Get To Know Braintree Mayor Charles Kokoros

BRAINTREE, MA — Local elections in Braintree are less than a month away, and Patch is determined to help residents get to know their candidates for council, mayor and school committee.

Patch has sent candidate questionnaires to each of the candidates that will appear on the ballot in a contested race for each of those three positions.

Incumbent Mayor Charles Kokoros faces a challenge from Erin Joyce in this November's election. Find out why Kokoros is running again in 2023, and what separates him from Joyce, in his own words.

Name

Charles C. Kokoros

How old will you be as of Election Day?

58

Does your campaign have a website? If so, include the URL here.

https://www.kokorosformayor.co...

What city or town do you live in?

Braintree, Massachusetts

What office are you seeking?

Mayor of Braintree

Education.

Suffolk University BSBA Braintree High School Class of 1983

What is your occupation?

Mayor of the Town of Braintree

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

I've been happily married to my wife, Denise, for over 31 years. Together, we've had the privilege of raising our two sons, Christopher and Michael, right here in Braintree. Both of our sons attended Braintree Public Schools, where they received a quality education and formed lasting connections within the community. My wife and I are the proud grandparents of our grandson Brooks. As a family, we've been actively involved in the local community, and we are proud of the deep roots we've established here in Braintree. It's this personal connection and commitment that fuels my dedication to serving and improving Braintree for all its residents.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My wife Denise has worked in the Braintree Public Schools for over a decade and my son Christopher is a Braintree Police Officer.

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

In 2019, I was elected Mayor of Braintree. From 2008-2020 I served as the District 1 Town Councilor. (1 term as Council President). From 2003-2008 I was a member of the Board of Selectmen. (Chairman twice). Chair of Tri-Town Water Board ( 1999-2008). Water & Sewer Commission (Chair), Charter Commission, Planning Board, Fair Housing Committee, Park Commissioner, Economic Development Commission and Town Meeting Member.

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

I am seeking re-election to keep Braintree moving forward. We have made historic accomplishments in the last four years and have more to come. Just a few months into my first term, the world was thrust into chaos by the pandemic. Despite the many challenges and hardships it posed, we successfully navigated these obstacles, vaccinated our elderly at Town Hall, and have maintained Braintree's positive trajectory. We built the first new school in half a century, the new South Middle School. My goal is to continue serving our residents and keep Braintree moving forward. We have accomplished so much but we are not finished. I believe that my experience and leadership as Mayor, over the past four years, has given me the ability to continue to lead Braintree effectively.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is \_\_\_, and this is what I intend to do about it.

One of the most important issues facing Braintree is our school buildings. When I became Mayor I took a tour of all of our schools from their boiler rooms to their roofs. After assessing all of our school buildings I saw firsthand how much our schools were in disrepair. I proposed a debt exclusion to build a new South Middle School, replace roofs in our elementary schools, fund security improvements and fund a feasibility study to repair or replace Braintree High School. Additionally, I combined the town’s Facilities division with the school’s Facilities division through votes of the Town Council and School Committee. Even with all of the work that has been done, our Facilities division is just getting started. Over my next term, I want to be able to make major improvements to our elementary schools and partner with the Massachusetts School Building Authority to repair or replace Braintree High School.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

The major difference between my opponent and I in this election is experience. Over the past three decades, I have had the privilege of serving in many roles in our town government which prepared me to be your Mayor. As Mayor my team and I have made historic accomplishments and provided strong leadership. We have shown the ability to get things done even with the challenges of the pandemic and we will keep Braintree moving forward.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Responsible economic development is one of the issues at the center of my campaign. Increasing revenue is key to the long-term financial stability of Braintree. During my first term in office, we greenlit several projects, which were instrumental in driving sustainable fiscal growth. These projects encompass the transformation of Banner Park into a major movie studio campus, the successful relocation of the Integra Life Sciences Headquarters to Braintree, and the comprehensive redevelopment of Allen Street. These types of projects are key to bringing in recurring revenue. My administration will continue to actively pursue these types of development projects going forward. We will not support projects that add stress to our town’s infrastructure that we are not equipped to handle. One example of a problematic project, that I did not support as Mayor, is the ZOM housing development that proposed to build over 500 units on 9 acres of land.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

During my four-year tenure as Mayor of Braintree, I've had the privilege of leading our town through a series of formidable challenges, most notably the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. In response to the pandemic, we organized weekly food drives at Town Hall, providing essential food items to our residents. Additionally, we established a vaccine clinic at Town Hall, ensuring our elderly would have access to vaccines without the need for them to travel long distances.

Despite the financial challenges brought about by the pandemic, my administration adopted a conservative budgeting approach, while working tirelessly to attract new development to Braintree. Looking ahead, we are projecting over 11 million dollars in free cash for FY23. This significant growth in available funds attests to our commitment to sound financial management and the town's overall economic health.

My track record demonstrates my ability to effectively lead our town, and I can point to several key accomplishments during my tenure that highlight my capacity to handle this job. Some of the accomplishments I would like to highlight include completing the East Middle School renovation and addition, building the first new school in Braintree in over half a century, the new South Middle School, replacing four roofs at our elementary schools, building the new Regional Water Treatment Plant, acquiring the funds to renovate 2 JFK Memorial Dr. into a Regional Dispatch Center, renovating Braintree Fire Headquarters, converting the Foster School into the Braintree Veterans Center, redeveloping the former B.E.L.D. site on Allen Street to Watson Place, and bringing Integra Life Sciences to Braintree at 400 Wood Road.

These collective accomplishments serve as strong evidence of my ability to handle the responsibilities of this position and reflect my dedication to the well-being and financial stability of our community. I remain resolute in my commitment to working tirelessly on behalf of Braintree's residents and continuing to promote its prosperity.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

The best advice anyone has given me is to treat everyone with kindness and respect and to be there for one another. As Mayor I have witnessed this first hand in our community. The residents of our town have been there to help those in need during some very difficult and trying times. There is no better place to live than Braintree because our residents are always there for one another. We have had a number of tragedies in the last several years and the community has been there to show their support. We have had candlelight vigils, fundraising events and our town shows up every time. The people of our community display their kindness everyday and that matters.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I was raised in Braintree, attended Braintree Public Schools, fell in love, and got married here. My wife, Denise, and I opened a small business, Braintree Cleaners, together and operated it for over 31 years. This is where we raised our children, were blessed with our first grandchild, where we've shared countless memories, and built a life filled with cherished moments. I want you to know that my passion and commitment to our community have grown even stronger since taking office. I promise you that I will always do what's best for your family and mine.