McNaught Announces Candidacy For Ward 2 Alderman

My name is Jeff McNaught and I am thrilled to announce my candidacy for Ward 2 Alderman (hopefully, soon to be termed Ward 2 City Councilor). As a third generation Melrosian who has lived here for more than three decades, I am eager to give back in a more meaningful way.

Before I mention anything about myself, I must compliment the tremendous job our current representative and Board of Aldermen President, Jennifer Lemmerman has done in this role, beginning in 2013. After all, the Board of Aldermen will be a City Council before long, and that is in large part due to President Lemmerman’s heroic efforts. She leaves behind big shoes to fill.

My wife, Katie (a lifelong Melrosian) and our two children, Riley (9 yrs., going into third grade) and Graham (5 yrs., going into kindergarten) are so fortunate to live in one of the most vibrant cities in the Commonwealth. Our children are both attending Horace Mann Elementary School. Just two years ago, my daughter sat in the very same kindergarten classroom as her mother did. That’s special. My children being able to play in the same Melrose Little League that I grew up playing in – that’s special too.

Melrose is a city built on traditions, but it is also a city accepting of change. It’s a strong community. People come home after stretches of time away for a reason. It’s like one big neighborhood (as many out of town friends have remarked to me). We have a phenomenal school system (that I am proud to have gone through) that is only going to improve with the recent passage of the override. And our thriving downtown only seems to be getting better – where our local business owners and residents exchange great loyalty.

My parents, Jerry and June grew up in Melrose and raised four children here. My dad coached little league baseball for many years, and my mom helped both Lewis Monk and Morelli Field run operationally. My mom also worked at the Melrose-Wakefield Hospital, starting out in the maternity ward, where she handwrote the birth certificates of many Melrosians in calligraphy, and then worked directly for Dr. Morelli. My uncle was the city solicitor for almost ten years during former Mayor Milano’s tenure. Both he and my dad worked out of downtown Melrose for many years, running a family law firm. My father-in-law was a Melrose Firefighter for 30 years, and my mother-in-law and her family are also lifelong Melrosians.

Upon graduating from New England School of Law, I was fortunate to work in our family law firm for a few years. Currently, I am the Senior Director of Student Affairs at Harvard Law School, and although I’m an attorney by trade, my strongest passion is delivering high level customer service, as I do to the students we support. Making students and people feel empowered and heard is very important to me. Being on the Board of Aldermen, to me, is providing a service to the residents of Melrose. You deserve the very best from your elected officials. That includes honesty, communication, transparency, listening, and empathy. I promise to deliver on all five, and to vote in favor of fiscal responsibility.

The future of Melrose is bright. It’s important to me, and it’s exciting. I look forward to meeting you in the months ahead to ask for your vote on November 5, 2019.