Burlington 2026 Town Meeting Candidates: Precinct 1

Tell voters a little about your background.
I am an underwriter for an insurance company. I have served on Ways and Means since 2022 and Human Services since 2024. My family has lived in Burlington since 1996.

Why do you want to serve on Town Meeting, or why are you seeking re-election?
I want to serve the community I live in and provide a voice and perspective for people in my precinct.

What do you see as your charge as a Town Meeting Member in your precinct?
I want to provide a thoughtful response to questions posed to Town Meeting, as well as a perspective and sense of inclusion for residents who are unable to participate.

What do you see as the three biggest issues facing Burlington right now and how should Town Meeting address them?
Providing adequate and affordable housing for existing residents and those looking to relocate to Burlington; keeping our residential tax rate balanced by our commercial tax rate; and continuing to develop Burlington's commercial sector to remain competitive in the town's future.

The high school debt exclusion vote failed last fall. What do you think happens next and what role should Town Meeting play?
Despite the failure of the debt exclusion, I feel that the building of a new high school will continue to be a need for the town; the longer we wait to fund the project, the more it will cost in the long run. There should be a discussion about the planning and a solution found that suits the needs of the town at a cost that makes sense.

Burlington has significant capital needs — including a new high school — at a time when many residents are feeling the pressure of rising costs. How will you weigh those competing realities when voting on major expenditures?
In order to continue to be a fundamentally attractive town to live and work in, we have to be in a constant process of improvement, as well as providing the services and resources our residents have come to expect. For this to happen, we have to consider that expenditures will arise, some major, and we have to find ways to fund those projects in ways that make sense.

How will you solicit input from your constituents?
I will continue to reach out to my neighbors, town residents, and the committees and boards in Burlington to keep lines of communication open and recognize the many needs and concerns.

Tell voters a little about your background.
Chris lives in Precinct 1 with his wife and 3 children, Kennedy 7, Emerson 3 and Jackson 9 months as well as their dog Lacey. Chris was first elected to Town Meeting in the Spring of 2022 and has had perfect attendance at every Town Meeting since being elected to the position. Chris also sits on the Ways and Means Committee and is the Chair of the Education Subcommittee that reviews the Burlington Public Schools and Shawsheen Tech budgets annually as well as education warrant articles. Chris has been active in town politics including serving on the BHS Building Committee for the last 2.5 years among other things. Chris is a Special Education Administrator in a neighboring public school district and is a graduate of Endicott University, Lesley University and Bentley University.

Why do you want to serve on Town Meeting, or why are you seeking re-election?
Chris is seeking reelection to continue to be an active listener and voice for precinct 1 voters with a close eye on the budget process, warrant articles and trajectory of Burlington's future connected with its past. While growth is important for any town, Burlington must be committed to smart and sustainable growth across the town government, Burlington Public Schools, our residential and commercial sector as well as our town resources.

What do you see as your charge as a Town Meeting Member in your precinct?
While being part of the legislative process in Burlington by participating in Town Meeting and voting on warrant articles/budgets is the main purpose of a Town Meeting Member, I see my charge as also actively seeking out neighbor and precinct 1 input on topics before Town Meeting. I personally feel that my role as a Precinct 1 Town Meeting member is to be an active listener as well as being actively part of the Town Meeting debate to lift up and share the voices of Precinct 1 as topics are discussed and debated.

What do you see as the three biggest issues facing Burlington right now and how should Town Meeting address them?

1. Burlington's Aging Infrastructure — One of the most costly things facing Burlington is our aging infrastructure from our Town Buildings, Schools, Parks and Athletic Fields. While Burlington has many amenities in town, in looking at our Capital Planning, for too long we have put band-aids on infrastructure as it starts to fail rather than investing in more permanent solutions. The result is that we are now facing many large projects that will need to be strategically prioritized to not outpace what families and seniors can afford to pay in taxes while keeping up with the critical need the aging infrastructure requires. Careful attention to the budget while also focusing on the shifting landscape of our capital projects coupled with the astronomically rising cost will be a tricky balance but one we should not be afraid to continue to get town wide input from as we learn from the mistakes of the past while preparing for Burlington's future.
2. Schools — The highest driver of the Burlington Town Budget is the Burlington Public Schools and while it is a crucial investment in our children's and town's future, we need to make sure we continue to engage all stakeholders within the BPS and outside of BPS in process of supporting our schools while also understanding the budgetary process and financial needs each year.
3. Voter Engagement — As a Town Meeting Member, while I continue to actively engage with neighbors and voters in Precinct 1, it continues to be hard to engage a larger percentage of Burlington Voters in elections and articles at Town Meeting that many voters may have real opinions on. We need to continue to look at ways to reach out and share what Town Meeting is, why it is important and how voters can reach out to their town meeting members to share opinions or ask questions about the process. Making local government more accessible while creating a stronger Burlington Town Meeting for all Burlington Residents.

The high school debt exclusion vote failed last fall. What do you think happens next and what role should Town Meeting play?
While I spent 2.5 years on the BHS Building Committee searching for the most financially prudent decision and seeking compromise, advocating for neighbor/stakeholder input as well as encouraging and welcoming all citizen engagement, the vote did not go the way I had hoped. I am glad at the high voter turnout and that the town voted overwhelmingly in a direction that should pave the path forward for the BHS Project. BPS is and should continue to actively seek out MSBA funding while also looking at other creative solutions like possibly creating a joint middle/high school project which would potentially allow Pine Glen into MSMS and Pine Glen to become the Administration Space and Preschool. The School Committee should dissolve the BHS Building Committee and create a BPS Capital Projects Subcommittee that has only 2 School Committee members on the committee while adding a diverse cross section of Burlington Stakeholders to get more input on potential pathways toward alternate approaches to our aging School Infrastructure while openly discussing capital and warrant article needs of the Burlington Public Schools.

Burlington has significant capital needs — including a new high school — at a time when many residents are feeling the pressure of rising costs. How will you weigh those competing realities when voting on major expenditures?
We need to do a better job of informing the town of its aging infrastructure and reconcile that many of the band-aid solutions will not continue to work over time. We have to address our mistakes that have led to so many large projects coming to a head at the same time rather than spacing them apart and work to correct this practice in the future. This will require true citizen/voter engagement and education beyond measures tried in the past coupled with true and open transparency. Burlington needs to know what the cost of each project is, what the potential future cost will be if we do not complete a project as well as the potential emergency cost if there is a critical failure. We might want to also consider a look at our Town Budget Process as a whole to see if there are ways to better utilize free cash/unused money at the end of the budget process rather than spending those funds as part of warrant articles divided up on a percentage of remaining money per department.

How will you solicit input from your constituents?
My current and continued practice is to actively seek out input from neighbors and voters of precinct 1, welcome all forms of communications and work hard to respond to each precinct 1 voter who personally reaches out.

Tell voters a little about your background.
For over 20 years, my career has been centered around helping Burlington residents sell their homes and welcoming new families into the community. This experience has given me a unique perspective on the town—its people, its neighborhoods, and what makes Burlington such a special place to live.

Serving on Town Meeting over the years has been a true privilege, allowing me to represent and advocate for the residents of Burlington and contribute to the continued growth and success of our community.

Why do you want to serve on Town Meeting, or why are you seeking re-election?
Over the past 27 years I've proudly called Burlington home, I've seen our town evolve in ways that have brought both challenges and opportunities. Through it all, one thing has remained constant—my deep commitment to the people who make up this community.

I strongly believe that every resident deserves to be heard and that their voice matters. Serving as a Town Meeting Member allows me to bring forward the concerns, ideas, and priorities of my constituents directly to the governing body.

It's also an opportunity to play an active role in shaping the future of Burlington—a town I care deeply about and am proud to advocate for.

What do you see as your charge as a Town Meeting Member in your precinct?
To listen thoughtfully, evaluate information carefully, and deliberate respectfully; to remain open-minded and stay informed on the issues that impact our town and its residents—while always advocating for what I believe is in the greater good of the entire Burlington community.

What do you see as the three biggest issues facing Burlington right now and how should Town Meeting address them?
Two of the primary challenges facing Burlington are addressing the future of our high school and maintaining other aging town assets—all while thoughtfully managing the impact on residents. One proactive approach would be to establish dedicated reserve funds for each capital improvement project, allowing the town to better plan for and responsibly fund these investments over time.

Equally important is preserving—and ideally enhancing—the quality of services our residents rely on. As Burlington continues to grow and develop, we must strike a careful balance: supporting responsible growth without overburdening our schools, being mindful of environmental impacts, and ensuring that changes do not adversely affect our senior population.

The high school debt exclusion vote failed last fall. What do you think happens next and what role should Town Meeting play?
As we build up reserves, Town Meeting, in collaboration with the appropriate boards and committees, should explore all possible avenues of funding and ways to help defray costs for our most vulnerable residents.

Burlington has significant capital needs — including a new high school — at a time when many residents are feeling the pressure of rising costs. How will you weigh those competing realities when voting on major expenditures?
Protecting Burlington's most vulnerable residents while continuing to invest in the town's future requires a thoughtful and balanced approach. I believe that critical and essential investments—those that impact the greatest number of residents—must be prioritized. In particular, projects such as schools are vital, as they support our youngest residents during a critical phase of development that cannot be revisited, while also contributing to the strong housing values that attract new families to Burlington.

At the same time, projects that are less urgent or non-essential should be carefully evaluated and, when appropriate, deferred. Town Meeting should also consider creative funding strategies, for certain community assets, such as recreation programs, where appropriate.

Any solutions brought forward by Town Meeting—whether decided there or presented to the broader community—should reflect a fair and balanced approach to sharing the financial impact, ensuring that both corporate stakeholders and residents contribute appropriately.

How will you solicit input from your constituents?
I am deeply involved in the Burlington community and always maintain an open-door approach. I regularly connect with residents at the many local events I attend, as well as through social media, text, email, and phone.

As a local business owner, my contact information is widely available, and I always welcome the opportunity to meet and speak in person at my office.

Tell voters a little about your background.
I've been on Town Meeting for 18 years, including several years on the Ways & Means Committee as the Chair of the Schools Subcommittee. I am dedicated to researching issues, listening to input and feedback, and raising tough questions of town officials to ensure that Burlington continues to be the wonderful place where my wife and I have raised our family for the past 27 years.

Why do you want to serve on Town Meeting, or why are you seeking re-election?
I care a lot about what happens in this town. My wife and I love living in Burlington and we plan to live the rest of our lives here. During my many years serving in town government, I've worked with a lot of great people who are really trying to do the right thing for the town, and I want to continue making my contribution to that effort. I've also seen some people involved who do not have the town's best interests at heart, but rather have a vested interest or some type of personal agenda, and I want to do my part to ensure that such motives don't influence the town to move in the wrong direction.

What do you see as your charge as a Town Meeting Member in your precinct?
My job is and always has been to be available for my constituents to hear their input and to fight for what people want and to fight for what I think is best for the town. I make myself very knowledgeable about the issues that come before Town Meeting, and I try to have enlightened debate about the merits of the issues, so that we can get the best outcome possible for our town, both in the short term and over the long haul.

What do you see as the three biggest issues facing Burlington right now and how should Town Meeting address them?

1. The high school is one of the biggest issues that needs to be addressed; I think Town Meeting should create an earmarked account or fund to which we can begin to contribute funds each year so that we can start to build up capital reserves in order to afford to do the major work needed without being such a massive hit on taxpayers all at once.
2. We need to continue to invest in our aging infrastructure while being mindful of balancing our budget and keeping our tax rate modest.
3. As the nature of office space has changed over the years, we need to continue to keep our commercial property desirable for companies to want to lease, which includes maintaining the mix of amenities that are available here in town to corporate employees.

The high school debt exclusion vote failed last fall. What do you think happens next and what role should Town Meeting play?
As I said above, I think Town Meeting should create an earmarked account or fund to which we can begin to contribute funds each year so that we can start to build up capital reserves in order to afford to do the major work needed without being such a massive hit on taxpayers all at once.

Burlington has significant capital needs — including a new high school — at a time when many residents are feeling the pressure of rising costs. How will you weigh those competing realities when voting on major expenditures?
Given the current economic climate, we have to defer most optional/cosmetic projects and expenditures, focusing on critical needs that come up. And we obviously have to continue to seek out mechanisms to receive economic assistance from federal and state funding sources.

How will you solicit input from your constituents?
Whenever major issues are coming up for town government, I typically send emails out to residents to ensure that people are informed about what is going on, to share my views on the pros and cons of the given issue, and to give them an opportunity to contact me to share their thoughts and opinions. And I always include my phone number. I am always available for constituents to reach out to me, and I always make time when constituents want to discuss current topics, to share their views, or just to hear about what's going on in town.

Tell voters a little about your background.
I grew up in Dedham, MA, and just recently moved to Burlington this past fall. I am currently a civil servant working for the Dept. of Homeland Security as an auditor overseeing all the DHS components and ensure they are in compliance with federal laws and criteria. We make recommendations based on our audit finding to help improve the agency we are auditing and I believe those skills can carry over into Town Meeting.

Why do you want to serve on Town Meeting, or why are you seeking re-election?
I want to serve as a TMM because I want to be more involved in the town I see myself living in for years to come, I want to get to know the town, the residents, the issues, what works and doesn't and the needs of the town.

What do you see as your charge as a Town Meeting Member in your precinct?
Balancing the local neighborhood concerns with the long term interests of the town, whether it involves housing, development, schools, or infrastructure, etc. My charge as a Town Meeting Member is to listen to residents, stay informed, ask thoughtful and hard to answer questions, and vote responsibly to help guide Burlington's future.

What do you see as the three biggest issues facing Burlington right now and how should Town Meeting address them?

1. Traffic, congestion & transportation issues around the Burlington Mall and Route 3/I-95.
2. Housing Affordability & supply of homes.
3. Mall road rezoning.

Fixing poor road designs to reduce congestion. The town should allow multifamily or mixed-use housing where appropriate and require affordability in new developments. Overall deciding how Burlington evolves economically and physically over the next few decades has to start now.

The high school debt exclusion vote failed last fall. What do you think happens next and what role should Town Meeting play?
Burlington may need a new school, but why should the residents foot 100% of the burden without any state or federal grants and funding? TM should listen to the majority of what the town residents say and think.

Burlington has significant capital needs — including a new high school — at a time when many residents are feeling the pressure of rising costs. How will you weigh those competing realities when voting on major expenditures?
We must prioritize essential investments while also protecting taxpayers through responsible financial planning and being transparent throughout the entire process.

How will you solicit input from your constituents?
By listening to neighbors and residents and bringing those perspectives to Town Meeting and I want residents to feel comfortable reaching out with questions or concerns.

Tell voters a little about your background.
I am pleased to announce my candidacy for re-election for Burlington Town Meeting, Precinct 1. I was elected to this position in 2005 and have been honored to serve 7 terms. I have attended virtually every meeting and have always prepared thoroughly for each by reviewing the pre-packets of information sent to members, directing questions to other elected officials and town employees prior to the meetings, and most importantly soliciting input and discussing the issues with residents of my precinct. I ask you to consider my candidacy again for a Town Meeting seat in 2026.

I have been a Burlington resident for over 30 years. My wife and I decided to purchase a home here for many reasons including its geographic location, reasonable housing prices, school system, town-wide services, and an attractive tax rate. We have two children, one who graduated from Salem State University with a Nursing degree in 2018 and is currently working at Lahey Clinic and another who graduated from Westfield State University in 2021 with majors in English and Education. He is currently teaching English in the Acton-Boxboro school system. I coached many sports teams here in Burlington for both of my children and was previously a Board member of the Burlington Youth Basketball Association, as well as being heavily involved with Burlington Youth Soccer and Burlington Baseball/Softball organizations.

Why do you want to serve on Town Meeting, or why are you seeking re-election?
As a Town Meeting member, my primary areas of focus have always been supporting conservative growth in the residential and business communities, enhancing the appearance of our town, sustaining improvements in the town's infrastructure (roads, water supply, etc.), and improving education while making choices in a fiscally responsible way.

I view my Town Meeting experience as invaluable and will continue to bring enthusiasm and a fresh perspective to the position. I have the experience required to continue as an influential TM member and to represent the residents of Precinct 1. The election will be held on Saturday, April 11th. Please make every effort to participate in the process to shape Burlington's future.

What do you see as your charge as a Town Meeting Member in your precinct?
Working collaboratively with town administration/leadership, other Town Meeting colleagues, and representing my constituents (Precinct #1) as well as serving the entire population of the town of Burlington.

What do you see as the three biggest issues facing Burlington right now and how should Town Meeting address them?
The 3 biggest issues facing the Town of Burlington are:

1. Rising costs
2. Infrastructure improvements
3. Traffic

Rising costs — we need to be diligent in managing our budget while balancing the wants/needs of the residents and corporate customers that make Burlington a great community.

Aging buildings/large projects (Fox Hill, Police Station, etc.) — addressing older/outdated buildings and financially overseeing all of these within the town's operating budget while continuing to offer ALL of the services we receive here in this town. There are others that we need to consider (BHS, Pine Glen, etc.) that makes this a very challenging time here in Burlington.

It can be difficult to navigate around town (especially around commuting hours) and we need to focus on quality of roads, intersections, and entrance/egress for the residents/businesses throughout the town to continue to allow a natural flow of traffic.

The high school debt exclusion vote failed last fall. What do you think happens next and what role should Town Meeting play?
Primary focus should be on a new & improved presentation to the Mass School Building Authority (MSBA) to get approval and financial underwriting for the BHS project. While we have done a great job at managing the town budget, this project is too big to "go it alone" and the fiscally responsible way is to get the state to share in the costs of this large project. I believe that we should consider bringing in experts (consultants) who are familiar with and have been successful in getting the MSBA to approve larger projects like one at BHS. I feel that we as Town Meeting would be receptive to that approach.

Burlington has significant capital needs — including a new high school — at a time when many residents are feeling the pressure of rising costs. How will you weigh those competing realities when voting on major expenditures?
I have always felt that a "rising tide lifts all boats" and continue to believe in that. We have been very lucky to have excellent leadership and a fiscally responsible financial approach, and we need to continue to follow this path by investing in the infrastructure of the town while balancing the needs of the residents of Burlington as well as our corporate partners that operate here.

How will you solicit input from your constituents?
I have always welcomed input from members of my precinct as well as other members across town. I am available by email, phone (call or text), and I welcome the opportunity to meet face-to-face with members to discuss issues/concerns they have.

Tell voters a little about your background.
I grew up in Burlington and was active in sports and scouts. I spent many of my summers going to the park program down the street at Rahanis Park. I was a part of many of the youth sports programs and as I grew older I eventually played Varsity Football and Wrestling. I was a scout in Troop 511 where I worked my way to earning the Eagle Scout rank. You could say that Burlington shaped who I am today and I am very proud of that.

Why do you want to serve on Town Meeting, or why are you seeking re-election?
I want to play a role in helping shape the town and setting the town up for a bright future.

What do you see as your charge as a Town Meeting Member in your precinct?
Voting in the best interest of my constituents.

What do you see as the three biggest issues facing Burlington right now and how should Town Meeting address them?
I don't personally have a list of "biggest issues" that Burlington is facing. I look at things more-so in a way that has a positive outlook. The word "issues" has a negative connotation and when looking forward for the future of Burlington I see it in a positive light. There are many things to look forward to. New schools. New residential and commercial projects. Protecting the environment and ensuring a safe community that includes everyone. We can and will continue to make Burlington a town everyone can be proud of.

The high school debt exclusion vote failed last fall. What do you think happens next and what role should Town Meeting play?
I would love to know what happens next. But ultimately I don't. The town needs to take a hard look at the options and come up with an approach that works for the majority.

Burlington has significant capital needs — including a new high school — at a time when many residents are feeling the pressure of rising costs. How will you weigh those competing realities when voting on major expenditures?
I will weigh this on a case by case basis. Some things ultimately need funding but taking a hard look at that funding and voting accordingly is very important to me.

How will you solicit input from your constituents?
I will be open to hearing from the constituents in any manner they want to engage in. Whether that's email, phone, or in person.

No response was received