Braintree Preliminary Election: Polling Locations, Candidates

BRAINTREE, MA — Election season has arrived in Braintree. Before the candidates for Town Council, School Committee and other town positions are voted on, Braintree will hold a preliminary election Tuesday to narrow down a field of four mayoral candidates to two before the the town election on Nov. 5.

With Mayor Joseph Sullivan not seeking re-election, four candidates have emerged. Here's a little bit about each of the candidates.

Thomas Bowes

District 3 Town Councilor Bowes said the most important issue facing Braintree is the challenges of rezoning while also maintaining the neighborhood character of the town.

"As Braintree continues to grow, our most prominent issue relates to rezoning," Bowes said in a Patch candidate profile. "As Town Councilor, I have already advocated to withdraw the proposed Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance. It quickly became evident that this would not be best for our residents. It is critical to maintain the sense of community that has kept our town such a desirable place to call home. As mayor, I will continue to gather the input of our residents as we ensure smart growth that will not harm our neighborhoods."

Read full profile here.

Lisa Fiske Heger

School Committee chair Heger said the most important issue facing Braintree is the need to develop a vision for the town. She told Patch in a candidate profile that the town needs leadership that can identify what needs to be done in the next year to put Braintree on a path towards long term goals.

"If elected, I would engage with our community to determine where we all want Braintree to be in five or 10 years," Heger said in a Patch candidate profile. "I would then work with town leadership to create a plan with measurable goals and milestones to both ensure that we achieve our vision and to create greater accountability to residents."

Read full profile here.

Thomas Reynolds Jr.

Electric Light Board chair Reynolds said the most important issue facing Braintree is how the town goes about upgrading aging infrastructure without creating an additional burden on the taxpayer or cutting the level of service.

"Our schools have always been a priority and the level of education offered to our children," Reynolds said in a Patch candidate profile. "The ability of the next mayor to balance the cost of maintaining the quality of our educational programs while at the same time, managing to provide revenues to address the aging town water treatment plant, a outdated fire department headquarters and a rundown DPW facility are just a few of the high cost upgrades to our infrastructure and the significant challenge they pose to all of us in Braintree."

Read full profile here.

Charles Kokoros

District 1 Councilor Kokoros said the most pressing issues facing Braintree are the proposed 40R high-density residential development and comprehensive rezone plan. He advocates a master plan being done before any changes to zoning are made and said he wants Braintree to maintain its "small-town character and sense of community"

"Both issues are incredibly concerning to our citizens," Kokoros said in a Patch candidate profile. " As mayor, I will withdraw the comprehensive zoning proposal and continue my support in funding a new master plan."

Read full profile here.

Polling Hours

The polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday

Where To Vote

Braintree divides its polling locations into 12 locations based on where in town residents live. Check out this map to find out your polling precinct:

After checking the map for your precinct, report to your polling location Tuesday and cast your vote in the preliminary election.

Precinct 1A: Marge Crispin Center, 74 Pond St.
Precinct 1B - Mary E. Flaherty School, 99 Lakeside Drive.
Precinct 2A - N. Eugene Hollis School, 482 Washington St.
Precinct 2B - Saint Thomas More Parish Hall, 7 Hawthorn Road.
Precinct 3A - Donald E. Ross School, 20 Hayward St.
Precinct 3B – Braintree Yacht Club, 9 Gordon Road.
Precinct 4A - Elder Affairs Building, 71 Cleveland Ave.
Precinct 4B - Archie T. Morrison School, 268 Liberty St.
Precinct 5A - Town Hall, 1 JFK Memorial Drive.
Precinct 5B - Liberty School, 49 Proctor Road
Precinct 6A - South Middle School, 232 Peach St.
Precinct 6B - Highlands School , 144 Wildwood Ave.