Burlington 2026 Town Meeting Candidates: Precinct 6

Tell voters a little about your background.
20+ year resident with 3 kids who have gone through BPS for all years. Science & business background with many years of experience in management and budgeting.

Why do you want to serve on Town Meeting, or why are you seeking re-election?
Seeking reelection because it takes a few years to understand the real workings of TM. Members shouldn't stay too long, but a few terms are helpful to understand the process.

What do you see as your charge as a Town Meeting Member in your precinct?
Represent my neighbors and constituents. I tend to see too many members press their own opinions without knowing what their neighbors really want to see.

What do you see as the three biggest issues facing Burlington right now and how should Town Meeting address them?
Budget is a clear #1 — TM should pass a budget increase limit based on a fraction of inflation. #2 is new residents as TM members. The town is changing, and I generally feel that TM represents what Burlington was 10–15 years ago. #3 is accountability. TM rejected electronic voting, which made it difficult for residents to hold TM members accountable.

The high school debt exclusion vote failed last fall. What do you think happens next and what role should Town Meeting play?
BHS needs a new home. The last vote had mixed messaging and underlying currents against the school committee. I hope to see the SC return to the working level and improve at communicating the options the town is limited to.

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?
There will always be cost pressure on residents. There will also always be rising CapEx costs. Those excuses on both sides persist year after year. The town can control operating costs, but not CapEx inflation. We need to execute realistic CapEx while capping operating budgets. That may impact services, but it's time for hard decisions to be made while we still have flexibility to make them ourselves and not be forced to by our debt.

How will you solicit input from your constituents?
Being available and asking questions. Always open to email and calls as well as general conversations on a dog walk.

No response was received.

Tell voters a little about your background.
Originally from Hull, MA, I have lived in Burlington since 2017. I moved here with my wife after we both received our PhDs in Chemistry from Brown University. Since that time I have worked in the plastics industry developing products and technologies with a focus on improved durability, performance, and sustainability. I have two young children age 1 and 4. My daughter will be starting Kindergarten at Pine Glen school this fall.

Why do you want to serve on Town Meeting, or why are you seeking re-election?
I first decided to run for town meeting about a year after my daughter was born. I live just across from the Pine Glen School and there were talks at the time of closing the school. Also around that time was when the PFAS levels in the water were so high that it was recommended that nursing mothers and infants not drink the tap water. Since both of these issues hit close to home for me I wanted to find a way to become involved in the decision making process. In the end Town Meeting was the best way for me to become involved.

What do you see as your charge as a Town Meeting Member in your precinct?
As a Town Meeting Member my duty is make decisions based on what is best for my precinct and Burlington at large. When making these decisions it is also critical that I consider and respond to the feedback that I receive from members of my precinct.

What do you see as the three biggest issues facing Burlington right now and how should Town Meeting address them?
One critical issue is the housing crisis that many towns in Massachusetts are also facing. The cost of single family homes has drastically increased over the past decade. Also, in Burlington the availability of smaller, older, less expensive "starter homes" has greatly diminished as these are increasingly demolished to make way for large houses which often sell for more than a million dollars. Therefore, many people in Burlington must rely on apartment living especially if they are just starting out. If there is not sufficient apartment housing available (i.e. high demand, low supply) the rent cost will balloon and leave many of these people no option but to leave Burlington (and maybe even Massachusetts) to search for a more affordable living situation.

I have always seen it as a key function of the town to encourage the construction of more housing in a way that is smart for Burlington and that will not disrupt the established character of existing neighborhoods. That is why I have supported development of apartment buildings in the already highly commercialized areas of town which are in many cases also underutilized. For example I supported the decision to approve rezoning to allow the outdated office buildings across from 3rd Ave to be developed into apartments and commercial space similar to 3rd Ave which itself has revitalized an under utilized industrial district.

When I first moved town I lived in an apartment, and the affordable rent costs allowed me to save for a house and establish a family that has put down roots in the town. Without this opportunity I would surely have had to look elsewhere. Therefore, I know personally how important this issue can be.

Another critical issue is funding the renovation of the Burlington High School. After the resounding defeat of the debt exclusion it is clear that we will need to find a way to provide a solution which does not cause a drastic increase in taxes for Burlington residents. Nonetheless, a solution must be found soon. I believe that it is the duty of town meeting to consider the options that will be provided by the building committee and to support the option that can provide the best possible learning environment for the students.

Another issue is that, in general, large retail centers like the Burlington Mall have been on decline in the US for years as more people use online shopping. While the Burlington Mall is still performing well at this time, we must prepare for a future where this is not the case. That is why it is important for town meeting support initiatives to make it easier to redevelop the mall district when the time comes. Mixed use zoning where people can live, work and play (all within walking distance) similar to what we already have at 3rd Ave is probably the best and most feasible solution for the area when the time comes.

The high school debt exclusion vote failed last fall. What do you think happens next and what role should Town Meeting play?
See my above answer.

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?
If immediate needs are not addressed there are knock-on effects which cause rising costs anyway. For example poor quality schools could cause families to leave which would diminish the tax base and cause homeowners to lose property value. Therefore, these issues should always be addressed with the long term consequences in mind. However, care should be taken to avoid unnecessary expenditure that will provide an excessive burden to the tax payer.

How will you solicit input from your constituents?
I always answer phone calls and respond to emails in a timely manner. As my children enter the school system I am also looking forward to meeting more families in town and learning more about their interests and concerns.

No response was received.

Tell voters a little about your background.
I moved to Burlington in 2003 soon after finding work nearby in the biotech industry. I studied physics and engineering, applied that to medical research, and have worked for nearly 25 years in a series of small R&D focused companies. I've learned business and finance along the way, and now lead a company located in Burlington developing a drug and medical device to treat keratoconus, an eye disease.

My family has loved living in Burlington, and I have two children in the Burlington Public Schools. I enjoy all the business resources in town, and you'll often see me running, hiking, or biking in Burlington's open spaces and conservation areas.

Why do you want to serve on Town Meeting, or why are you seeking re-election?
I've served in Town Meeting since 2018. I ran after my neighbors asked for my opinions on the water system, and I attended all the meetings of the water study committee that resulted in the MWRA build-out. I'm still excited to represent the community on important issues that affect us all.

I served on the Zoning Bylaw review committee from when it was re-established in 2018 to 2024. I helped define its mission to advise Town Meeting while clarifying the zoning regulations and focusing changes on the good of the community. I'm most proud of helping to develop zoning changes to allow for biotech industry in town, adapting to take advantage of the changing regional economy. I served on the Fox Hill Building Committee from 2021 to 2025, when we established and defined the project. I am currently the Vice Chair of the Ways & Means committee, where I've served since 2022. Ways & Means represents the taxpayers, works with the Town Administration to develop budgets, and provides recommendations to Town Meeting. Burlington has attracted a strong commercial tax base due to its great location and has been financially well-managed for decades, and I'm committed to preparing the town to extend that success even while facing considerable economic uncertainty.

What do you see as your charge as a Town Meeting Member in your precinct?
The job is to represent my neighbors in setting priorities for our tax dollars, and in exercising the town's prerogative under Massachusetts General Law to set local bylaws. I try to keep my eyes and ears open to the needs and goals of the town residents and businesses and apply that to the process of budgeting and legislating.

Beyond that, work in committees is essential to the process. While Town Meeting has the final decision on Warrant Articles, the committees are where we work with other town employees and officials to craft the best solutions for Burlington. I've always sought to contribute where I can best complement the expertise of other town residents and employees to make Burlington as effective a community as we can be.

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

1. Budget Pressure — Burlington has a strong and growing commercial sector. We have large commercial tax revenues and an excellent bond rating. The businesses pay most of the bills, and we aren't having to make cuts and/or pass tax overrides like many nearby communities. However, it's not going to be as easy to continue this, and we need to prepare. Inflation has outpaced the state-limited property tax increases (of 2.5%), so we won't likely be able to fund every request. Prices and taxes are rising, while our local businesses face economic challenges. I've been focused on better analyzing and communicating the true costs of our town programs so we can all have the information we need to set priorities. Town Meeting needs to be familiar with those costs and benefits, to vote consistent with the priorities of the community.
2. Capital Planning — The High School debt exclusion vote showed us that we have a lot of work to do assessing our needs and finding areas of agreement well ahead of project planning. I've pushed to create a uniform process for developing plans, weighing priorities, and integrating their costs with annual budgets. The town Administration, Boards, and Committees are making a lot of progress toward that. Town Meeting needs to be involved in bringing residents' and taxpayers' wishes into the planning early and often, through committee involvement and informed voting.
3. Housing Mix — One of the things that pressures businesses and raises costs is the housing shortage that is acute in our region. Burlington has been proactive while the state has implemented the MBTA Communities Act to increase multifamily housing near public transportation and the Affordable Homes Act to allow more Accessory Dwelling Units. However, we need to represent residents' expectations for their neighborhoods and reconcile those with our needs for a vibrant community and economy. As a town meeting member, I am paying attention to these competing needs and possible solutions.

The high school debt exclusion vote failed last fall. What do you think happens next and what role should Town Meeting play?
A benefit of the debt exclusion vote is that we have a much clearer sense of spending constraints. I believe that there's consensus that the High School has deficiencies we need to address. It's also clear that it's a core town facility, larger than needed for the high school population, and serving more purposes than a high school does in many towns. That's all due to the particular history and changing demographics of the town. We need to carefully consider how we might reconfigure not just the building, but the various functions it houses. That will require a lot of collaboration. I'm supportive of broadening the discussion. I'm hopeful we can come up with a long-term plan that breaks the project into more manageable pieces. Once that's done, I'm committed to voting considering not just the merits of a project, but a clear sense that it has a higher priority than alternative projects.

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 think the message voters sent to Town Meeting through the high school debt exclusion vote is that we're expected to constrain spending. I've discussed above why today's economy makes that harder right now than it has been in the past. Town Meeting needs to discuss big plans years ahead to make sure those plans are informed by residents' expectations of cost and benefit. We need to weigh the cost of capital projects against the cost of services residents have come to expect. If Town Meeting members are less proactive, the decisions are harder later.

How will you solicit input from your constituents?
Constituents often email me to express their opinions, and often I follow up with a phone call to learn more. I welcome being contacted by my neighbors and I've learned the most at town events or just walking down the street and running into people. I find it takes some back-and-forth to understand something about the community that I didn't understand before. I hope residents feel free to reach out to me! edward.parsons@gmail.com (857) 928-9415

Tell voters a little about your background.
I have been a resident of Burlington for 17 years, currently raising 4 children who have been in and out of the public school system. I have volunteered for Girl Scouts, St Veronica's Parish, and have supported various nonprofits in town as well as having started my own nonprofit 14 years ago, The Mama Bear Effect. I come with a background in family business (food manufacturing & distribution) which has provided me with experience in financial budgeting, marketing, compliance, and communication.

Why do you want to serve on Town Meeting, or why are you seeking re-election?
I believe fiscal responsibility and consideration for the long-term impacts on town meeting decisions is key to keeping Burlington a thriving and desirable community; having watched and sat in on numerous town meetings, I am looking forward to providing insight and asking questions that will help all town meeting members cast informed votes.

What do you see as your charge as a Town Meeting Member in your precinct?
I want local residents to feel encouraged to come to me with their concerns and questions so that I can understand the variety of opinions and points of view that influence decisions that affect our community. The better we understand the positions of residents before a meeting, the stronger we can make our community with our participation as a town meeting member.

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

1. Being fiscally responsible with tax dollars; although Burlington is very fortunate to have such a large commercial tax-base, we should not take this for granted and strive to be efficient and economical to keep taxes for property owners and the commercial sector as low as possible.
2. Infrastructure — maintaining facilities, roads, and other systems and managing the cost of these projects so that we do not fall short of our needs or exceed our financial means.
3. Housing & development — Burlington is a great suburb, but with increasing development we need to focus on keeping a balance of commerce and residential projects that positively impacts the daily life of residents and appeal of our community as a place for people to call home and choose to build their families.

The high school debt exclusion vote failed last fall. What do you think happens next and what role should Town Meeting play?
Town Meeting should hold the BHS committee responsible for engaging more qualified residents in consultation over the process, more transparency to town meeting members during the process, and with clear and professional communication that doesn't resort to pressuring residents into believing that the "yes" vote is the only way they should vote.

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?
Burlington has a growing debt load and concerns regarding future estimates of commercial tax income — we have seen other communities in Massachusetts face serious debt due to overspending — forcing major cuts, we should feel nothing short of confident that our financial planning is in order when budgets are approved.

How will you solicit input from your constituents?
I am looking forward to sending out a mailer to all the residents in my precinct with my contact information and a mailing list signup so that they can be kept informed with upcoming town meeting agenda items and opportunities to communicate questions, concerns, and feedback.

Tell voters a little about your background.
I grew up in Burlington and moved back to raise my family. I have 2 kids at MSMS & BHS. Over the years I've volunteered and been involved with Girl Scouts, BPAPA, Post Grad Party and adopt-a-class. In my professional life, I have 24 years of experience working in risk management and regulatory compliance learning skills that will serve me well in Town Meeting.

Why do you want to serve on Town Meeting, or why are you seeking re-election?
I'd like to use my skills and my time to give back to the community. I bring thoughtful decision making, a collaborative approach and a commitment to transparency.

What do you see as your charge as a Town Meeting Member in your precinct?
Town Meeting is where neighbors come together to shape the future of our town. I believe in showing up prepared, asking questions and making decisions that reflect our shared values.

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 Burlington are the economic impacts of a potentially declining commercial sector (which would have an unfavorable impact on taxes for residents), the high school building project (finding a solution the community can support) and finding a way to get the information needed out to constituents so that they can be involved in projects earlier.

The high school debt exclusion vote failed last fall. What do you think happens next and what role should Town Meeting play?
Committees and sub-committees are back to the drawing board to come up with new plans. The funding piece will come before the Town Meeting and that group of engaged representatives will represent their constituents by asking good questions. The Town Meeting is a great way to spread the word far and wide on what projects are being planned.

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?
The town government is similar to a household. There is money coming in and decisions need to be made about money going out. Prioritizing can be hard. Compromises have to be made with finite resources and sometimes that means some people aren't happy.

How will you solicit input from your constituents?
I will always encourage my constituents to email me or text me any questions and concerns they have. I've learned during this campaign about new places to get the word out. Everyone knows about the Buzz which is a great place to get the word out. There's also BCAT which is very accessible on YouTube. There's the Council on Aging and also the IAB. There are many groups who host events because their members are interested and engaged and care about the community.

No response was received.