New Candidate For Melrose Mayor Announces Campaign

The following was submitted by The Committee to Elect Jackie Lavender Bird:

Jackie Lavender Bird announced the launch of her campaign to be the next Mayor of Melrose. A former Alderman-at Large and currently serving on the executive leadership team at Melrose City Hall, Jackie made her decision to run for the city’s top office with a clear understanding of what it will take to do the job well. At a time when expectations for government transparency and accountability run high, Jackie’s bold vision for Melrose along with her unique on-the-job experience will allow her to lead Melrose forward on day one.

As the Director of Community Services & City Operations for the City of Melrose, Jackie’s main focus this year has been to stabilize the city’s budget. “Melrose was at a fiscal breaking point last year, and I worked closely with the mayor, other city leaders, and the community to find a way forward. Now that our fiscal year 2020 city budget is set, I am turning my attention to running for Mayor.”

At the request of Mayor Gail Infurna, Jackie is managing the transition of her position’s responsibilities through the end of June after which she will turn to her campaign full time.

“Melrose residents have a major decision to make this fall in choosing their next city leader; I am looking forward to talking with residents about our shared values and priorities.”

Jackie has developed her vision for Melrose by experiencing it first hand as a city leader, in our schools, as a taxpayer, and as a life-long resident of this evolving community. While deeply proud of Melrose, Jackie is clear that we can and must do better. “We are an incredible community,” she says, “but there is significant room for improvement. I believe my track record in this city for strong leadership and proven results will move us forward to realize our tremendous potential.”

Once in office, Jackie’s top priorities will be to strengthen our public schools, ensure strong and accountable fiscal management, and lead stakeholders through a decision making process regarding public safety buildings and resources. “I have been fortunate enough to work with all facets of the city and the Melrose community to build consensus on challenging issues and to make a pathway forward. With so much opportunity within reach, I am ready to do the hard work ahead and will hit the ground running as our city’s next Mayor.”

Jackie looks forward to connecting with Melrose residents through her campaign, talking about issues most important to them, and continuing to build a shared vision for the future of our city.