The Melrose Messenger

New and Old Names Will Appear on November Municipal Ballot

By Ellen Putnam

With the deadline to pull papers for candidacy for Melrose’s November 4th municipal election now a month away, all positions on the ballot now have a declared candidate, with a mix of incumbents and new names on the current list of candidates.

Melrose will be voting for the following on the November ballot:

• City Councilors for each of the city’s seven wards, as well as four at-large City Councilors
• Three School Committee positions
• Three property tax override questions

Mayor Jen Grigoraitis was elected for a four-year term in November 2023, so the office of mayor will not be on the ballot this year.

In order to run for office, a potential candidate must obtain nomination papers (“pull papers”) by September 12th. They must then have some number of voters sign their nomination papers - usually between 25 and 50 signatures, depending on the office - and submit those signatures for certification by September 16th.

Not all of the candidates who have pulled papers so far have submitted signatures, and it is possible that some candidates may not make it onto the ballot, if they do not complete the certification process.

City Council - Ward Seats:

Each of Melrose’s seven wards has a position on the City Council, which residents of that ward vote for. All city councilors serve two-year terms.

Four city councilors have pulled papers for re-election and are so far running unopposed:

• Manjula Karamcheti for Ward 1
• Mark Garipay for Ward 4
• Kimberly Vandiver for Ward 5
• Cal Finocchiaro for Ward 6

In Ward 2, current Ward 2 City Councilor John Obremski has not yet pulled papers, and he has stated that he “is very interested in seeing Melrose move forward and still deciding on the fall election.”

Jeffrey McNaught, who represented Ward 2 on the City Council for one term, between 2019 and 2021, before stepping down, has pulled papers to return to the ballot this year.

McNaught stated that he is running again because: “I enjoy working with a group of true professionals who want to make the City the best place it can be for all of us to live, especially from a budget perspective. We’ve got a lot of work to do to save our school system, and the City budget in general. I also have two children in the Melrose School system, one starting high school this year, and one starting middle school, and I feel it’s important to have a voice and vote as to how we’re going to make all of our kids’ experiences both meaningful and effective, educationally and beyond the curriculum.”

Wards 3 and 7 will both have competitive races.

In Ward 3, Christopher Park is challenging current city councilor Robb Stewart. Park said, “I’m running for Ward 3 City Council to make sure our community’s voice is heard, especially in decisions like the override that directly impact our future. I’m committed to securing the funding our schools need, improving local services, and keeping Ward 3 the best neighborhood to live in."

Asked about his re-election campaign, Stewart said, “These are challenging times and there are a lot of critical decisions that are going to need to be made. It’s important that someone who’s been involved with the government and how it works be able to clearly explain the pluses and minuses of the override and talk quite candidly about the challenges the city is going to face if the override doesn’t pass. The work isn’t done yet.”

And in Ward 7, Alex Rodriguez is challenging current city councilor Devin Romanul. (Read our Ward 7 candidate profiles here for more on that race.)

City Council At Large:

There are four positions available for City Council At Large, and all Melrose voters can vote for up to four candidates for these positions. So far, five candidates have pulled papers for the four available seats.

Three of the candidates for City Council At Large are current city councilors: Ward Hamilton, Maya Jamaleddine, and Ryan Williams. Current City Council President Leila Migliorelli has not pulled papers, and she could not be reached for comment on whether or not she intends to run for re-election.

There are also two new candidates for City Council At Large.

Jason Chen, who currently serves on the Public Safety Facilities Advisory Committee, said of his candidacy: “As a veteran, citizen, and parent, I want to continue to serve my neighbors and Melrose community. Even in these divided times, I am optimistic about what we can do in our community. Leadership, character, decency, and humility matter more than ever. I’m running because I want to help keep Melrose on course, both in the short and long term. To that end, I would be honored to represent you as a City Councilor-at-Large. I invite you to join me and be a part of the government that you want.”

A fifth candidate, Dionysios Kaskarelis, pulled nomination papers earlier this afternoon.

School Committee:

Three of the School Committee’s six positions will be on the ballot in November. School Committee members serve four-year terms, so the other three positions on the School Committee will be up for election again in 2027.

Current School Committee Chair Dorie Withey has pulled papers for re-election, but her two colleagues who are also up for re-election - Jennifer McAndrew and Jennifer Razi-Thomas - have not.

McAndrew announced yesterday that she will not be seeking re-election. She said: “It has been an honor to serve Melrose in this capacity, but after 8 years, I feel like it’s the right time for me to step away and support new School Committee leaders. During my time on the Committee, I have strived to put our students at the center of our community’s civic decisions, no matter what. While there have been some truly challenging times for our students, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and with recent budget cuts and teacher lay-offs, they continue to inspire me with their achievements, resilience, and support for each other.”

“I will certainly continue to work hard and advocate for students right through the end of my term in January,” she went on. “Likewise, I will be an active volunteer this fall for the Yes for Melrose campaign, and I hope you will join me in talking to your local leaders and neighbors, learning more, and voting yes for this most-needed override.”

“More people should run for and serve in local government,” she concluded, “but it is also true that our civic responsibility does not begin or end with elected office. I look forward to working with many across our community, in many ways, as we continue to make progress together.”

Mayor Jen Grigoraitis said of McAndrew: “Jen McAndrew has been a stalwart voice for the students, families and employees of Melrose Public Schools. She’s someone who always does her homework and listens to learn, and I’ve been proud to serve alongside her and call her my friend.”

Former mayor Paul Brodeur added: “Jen has a passion for our community and our students that goes far beyond her service on the School Committee. Her positive impact on Melrose and the Melrose Public Schools is a tremendous example for all those who will follow.”

While McAndrew is firm in her decision not to seek re-election, Razi-Thomas is still undecided.

Razi-Thomas shared: “I am still uncertain about running for a third term and will decide by the end of August. It's been a great honor and challenge to serve on the Melrose School Committee over the last 8 years. I am fortunate to have learned so much and been surrounded by incredible colleagues during this very interesting time.”

Two new names have appeared on the list of candidates for School Committee: Sheri Leo, who currently serves on the board of The Bridge and Follow Your Art Community Studios, and Melissa Holleran.

Holleran shared: "I am running for School Committee because I see a need to support our school system and city. I believe it is important to play an active role in your community, and as a parent of two children in Melrose Public Schools, I would be honored to play a role in building a stronger Melrose."

All told, if everyone who has pulled papers so far submits the required signatures and is certified for inclusion on the ballot, less than half of the fourteen positions on the ballot will be contested. However, prospective candidates still have a month to pull papers, and an additional four days beyond that to submit signatures, so Melrose may very well see more candidates enter the race between now and mid-September.

For the most up-to-date list of candidates, visit the City of Melrose Elections Department website.

The Melrose Messenger will run candidate profiles for all of this November’s races, in addition to our ongoing coverage of the override questions. Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter and check our Election page to stay up-to-date!

Posted August 12th, 2025