Precinct 13 Partners for a
Sustainable Community
2026 Candidates
Michael Best, Leigha Cuniberti, Victoria Fernandez, Faiza Khan, Werner Lohe, David Mendels, and Philip Steigman
Sustainability Means:
Fiscal responsibility and a stronger commercial tax base, guided by comprehensive planning
Fully funded schools and municipal services coupled with prudent budgeting choices required in these difficult times
Fair, affordable, and transit-friendly housing for all stages of life
Moving equitably toward a Net Zero future
Safe streets for all users, pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists, from children to seniors
We see sustainability for Brookline as a threefold task,
with fiscal, housing, and climate components:
1. Fiscal responsibility required by the prospect of loss of funding that will preserve town and school programs while limiting tax increases to maintain affordability for all residents – homeowners and renters. To strengthen our commercial tax base, we need to preserve opportunities for existing businesses and also attract new and diverse enterprises, taking advantage of the opportunities presented by projects like the Washington Street complete streets redesign. At the same time, fiscal responsibility also means allocating our resources in a way that fully funds necessary programs in our good schools and maintaining infrastructure, and important public services – police, fire, libraries, parks, roads, bike lanes and sidewalks.
2. We should continue to upgrade our main streets into complete streets that are safe streets for all users. That includes our school children, seniors and other pedestrians, cyclists and others who choose active transportation. Promoting zero-emission transportation not only makes for safer streets: it not only makes our neighborhoods also our business districts more pleasant, helping our town’s business as well as reducing our carbon footprint.
3. We should encourage the kind of compact development that lowers energy use and creates opportunities for climate resilience, such as the recent changes making it easier for homeowners to add ADUs, or Accessory Dwelling Units. Brookline needs more affordable housing so our children can afford to stay in Brookline when they finish school, so our seniors can downsize and remain in Brookline and our town employees can afford to live in the tow where they work. This will not only enable fair, affordable, and transit-friendly housing that serves all stages of life but will also strengthen commercial centers and corridors while also allowing us to do our part to contribute to addressing the regional housing crisis.
We support comprehensive planning to help advance all three aspects of sustainability. Climate-friendly growth can support a stronger tax base and more housing. This must be done with care, which is why we supported Town Meeting’s recent decision to apply design standards that guard against teardowns and excessive development pressures in residential zones.
All fifteen Precinct 13 Town Meeting Members recommend you vote “YES” on the $23,250,000 override that will appear on the May 5th ballot. This will result in a 6.65% total increase to the property tax base. A “NO” vote will result in devastating cuts to schools, public safety, infrastructure, and community services. For instance, if the override does not pass:
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The Fire Department would likely close one station and/or lay off up to 20 firefighters by FY2028;
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The police hiring freeze would continue (6 positions unfilled);
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The Senior Center Medical Transit Program would end;
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DPW, tree, and library programs would face cuts;
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The schools would lay off 210 staff members; grades 4–8 instrumental music and grades 6–8 world language would be eliminated; school buses to South Brookline would be cut; and class sizes would average 30, often larger than the rooms for which they were designed.
Like many other cities and towns in Massachusetts, Brookline needs an override because we are facing a structural budget challenge driven by state law. Massachusetts Proposition 2½ caps annual property tax increases at 2.5%. But the town’s actual costs, driven by healthcare, inflation, contractual salary obligations, transportation, and special education mandates, are growing at 5 to 7% per year.
We need additional revenue to cover the gap and break the cycle of repeated overrides. One potential revenue source is commercial and mixed-use development. The Chestnut Hill West rezoning, coming before Town Meeting for vote this May, is estimated to generate $5–5.5M per year in net new tax revenue, enough on its own to close most of the annual structural gap and meaningfully reduce future override pressure. This is why all fifteen Precinct 13 Town Meeting Members support the Chestnut Hill West rezoning and why we will continue to push the Select Board to provide leadership that ensures both prudent management and new tax growth.
For further override details, please see FAQ - Yes for Brookline 2026
2026 Candidates
Michael Best
I am a Driscoll parent and have spent 20 years as a non-profit attorney, organizer and lobbyist for a more equitable economy. I spent a great decade in D.C., but came home to Massachusetts to raise our kids and put down roots in a community where I could connect my policy and politics skills to local action. I believe in finding common ground, building coalitions to get work done, and never letting the perfect be the enemy of the good. I hope I can lend those skills to our town.
Leigha Cuniberti
I have been a proud Precinct 13 resident for more than fifteen years. My husband and I have raised two teenage sons in Brookline, one of whom is a sophomore at Brookline High School and the other who is in his first year at college. I first became active in the Brookline community by volunteering in the Brookline Public Schools where I’ve served as a School Site Council member for both Runkle School and Brookline High School. Currently, I volunteer with Jewish Family and Children’s Services Visiting Moms program where I meet with and support parents who are adjusting to parenthood and may feel isolated or overwhelmed. I also serve as a Board Trustee and Co-Chair of the Social Action Committee at Temple Ohabei Shalom. I am running for Town Meeting because I’m interested in protecting our excellent schools, growing our town’s commercial tax base, and expanding housing options.
Victoria Fernandez
I moved to Brookline in December 2024, enticed by the city’s strong schools, walkability, and multiculturalism. Besides wanting to become involved in Town Meeting, I am proud to serve on the Commission for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Relations. As a humanities teacher in Hingham and someone who is both Filipino and white, I’m passionate about sharing perspectives and learning from other cultures, values that align with the diversity our community takes such pride in. My main interests in Town Meeting are housing and transportation. I support expanding housing options, including more affordable homes at a range of price points. I am also interested in improving transportation and road safety. I hope to support practical policies that keep Brookline vibrant, accessible, and welcoming to all.
Faiza Khan
Brookline has been my home since 2000, when I moved here to raise our family. My husband has been a Brookline resident since 1991. Over the past twenty-six years, our children attended the Michael Driscoll School and graduated from Brookline High School. Brookline’s public schools have played a central role in our family’s life and continue to shape my commitment to public education. I am a public-school educator and district-level administrator with more than fifteen years of experience in curriculum design, evidence-based instructional implementation, and systems-level improvement. I have been a TMM since May 2025 and have continued to learn more about our town and ways to make it better.
Werner Lohe
Over thirty years ago, I moved to Brookline with my family. Soon after we arrived, I began to work on traffic calming, an issue I felt was essential to keeping our neighborhoods livable and our kids safe. While this issue remains important to me, I believe that the most urgent challenge to livability and safety for all of us is the climate crisis. Over the last two decades, I co-founded Climate Action Brookline, served as co-chair of the Select Board’s Climate Action Committee, and now serve on Brookline’s Zero Emissions Advisory Board. I am a member, and past chair, of the Brookline Conservation Commission, and former president of the Salisbury Road-Corey Farm Neighborhood Association. A retired civil rights lawyer, I have worked in both affordable housing and fair housing: as Chair of the state Housing Appeals Committee and as General Counsel of the Boston Fair Housing Commission. I have led a number of climate initiatives in Brookline. I chaired the subcommittee that drafted Brookline’s 2012 Climate Action Plan, and I led SolarizeBrookline, a public-private partnership that resulted in more than 60 new residential solar installations in Brookline. The committee I chaired resulted in the new Driscoll School being a fossil-fuel-free, all-electric building, and I co-sponsored the warrant article in Town Meeting to require that all new construction be fossil fuel free. This requirement has formed the basis for a groundbreaking the state pilot program, in which Brookline now participates along with nine other communities. I graduated from Yale College and from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Our two daughters attended Driscoll School and graduated from BHS; I coached both of them in youth soccer for more than 10 years.
David Mendels
My wife and I are 25 year Brookliners and raised 2 amazing boys who graduated Driscoll and BHS. I have worked as a leader in the private sector as CEO of a software company, and in recent years in multiple social impact nonprofits. I am a co-Founder of ZeroCarbonMA, focused on developing smart policies for reaching our Net Zero goals in Brookline and MA; Board President of Resilient Coders where we teach low income people of color software engineering to advance racial and economic justice in the tech sector; and lastly, I work with first time entrepreneurs from Palestine and Israel to start social impact ventures and build trust in that conflicted region via my role at Our Generation Speaks.
Philip Steigman
My family and I chose Brookline because of its strong public schools, walkable neighborhoods, and deep commitment to children and families. As a parent of a Runkle 2nd grader, I see every day how much this community invests in creating places where kids can learn, explore their interests, and feel a sense of belonging. Professionally, I spent more than a decade working in Massachusetts state government on early childhood and afterschool policy. Today I work nationally with researchers, policymakers, and nonprofit leaders to strengthen the systems that support children and families. That work gives me a national perspective on what communities are doing to support schools, families, and opportunity, and what is possible when local leadership brings those ideas home. Being close to the everyday issues families face, my goal is to make local government more accessible so more residents can engage and we can have a more representative conversation about the future of our town. I’d be honored to bring that perspective to Town Meeting.
Current Town Meeting Members
Jonathan Fine
I am a lifelong resident of Brookline and a longtime resident of Precinct Thirteen. My wife and I were drawn to remain in Brookline and raise our children here because of its excellent services, the numerous diverse neighborhoods and its convenient location within the metropolitan area. Green Line access to Boston was especially attractive as I worked downtown. For over forty years, I worked in the financial services sector. I have been involved in civic affairs for many years. I am a current and longtime Town Meeting Member, former Library Trustee and a former member of the Advisory Committee. I have also been endorsed by Brookline PAX and Brookline by Design.
Anne Finkenbinder
After working for many years in Washington, DC in national and international housing and transportation policy as a Congressional staffer, a consultant and at non-profits including the German Marshall Fund and the Urban Land Institute, my family moved north to be closer to family. I’ve lived in Brookline for six years as a parent to two young children who attend Driscoll School. We settled in Brookline because I am an ardent believer in our world class public schools, and love the density and public transportation of my neighborhood. The transit oriented development I championed in my previous career has long existed here. My love of our neighborhoods and schools and my background in housing and transportation led me to join the Comprehensive Planning Committee and now to run for Town Meeting. I believe my policy experience gives me a unique perspective on how we can grow our tax base, protect our schools and support and grow all of the things that make Brookline’s character so special.
Andrew Fischer
I have lived in Brookline for 42 years, most of which time I have been a Town Meeting Member from Precinct 13. My three children grew up in Brookline and graduated BHS. My oldest daughter, Shira, is now a Town Meeting Member. I have advocated for a greener Brookline for decades. I led the fight to ensure that ground source heat pumps were included in the final design of the new Driscoll School in place of traditional fossil fuel heating systems, reducing the carbon footprint of the new building, and setting a precedent for the town. I support zoning changes limiting new natural gas lines and providing financial assistance to homeowners seeking to decarbonize their homes. I have been successful by demonstrating that while the green alternatives may initially be more costly, they are more cost effective in the long run. I have long been an advocate of Complete Streets – streets that are walkable and user friendly to all users. This means supporting Vision Zero, so that our streets are safe for school children, the elderly and all pedestrians and so that we can enjoy our neighborhood commercial centers, such as Washington Square, whether we walk, bicycle or drive. I was a strong supporter of the “Complete Streets” plan for Washington Street and worked hard not just to assure that there would be separated bike lanes to make the street safer for pedestrians and cyclists. I also was concerned that adequate parking remained available in Washington Square. I also worked to obtain a commitment from the Town and to find funding to extend the redesign of Washington Street from Washington Square and past the new Driscoll to the Brighton line. I will continue to work not just with Brookline state representative, Tommy Vitolo, but with Precinct 13’s representative, Kevin Honan, as well as with Mass. DOT officials to coordinate the reimagination of Washington Street with the City of Boston and the Commonwealth. Brookline and our neighborhood are growing and changing. Change is inevitable, but we can work to see that the change preserves the livable neighborhoods we love. I hope to continue to lead in this effort. I practiced law for forty years, primarily representing bicyclists and doing civil rights work. During my time as a lawyer, I also served several terms as president of what is now Massbike. Retired now from active practice, I continue to do some pro bono work, primarily filing amici briefs for bicycle and rail trail groups and representing climate action protestors when they are arrested.
Brian Ladd
I am an eternally hopeful Green Line rider, bicyclist, and occasional motorist. My wife and I chose Brookline as a home because of its walkability, transit access, and amenities. We were fortunate to find a Beacon Street condo that was built before decades of downzoning limited housing options, but we know that others come up short in the housing market, especially in our daughter's generation. I am a historian (Yale PhD), longtime college teacher, and author of five books on how cities are put together. I serve on the board of Brookline for Everyone and the Boston Climate Action Network. My research in urban history informs my climate activism, including my belief that Brookline should contribute to solving our regional housing crisis by finding places for new construction in transit-oriented, environmentally sensible locations. I have been a Town Meeting Member since 2023 and a member of the town’s Advisory Committee since 2025.
Kevin MacKenzie
My name is Kevin, I am a teacher in the Public Schools of Brookline, a renter, and a young professional who hopes to remain in Brookline as I advance through my career. Like many of you, I moved to the Boston area for college. I found my way to Brookline by chance, starting as a student teacher in our public school system. I quickly fell in love with Brookline and have since remained in the district, first as a paraprofessional and now as a middle school teacher. I have lived in Precinct 13 since moving to Brookline, renting a 3-bedroom apartment that I share with roommates–which is what I can afford on my teacher salary. Currently, I am one of the few members of my teaching team who lives in the town where we work, largely due to the high housing costs. Outside of my work as an educator, I serve on several committees for the Town of Brookline. I am Chair of the Commission for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Relations, which promotes belonging, supports programming that celebrates diversity in our community, and weighs in on policies that impact all members of our community. I also serve as a member of the Naming Committee, which makes recommendations on proposals for the names of public facilities. Our town faces an affordability problem for residents: both renters and owners alike struggle to afford rising housing costs, which hurts seniors, young professionals, and families. We are also in the midst of an ongoing funding problem for municipal services, including our public schools. We need town leaders who support using every tool in the toolbox to address these issues and bring meaningful relief. As a renter and public school educator, I understand these challenges because I have experienced them myself. I look forward to working together to achieve the best possible tomorrow!
Thomas Renkes
I am an attorney and urban planner by training with experience as a litigator and policymaker, but job number one for me is being a dad. My wife Courtney and I have three children, ages 6, 3, and 20 months. We moved to Brookline from Washington, D.C. in 2020 in large part because of the exceptional public school system and we are a proud Hayes family. I believe Brookline is the best possible place to raise a family and feel blessed to live here. A major reason I am running for Town Meeting is to work for better pedestrian safety infrastructure. In Precinct 13 we lack adequate crosswalks near schools, playgrounds, and transit and we endure heavy traffic without adequate traffic calming and enforcement. Brookline is such a wonderful place because we are able to enjoy the benefits of an urban core and still have the green space and single-family homes that might otherwise draw people to the outer suburbs. We have amazing opportunities to maintain and further develop our wonderfully positioned economic cores through thoughtful, transit-oriented development, while also increasing housing equity. The things I love most about Brookline are the accessibility, neighborly community, and incredible ease of access to urban and suburban amenities. Working together, we can maintain the characteristics of Brookline that make it so wonderful, while also making our community more welcoming to everyone, including new friends and neighbors. I have also been endorsed by Brookline PAX.
Paul Saner
I was drawn to our precinct 37 years ago by the Green Line’s access to Boston, walkable commercial areas, and charming neighborhoods. Our daughters graduated from Runkle and then BHS. My volunteer leadership experience includes local non-profits and Town boards such as the 2020 fiscal advisory committee. Professionally, I have had senior management positions spanning finance and human services, most recently as the Governor-appointed Commissioner for the Blind. My diverse experience has been shaped by personal change, adjusting to vision loss, as well as evolving urgent priorities – fiscal, housing, and climate – that call for comprehensive planning and action. As an avid walker with my guide dog, pedestrian safety issues throughout our precinct is another priority. My wife and I intend to age in place in our community.
Jennie Segel
I returned to my hometown of Brookline in 2014 with my husband and 2 boys (Freshman, 7th grade) after living elsewhere (Ann Arbor; NYC; Sevilla, Spain) for 20 years. After college, work experience, and having a family outside of Brookline, I understand how special this town is and how lucky I am to live here again. My children are now 14 and 12 and attend BHS and Hayes School. Their experience here is a daily reminder of why I am so passionate about our community. It is my goal to make Brookline as welcoming, well-managed, and safe as possible for all the families and individuals that are here. I’m running for Town Meeting because I believe our local government should reflect the diverse voices of its residents. In my case I am actively engaged in Brookline’s schools, participate in recreational activities, and work full-time. Town Meeting should encompass a wide range of ages and backgrounds to better serve all residents. My hope is that we continue to push for more housing alongside sustainable development, excellent schools, and better transportation infrastructure. Professionally, I work as a philanthropic advisor and consultant, partnering with nonprofit organizations to provide funding that drives positive change. Serving on the Board of the Brookline Community Foundation has given me a deep understanding of the vibrant nonprofit landscape here, as well as the leadership and network that sustain it. I’m committed to bringing that experience to Town Meeting, ensuring our policies are informed by real community needs.
Voting Information
Important Dates
Election Day: Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at Runkle School (50 Druce St, Brookline)
Early Voting: Saturday, April 25 - Friday, May 1, 2026. More information about early voting locations can be found here.
Last Day to Register: Saturday, April 25, 2026
