Melrose Governing Bodies Elect Their Next Leaders

MELROSE, MA — Two of the city’s most important governing bodies elected their leaders for the year earlier this week.

The City Council voted unanimously to elect Ward 4 Councilor Brad Freeman as its President during its most recent meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 13. The newly elected councilor said he is excited to lead his peers in his first term.

Freeman earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Providence College and has since built his career up to be Vice President of Government Relations for the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts. He first moved to Melrose in 2011 with his wife, Kate, and the pair started a family and now have two sons. Freeman’s history of service in Melrose also includes being on the Melrose Parks Commission and Melrose Youth Softball Board of Directors. In 2022, he also represented residents on the community panel that advised on the selection of Melrose Police Chief Kevin Faller.

“It is an exciting time for Melrose and we have a unique opportunity to build our collective future,” Freeman said.

That same night, the School Committee elected incumbent member Seamus Kelley to serve as its next Chair.

Kelley is just beginning his second term on the Committee. He earned a bachelor’s degree from The Catholic University of America and later a master’s degree in public administration from Suffolk University. His governmental resume includes time spent as a legislative director for former Governor Deval Patrick, where he had primary responsibility over all legislation and state budget matters concerning affordable housing and economic development. Kelley now works as a program manager at the Massachusetts Health Connector. Kelley and his wife, Candace, first moved to Melrose in 2016 and have raised their two daughters here, who are students in the district.

“I look forward to working together to address the needs of our students and educators,” Kelley said.

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