BROOKLINE, MA — The town election is fast approaching on Tuesday, May 5 and Public Library Trustee is one of its contested races.
Brookline Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles leading up to election day.
Amy Newell is running for Brookline Public Library Trustee.
Age
50
Position sought
Library Trustee
Party affiliation
Democrat (non-partisan election)
Family
Married, two kids who went through Brookline Public Schools, who are now adults
Education
A.B. Harvard College Comparative Religion and Women’s Studies, graduate work in computer science, also at Harvard
Occupation
Software Engineer
Previous or Current Elected Office
Town Meeting Member since 2023
Campaign Website
Why are you seeking elected office?
I’m running for library trustee because our libraries are critical democratic infrastructure and support joyful civic engagement and a well-informed electorate.
The single most-pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is __________
The single most pressing issue facing everyone in elected office is the crisis of funding in MA local government and how it intersects with the crisis of democracy we are experiencing today in the United States.
and this is what I intend to do about it.
I believe we need a flowering of civic engagement and community involvement in order to reinvigorate our democracy and that libraries are a critical location/tool/resource in this effort. The Library Board of Trustees must work with the Library Director, the Friends of the Public Library, and the Brookline Library Foundation, as well as other town administrators, to defend and to build on what the library already offers in order to support this renewal of our democratic capacities.
What are the critical differences between you and other candidates seeking this post?
As a software engineer and former engineering leader, I bring some experience in managing complex systems and teams and some tech-industry insider knowledge of how the sausage is made that inform my approach to library issues. I also am running not just because I love the library, but because libraries play a critical role in the long-game vision I have of the future of government and community here in Brookline and in the nation as a whole.
Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.
You can find a list of my issues here.
The best advice ever shared with me was __________
The best advice I ever received was from the head of my department my senior year of college, when he called me in for a meeting after I missed a number of his classes that semester (as I was completing my thesis): “90 percent of life is just showing up.”
What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I am endorsed by Progressive Brookline for the role of Library Trustee. “Amy is involved in progressive politics, has a strong progressive voting record in Town Meeting, and is dedicated to educating and engaging those around her. Amy has extensive experience in the technology space, working with large, diverse teams, and would bring her skills to the libraries of Brookline.”
See Also:
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Brookline Organization Forms In Opposition To Override
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Brookline Police Chief Gets 3-year Contract Extension
Brookline School Leaders Exploring Possible Improvements To Unique History Course
Brookline Chinese Restaurant Is Closing Its Doors This Summer
Man Facing Weapon Charges After Brookline Arrest
Brookline Chamber Of Commerce Coming To An End
Local Physician Launches Campaign For Brookline School Committee
Career Educator Launches Bid For Brookline School Committee
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