In Support of Mark Garipay for Ward 4 City Councilor

It’s time for change, Ward 4. We could not be more pleased or proud to support Mark Garipay, a lifelong Melrosian who oozes pride for our city, and who is uniquely qualified to bridge the tension between new and old, change and status quo, looking ahead towards the future but
also maintaining what we love about our vibrant, engaged community.

In the nearly 12 years we have lived in Ward 4, we have seen Melrose grow and change, as more and more young professionals and families have sought to put down roots here. While change is inevitable and often necessary, we believe it is also important for a community to keep an eye to the past, and to be intentional about building on and protecting what we already cherish. No matter how the vote goes on November, our next slate of City Councilors is going to be a drastic shift from the current Board of Aldermen. While we wholeheartedly support that change, we think Mark’s perspective and ties to Melrose’s history will make him a critical voice as city government works to build a strong future for Melrose.

Mark embodies everything we love about Melrose. We first encountered him as a welcoming presence at many Melrose institutions like the Winthrop School and the Incarnation Little League fields. But it was last year, through our work on the One Melrose campaign, that we saw the depth
of his commitment to maintaining our city’s viability and vitality for years to come. Throughout the campaign, Mark was tireless in reaching a broad range of Melrose residents with very different viewpoints, experiences and demographics. He was always interested in listening and building consensus, connecting relationships he has developed over a lifetime in Melrose with friends and neighbors new to town. He was never shy, however, about taking a stand and letting everyone in his orbit know what he thought was the right choice for Melrose.

We’re proud to call Mark, his wife Andrea, and his son Tyler, our friends. We’re excited to support Mark as he commits himself to playing an active role in shaping Melrose’s bright future as Ward 4 City Councilor.

Jeff and Ani Breay