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.
Three year position (vote for not more than 12)
Click on the links below to view the candidate’s survey. A check mark (✓ ) indicates candidates who have submitted surveys.
Arto N. Asadoorian | 40 Slade St | Candidate for re-election
No survey received
Kristen R. Bell | 121 Slade St | Candidate for re-election
| Name | Kristen Bell |
|---|---|
| kristen.rose.bell@gmail.com | |
| I’m a candidate for: | Town Meeting |
| I am running as a: | Candidate for re-election |
| I live in: | Precinct 5 |
| I am seeking my ___ term in office: | 2nd |
| Volunteer & community activities? (optional) | Kids’ Church minister at New Roads Catholic Community Equity Team at Wellington Elementary School Participant in BPS Equity Audit |
| Candidate’s Statement | I have been working in the Belmont Public Schools for over ten years. The schools are an important part of our community. In recent years, I have been active in the work of my school’s Equity Team. We work to celebrate the diversity of our school community and create equitable learning environments for all students. As a Town Meeting Member I have a unique perspective on how the schools fit into the larger financial needs of the town. If reelected, I will continue to listen to community members to understand how I can best represent our interests. |
Mary Bradley | 12 Leslie Rd | Candidate for re-election
| Name | Mary Bradley |
|---|---|
| madagaluna@gmail.com | |
| I’m a candidate for: | Town Meeting |
| I am running as a: | Candidate for re-election |
| I live in: | Precinct 5 |
| I am seeking my ___ term in office: | 3rd |
| Volunteer & community activities? (optional) | 2018- Present Founder Belmont Porchfest (Join our team!! BelmontPorchfest.com / BelmontPorchfest@gmail.com) 2014- Present Belmont Dolphins PODS (Board) Award Ceremony organizer 2016-2021 Belmont Recreation Commission |
| Candidate’s Statement | Transparency is essential. As a TMM and a former Recreation Commission member, I have insight into areas in town government which would benefit from more transparency. I introduced an article at TM to collect and publish TMM votes which started a conversation which eventually lead to TMM votes being recorded and published at bit.ly/TMMVotes Now I am focusing on the CPC process. TMMs learn about CPA projects when the warrant is published. Community members are unaware of conversations shaping projects paid for, in part, by their taxes. Stakeholders have been left out of conversations. We saw this with the WinnBrook tennis courts. In the upcoming warrant Friends of Payson Park will be requesting over $1 million but did not include a known stakeholder in the conversation. To do these projects separately will waste time and money ($40K for an addition design + all the lost synergies). I’m advocating for a CPA webpage to foster community participation, provide stakeholders with essential information and to provide TMMs with timely information. |
| Your Precinct | Precinct 5 is fortunate to have Town Field but a recent trend to rent out the space to groups has the potential to infringe on community use. To date, this is not a problem, however I will be watching this trend and I will stand to protect Town Field and all the parks for the tax payers who fund them. |
Janice M. Ellard 12 Horace Rd Candidate for re-election
No survey received
Judith D. Feins 71 Bay State Rd Candidate for re-election
| Name | Judith Feins |
|---|---|
| bell.feins@verizon.net | |
| I’m a candidate for: | Town Meeting |
| I am running as a: | Candidate for re-election |
| I live in: | Precinct 5 |
| I am seeking my ___ term in office: | 7th |
| Volunteer & community activities? (optional) | Fair Housing Committee, Human Rights Commission, Town Meeting, CPA campaign, Committee to Study the Number of Selectmen, Housing Trust |
| Candidate’s Statement | Belmont‘s housing planning is bearing fruit at McLean in flats and townhouses for seniors and apartments for families of all kinds, a mix of affordable and market-rate units. As a member of the Housing Trust, I helped make this happen, which brings us nearer “safe harbor” status, giving Belmont more control over 40B and other developments. There are significant opportunities to bring new housing and residents, which would increase the vitality of our local economy. Mixed-use developments could add modern commercial space, sorely lacking now. I will continue working for Belmont to make use of these opportunities, while being attentive to the challenges of change here. I’ve supported the library’s movement toward a new building we can afford, one which will continue to serve the entire community–and provide an even greater variety of activities–while being accessible to all. I will continue to support greater diversity and inclusion in all aspects of Town affairs. And I will work to help residents regain trust in local government. As a Town Meeting member, I am committed to seeking and serving the good of all Belmont. Precinct 5 neighbors, I ask for your vote on Election Day, April 5. |
| Your Precinct | As the Town slowly addresses the deteriorated condition of our streets, I will work for improved communication with the DPW. |
Travis R. Franck 45 Horace Rd Candidate for re-election
| Name | Travis Franck |
|---|---|
| Travis.bemont@tralver.net | |
| I’m a candidate for: | Town Meeting |
| I am running as a: | Candidate for re-election |
| I live in: | Precinct 5 |
| I am seeking my ___ term in office: | 3rd |
| Volunteer & community activities? (optional) | Library Volunteer at Wellington, Energy Committee, Structural Change Impact Group committee, Light Board Advisory Committee, former Belmont Soccer coach, former Belmont Goes Solar organizer. |
| Candidate’s Statement | I’ve been volunteering for Belmont committees for over five years. As the Chair of the Structural Change Impact Group, I have led a talented group of residents to examine Belmont’s financial problems. The process has been open and participatory – gathering input from the community and town employees. We’re identifying many opportunities for Belmont to reduce costs and increase revenues. My family has lived in town for over a decade and attends the schools. I will represent my neighbors in an honest and open manner. |
| Your Precinct | Supporting Town Field renovations. |
Matthew Garver 33 Homer Rd Candidate for re-election
No survey received
Benjamin Montgomery 51 Horne Rd Candidate for re-election
No survey received
Azra Nelson 26 Vincent Ave Candidate for re-election
No survey received
John Walter Pollock 383 Common St Candidate for re-election
No survey received
Andres T. Rojas 72 Drew Rd Candidate for re-election
| Name | Andres Rojas |
|---|---|
| andy@rojasdesigninc.com | |
| I’m a candidate for: | Town Meeting |
| I am running as a: | Candidate for re-election |
| I live in: | Precinct 5 |
| I am seeking my ___ term in office: | 4th |
| Volunteer & community activities? (optional) | Former Planning Board Vice-Chair (9 years total on the board). Former Select Board Member & Chair (3 years total). I have served on many other Belmont committees and advisory groups including the Community Preservation Committee, the Shade Tree Committee, Capital Project Overview Committee, Belmont Center Project Design, the Economic Development Advisory Committee, among several others. Have lived in Belmont since 1992 and have coached youth basketball, little league, and other youth sports. I am also currently volunteering my services to the Belmont Women’s Club in an effort to develop sustainable building and site improvements for the future. |
| Candidate’s Statement | My focused attention is directed at finding ways to control Belmont’s residential property taxes so that long-time residents can afford to stay in Town and we can attract more economically diverse new residents. I have been involved in many of the important capital projects (private and public) that have been developed in Belmont over the past 15 years. This experience allows me to understand the effects of the high tax rates and the need for expanded commercial development to offset the largely residential (approx. 95%) tax base and rate. The currently diminished business conditions in Belmont Center and Cushing Square are a troubling development that must be addressed through targeted programs to make these centers attractive to solid businesses that will enhance community life. The empty storefronts in Belmont Center and the ongoing struggles with the retail components at The Bradford in Cushing Square do not provide a positive economic outlook for these vital commercial centers. |
| Your Precinct | My statement above is directly applicable to the concerns of my fellow residents in Precinct 5. Expanding commercial opportunities in our Town centers and focusing on ways to mitigate the high residential tax rate affects every resident of Precinct 5 and the Town in general. My planning, management, and development experience will be brought to bear on the many issues affecting our Precinct. I will continue to work hard to address the current and future needs of our Precinct. |
Barry Gaiman | 53 Winslow Rd
No survey received
Catherine A. Umina | 14 Benjamin Rd
No survey received