Brookline Town Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026

Suzanne Federspiel is an incumbent member of the Brookline School Committee, having served for nine years, including terms as Chair and Vice Chair. She brings over 30 years of experience in education, working as a special educator, literacy coach, and elementary school principal. Federspiel is also a volunteer literacy tutor and a Special Education Surrogate Parent.

Priorities: Fiscal stewardship and responsibilities with long-term planning · Staff professional development and effective evaluations · Racial justice and equity as a central focus of decision-making

Faiza Khan is a public-school educator and district-level administrator with over fifteen years of experience, currently serving as the Director of Mathematics for Medford Public Schools. A Brookline resident since 2000 and a parent of four Brookline school graduates, she holds a Doctor of Education and a Master of Business Administration. Khan is a candidate for the Brookline School Committee.

Priorities: Upholding high academic expectations and advocating for challenging, standards-aligned instruction with appropriate supports so every student can succeed. · Promoting fiscal transparency, thoughtful budget decisions, and collaboration among families, educators, and municipal partners to sustainably support student needs. · Advancing educationally sound, fiscally responsible policies guided by long-range planning through constructive and collaborative school governance.

Laura Baines-Walsh is an educator with a PhD in American History from Boston College, a parent in the Brookline school district, and an elected Town Meeting Member since 2019. She is running for the Brookline School Committee, bringing her experience as a teacher and her commitment to public service to the role. She emphasizes an evidence-based approach to decision-making, focusing on student support and academic rig

Priorities: Clear educational goals and benchmarks, including a rigorous curriculum and appropriate leveled classes · Technology policies to reduce distraction and promote healthy use of digital tools · A stronger middle school experience with robust academics and extracurricular opportunities

Aylit Schultz is a physician and a Brookline Town Meeting member, having served since 2025. A resident of Brookline for over 20 years and a parent of four children who attended local schools, she is making her first run for School Committee. Schultz brings experience as a nephrologist, nonprofit leader, and a parent, including a child with special needs, to her campaign.

Priorities: Financial management and structural changes to address district costs and revenues · Supporting academic excellence and ensuring high-quality schooling for all students · Developing a strategic plan and updating policies related to technology use

John VanScoyoc is a Select Board member in Brookline, Massachusetts, first elected in 2020. A retired journalist, he has served multiple terms on the board, focusing on local issues and community engagement. He has also been a Town Meeting and Advisory Committee member.

Priorities: Implementing local measures to end the burning of fossil fuels · Budgeting strategically to minimize overrides and exploring revenue alternatives

Amanda Zimmerman is a candidate for Brookline Select Board, bringing experience as an elected Town Meeting Member and co-founder of the housing advocacy group Brookline for Everyone. With a Ph.D. in bioengineering, she has also served on town committees including the Open Space and Recreation Planning Committee and the Bicycle Advisory Committee.

Priorities: Housing affordability · Safe streets for all residents · Climate change

Anthony Buono is a candidate for the Brookline Select Board. He has served multiple years in Town Meeting, on the Advisory Committee, and as the Town Meeting Member Association President. A Boston University alum with an M.A. in Mathematics and Statistics, he was elected to Brookline Town Meeting in 2022, becoming its youngest member at the time.

Priorities: Maintaining Brookline's fiscal health and creditworthiness · Expanding the tax base through strategic commercial and residential development · Improving roadway infrastructure for the safety of all users, with economic impact oversight