Brookline Elections: First Candidate Forum Tonight

Brookline voters will be invited to head to the polls in a couple of weeks and for those wondering how to get a better idea of who's running and what the main issues are, The Brookline Council on Aging (BrooklineCAN) is sponsoring a forum for candidates for town-wide offices today Monday, April 24 from 4-6 p.m.

Contested races in town include two seats for Board of Selectman, three seats for School Committee and four seats for the Library Board of Trustees. According to BrooklineCAN Candidates will be making some opening statements followed by questions from audience tonight and anyone is welcome to attend and ask questions.

For folks who are wondering what those roles up for election do, check out this handy election guide the Brookline Patch put together for referencing.

"We've sponsored a candidate's afternoon forever. We think it's very important for the older adults in town to get to meet the candidates on all levels, not just selectmen," said Ruthann Dobek director of the Council On Aging.

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Because the Senior Center doesn't allow candidate solicitation - or any solicitation for that matter - the forum is a chance, for seniors in town to ask candidates specifically about issues that affect older adults - from pedestrian safety to the hot button issue of what a potential tax override might mean for them. (The Board of Selectmen and School Committee have mentioned that they will have to go to the voters to ask for more money to help build a ninth elementary school and high school expansion work in the coming years as school enrollment increases).

"We're losing Nancy Daly on the Board of Selectmen, so there is an open seat rather than just incumbents, so I think this adds importance to this opportunity," said Dobek.

She said she expects about 50 to 60 seniors to attend the forum this afternoon to be held at the Senior Center, but encourages others to attend as well. "It's not just a senior event. Elections, as they say have consequences... It all starts local," she said.