I supported and voted for aid/relief for renters (and landlords) who through no fault of their own had fallen behind due to COVID and its economic shocks. I have pushed for more transparency from our town government on voting and making sure all residents can gain acess to see how their members voted. Additionally I will continue to monitor how traffic affects our precinct and see what solutions we can achieve together. |
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Kimberley Kelsea Selness | 48 Unity Ave | Candidate for re-election
No survey received.
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Susan Rebecca Titus | 26 Livermore Rd | Candidate for re-election
No survey received.
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John F. Avilla 42 Worcester St
| Name | John Avilla |
|---|---|
| I’m a candidate for: | Town Meeting |
| I am running as a: | First-time candidate |
| I live in: | Precinct 7 |
| Volunteer & community activities? (optional) | I worked as a volunteer to build Joey’s Park. I have held signs with my family in support of the override to help rebuild the existing BHS building structure for the new and improved 7-12 BHS. |
| Candidate’s Statement | As a Belmont resident I have enjoyed the library, whether it be visiting with my wife and twin nine-year-old daughters or enjoying the quiet study spaces while working towards designations in my profession as an insurance agent. After viewing the video posted regarding the failing condition of the building by the Library Building Committee it was clear that the current state of the library is potential disaster waiting to happen. As a risk manager it was unsettling to see the multitude of issues the staff need to combat. I will focus on this issue as a town meeting member. |
| Your Precinct | Specific to Precinct 7, I would like to focus on roads and sidewalks. I walk in my precinct almost everyday and there are certain sidewalk areas that are either raised due to tree roots or uneven and broken which force me to walk in the street in certain areas. I would like to focus on these areas for myself, the elderly, and students including my daughters who will be walking to Chenery Middle School next year. |
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Kathryn A. Bowers 14 Marion Rd, #1
| Name | Kathryn Bowers |
|---|---|
| I’m a candidate for: | Town Meeting |
| I am running as a: | First-time candidate |
| I live in: | Precinct 7 |
| Candidate’s Statement | I appreciate how crucial town services are to everyday quality of life. From trees and traffic to schools and the library, I favor a common-sense, practical approach to our choices. Penny-pinching today often ends up costing more down the road. Short-term thinking often limits options and wastes precious resources. The current state of the library is a fitting example that needs to be addressed with both the current year and future of Belmont in mind. |
| Your Precinct | I would be honored to represent Precinct 7 in Town Meeting where it has been historically underrepresented. |
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Heather C. Brenhouse 42 Bacon Rd
| Name | Heather Brenhouse |
|---|---|
| I’m a candidate for: | Town Meeting |
| I am running as a: | First-time candidate |
| I live in: | Precinct 7 |
| Volunteer & community activities? (optional) | Volunteer for Yes for Belmont campaign, member of the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization, volunteer for Boston area chapter of SURJ (Showing up for Racial Justice) |
| Candidate’s Statement | I have been a Belmont resident for 13 years with two children in the Belmont schools. I was an active volunteer for the campaign to build a new high school and middle school, which leveraged a grant from the state to keep Belmont current and competitive. I will work with all Town Meeting members to ensure that our collective pride in our town will be reflected in responsible, sustainable, and transparent governance that provides equity, diversity, and forward-thinking solutions to secure the value of our homes, the education of our families, and a mutual respect for all perspectives. |
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Paul J. Griffin 9 Anis Rd
| Name | Paul Griffin |
|---|---|
| I’m a candidate for: | Town Meeting |
| I am running as a: | First-time candidate |
| I live in: | Precinct 7 |
| Volunteer & community activities? (optional) | Worked on rodent control in neighborhood using methods other than using poisons that go up the food chain. It takes a group of neighbors and the town to be effective at this. |
| Candidate’s Statement | I am recently retired and want to give back to the community. I have two children that that had a great experience going through the Belmont school and want to make sure that we continue to provide excellent education for all. I believe that having the solar panels on the new high school is extremely important as it can be paid as a capital investment that will alleviate future operating and maintenance expenses that will always be an issue with town budgets. It also contributes to moving energy use in Belmont in the right direction of being more renewables. Transparent communications with increased use of on-line capabilities are important to reach a larger audience and make sure all are able to access information and have their voices heard. |
| Your Precinct | I have provided my email information pjgriffin9@gmail.com as I think it is important for the town meeting members to do what the can to provide information from the precinct that they represent and not just their own views. |
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Susan C. Griffin 9 Anis Rd
No survey received.
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Shannyn Mary Heyer 62 Berwick St
| Name | Shannyn Heyer |
|---|---|
| I’m a candidate for: | Town Meeting |
| I am running as a: | First-time candidate |
| I live in: | Precinct 7 |
| Volunteer & community activities? (optional) | I have served as Treasurer for Parents of Belmont Dolphins for 7 years. |
| Candidate’s Statement | I am a 13 year resident of Belmont and the mother of three (4th, 5th,and 9th grade). As a Town Meeting member, I will support funding for our schools and capital investments, including construction of a new library and rink. Looking ahead, I am concerned about our heavy reliance on residential property taxes to fund Town operations. As an accountant, I want to use my skills to help identify ways to diversify our tax base and fund future investments. I will also advocate for investment in Precinct 7, where our roads and sidewalks have been ignored and pose safety risks to residents. |
| Your Precinct | Precinct 7 is often neglected when it comes to investments in roads and sidewalks. Their poor condition poses safety risks to those of us who live here. As a Town Meeting member, I will work to get the town to address the backlog in investment in our precinct. |
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Brian Edward Iler 482 School St
| Name | Brian Iler |
|---|---|
| I’m a candidate for: | Town Meeting |
| I am running as a: | First-time candidate |
| I live in: | Precinct 7 |
| Volunteer & community activities? (optional) | Pure Coat North Committee (2004-2005) town committee Soccer coach (5 years for 2 of my children) Youth programs volunteer at First Church Belmont (Unitarian Universalist) Board member of Belmont Aquatics Team swim club Belmont Election Worker |
| Candidate’s Statement | Belmont has big challenges, among them: crumbling infrastructure, maintaining & increasing diversity (of both age and race) in the face of sky-high home prices, and the moral and financial responsibility to transition to carbon-free energy. Meeting these expensive challenges with a tax base that puts the entire burden of running and improving Belmont on homeowners, pits different factions in town against each other. With sober planning, aggressive cost management and creative revenue ideas, we can keep Belmont EXCELLENT for young and old, rich and poor, black and white, red and blue. |
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Paul Joy 9 Harvard Rd
| Name | Paul Joy |
|---|---|
| I’m a candidate for: | Town Meeting |
| I am running as a: | First-time candidate |
| I live in: | Precinct 7 |
| Volunteer & community activities? (optional) | Co-Chair of Belmonts Economic Development Committee; incoming Belmont Soccer Practice Coordinator; youth basketball and soccer coach |
| Candidate’s Statement | Structural budget challenges; a student mental health crisis; potholes; failing community infrastructure like our library and skating rink; and empty storefronts—the list of challenges facing Belmont residents seems to be never ending. But at the same time we can rise to the challenge of this moment—by working together and finding innovative ways to solve these challenges. That’s why I’m running for town meeting—to help build on our work in the EDC and tie that back to larger town initiatives. To follow up the critical work of both the structural change committee and the diversity task force. And to provide a passionate voice of reason in the pursuit of our shared goals. Thank you for your support! Vote Joy! |
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Sarah E. Kirshner 16 Marion Rd, #3
| Name | Sarah Kirshner |
|---|---|
| I’m a candidate for: | Town Meeting |
| I am running as a: | First-time candidate |
| I live in: | Precinct 7 |
| Candidate’s Statement | I am a longtime resident and homeowner(24 years) and my family has been part of the Wellington, Chenery, and Belmont High communities. Our daughter attended all of these schools in the older, failing, and unsafe buildings and I am delighted that we worked toward and now have newer, safer, more sustainable facilities for Belmont’s kids.This benefits all of us. I am in favor of timely, thoughtful construction of town facilities and see the resurrection of the Underwood Pool as a great example of smart public/private partnership that will last for years to come. I am running to ensure that my part of town benefits from and is an integral part of a thriving welcoming Belmont of the future. |
| Your Precinct | My neighborhood in this precinct is densely populated, with multifamily homes, and has many issues to contend with: traffic and parking, pedestrian safety, access to public transportation, schools, and green space, sidewalks and services. I am concerned with getting this part of town equitable access to amenities and services for residents of all ages, abilities and incomes. We have a diverse neighborhood that should feel connected to and welcomed by all of Belmont. |
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John Dean Kolis 237 Washington St
No survey received.
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Paul J. Looney 406 School St
| Name | PJ Looney |
|---|---|
| I’m a candidate for: | Town Meeting |
| I am running as a: | First-time candidate |
| I live in: | Precinct 7 |
| Volunteer & community activities? (optional) | Former 2 term TMM. Vision 2020 Committee (original appointee). Youth sports coach.. Soccer, Lacrosse, Basketball. BTB Board member, Religious ED Teacher – St Josephs. |
| Candidate’s Statement | Town Government is a disaster. The BOS, Warrant Committee and School Committee are aloof and tone deaf. Town Businesses and Town employees fear retribution for speaking up. We have record vacancy rates in the Center. 358 students (8% of all) fled the Belmont Public Schools the last two years with many choosing private and parochial schools. We have a Town spending its way into bankruptcy as “stagflation” looms. As a TMM, I will focus on making sure we fund people (Police/Fire/Highway/Classroom Teachers) and critical infrastructure as a priority. I do not support an override and will not support debt exclusions unless they are significantly scaled back in scope and scale. I believe we need to be more business friendly to grow our commercial revenues. We need more liquor licenses for restaurants, extended operating hours, and live entertainment among other things. |
| Your Precinct | The biggest issue facing Precinct 7 is affordability. Soaring home prices and rents make Belmont a Town that is quickly losing its middle class roots. I will be a “Yankee” conservative on fiscal issues as every tax increase means higher rents and more “for sale” signs. The next obvious issue is the poor condition of our Roads and Sidewalks and lack of granite curbing. It feels like the 7th is and has been a low priority on this front. |
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Vitaliy B. Lvin 40 Falmouth St
| Name | Vitaliy Lvin |
|---|---|
| I’m a candidate for: | Town Meeting |
| I am running as a: | First-time candidate |
| I live in: | Precinct 7 |
| Candidate’s Statement | Belmont prides itself on being a “Town of Homes”. To me, a home is first and foremost a place for family. The expectations that families have for their municipalities are evolving, and therefore our town must evolve with them. The types of housing available and transportation options must evolve too. As a TMM, I will vote to support town services needed by our families – schools, library, senior center, etc., as well as support policies to encourage responsible development and additional, low-carbon transportation options in town. |
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Gregory Thomas Piotrowicz 10 Marlboro St, #3
| Name | Greg Piotrowicz |
|---|---|
| I’m a candidate for: | Town Meeting |
| I am running as a: | First-time candidate |
| I live in: | Precinct 7 |
| Volunteer & community activities? (optional) | Member of the Belmont Energy Committee |
| Candidate’s Statement | I’ve been a member of the town’s energy committee for the past three years and was motivated to run for town meeting to do more to help the town meet the goals established in Belmont’s Climate Action Roadmap. I believe investments in energy efficiency will reduce operating costs and save the town money in the long term. Municipal capital projects and other developments, such as McLean housing, need to meet ambitious energy standards to protect our children’s future. As a new dad, I also support maintaining the quality of our schools and making them a welcoming place for all. I’m an avid walker and would like the town to improve sidewalks and roads so pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers are safe. I appreciate Belmont’s walkability and will advocate for local business, protecting open spaces, and planting trees. |
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Fariba Safarpoor-Monfared 61 Unity Ave
| Name | Fariba S-Monfared |
|---|---|
| I’m a candidate for: | Town Meeting |
| I am running as a: | First-time candidate |
| I live in: | Precinct 7 |
| Candidate’s Statement | I’ve had the privilege of calling Belmont my home since 1998, during which time have heard and listened to many local resident’s concerns. Though I have a degree in Bachelor in Architecture, my experience in designing and coming up with solutions prepares me to come up with the best solutions for Belmont resident’s concerns. I want to make our Belmont into a “Forever” Hometown for all our residents by making Belmont affordable for all age groups so we can have a more balance ratio of our citizens. |
| Your Precinct | Repair our roads and come up with solutions with snow removals, parking and driving difficulties during the winter time. Attract more businesses to the Belmont street to increase revenue for the road repairs. |
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Kenneth M. Siskind 27 Skahan Rd
| Name | Ken Siskind |
|---|---|
| I’m a candidate for: | Town Meeting |
| I am running as a: | First-time candidate |
| I live in: | Precinct 7 |
| Candidate’s Statement | My wife and I have lived in Belmont for 30 years and our two children attended Belmont schools. I have chaired the Belmont Solid Waste and Recycling committee and coached youth soccer. My priorities are to maintain our excellent school system and a community that is affordable and welcoming to all. I support efforts to increase our Town’s climate resilience by encouraging a transition to renewable energy. I am an avid cyclist and support expanding the bike path in Belmont and efforts to make biking safer. Our library is falling apart and I support efforts to replace it. |
| Your Precinct | 7 |
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Steven Warner 66 Oxford Ave
No survey received.
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