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My focus is on results that matter. As Moderator, my top priority has been improving Town Meeting and the committees I appoint so that more of Belmont's diverse community of residents have an opportunity to participate.

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Since making Belmont my home, I’ve been involved extensively in our local town government and other organizations serving the community.

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We’ve already begun transforming Town Meeting so every voice in our community can be heard. We’re bringing in problem-solvers and opening the door to a wider range of residents on Town committees. This campaign is about lasting change—and you can be part of it.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/f4f31560-99b1-4891-ba15-383f3d64b845/b65fce65-4f38-4376-bb85-8aa47674669d/b65fce65-4f38-4376-bb85-8aa47674669d.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C34%2C1232%2C832&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="middle" alignwidth="50" variant="framed">

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TOWN ELECTION: APRIL 7, 2026

Let's keep Belmont moving forward!

Join me at one of the following events to learn more about the role of the Town Moderator, Town Meeting, the campaign, or just to chat!

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<h2 style="text-align: center;">What Does the Town Moderator Do?</h2><ul><li>The Town Moderator plays a key role in Belmont’s local democracy. The Moderator presides over Town Meeting—our town’s legislative body, made up of 288 elected Town Meeting Members along with several at-large Members.</li><li>At Town Meeting, the Moderator’s job is to run the meeting in a way that is&nbsp;fair, orderly, and respectful, making sure every Member has the opportunity to participate and that decisions are made according to clear rules and procedures. The Moderator does not decide the outcome of votes—the decisions belong entirely to Town Meeting.</li><li>Behind the scenes, the Moderator works with the Town Clerk, Town Administrator, and Select Board to prepare for each meeting. The agenda—called the Warrant—is set by the Select Board, although residents can also place articles on the agenda through Citizen’s Petition.</li><li>The Moderator also helps strengthen Town Meeting by:</li></ul>Orienting and supporting new Town Meeting MembersCommunicating clearly about upcoming meetings and proceduresAppointing qualified residents to key committees<ul><li>Committees appointed by the Moderator include:</li></ul>The&nbsp;Warrant Committee&nbsp;(the Town’s finance committee)The&nbsp;Comprehensive Capital Budget CommitteeThe&nbsp;Bylaw Review CommitteeThe&nbsp;Permanent Building Advisory CommitteeSpecial project and building committeesThese appointments help ensure that Belmont’s major financial, capital, and policy decisions are reviewed by residents with the skills and experience to do the work well.<h2>What the Moderator Does&nbsp;Not Do</h2>The Moderator’s role is about&nbsp;process and fairness—not policy or executive authority.<ul><li>The Moderator&nbsp;does not set the Town Meeting agenda.&nbsp;The Select Board sets the Warrant, except for articles submitted by Citizen’s Petition.</li><li>The Moderator&nbsp;is not part of the Select Board&nbsp;and does not serve as its advisor. The Select Board is a separate branch of town government.</li><li>The Moderator&nbsp;does not run town operations, manage staff, or make decisions about services or spending outside of Town Meeting and committee appointments.</li></ul><h2>Why This Matters</h2>Belmont’s Town Meeting works best when it is open, transparent, and run in a way that gives every Member—and every neighborhood—a voice. The Moderator’s role is to protect the integrity of that process so Town Meeting reflects the community it serves.

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"Everyone gets a chance to express their views. And they can do that without any need for the Moderator to bang the gavel. It's important to me that we listen to each other with kindness and respect."

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My campaign for re-election has only just begun. Stay tuned here for important news as the campaign develops, moving towards our next Town election on Aril 7, 2026.

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These are some of the top priorities our campaign is focused on.

Fighting for Our Community

I campaigned for hybrid Town Meeting for two years--and now it's the default. Keeping our focus on accessibility allows busy parents, those traveling for work, people with disabilities, and many seniors to participate in Town Meeting where previously they could not. We need to make sure that we have everyone's voices in our Town governance and decision-making.

Hybrid Town Meeting

As Moderator, I've created a Moderator's Advisory Committee--selected by Town Meeting Members, not me. Anyone can provide me with input at any time, but creating this committee and meeting in public with full transparency has created a way for Town Meeting to provide input on Moderator decisions and committee appointments.

Transparency &amp; Public Input

I've made it a point to reach out and find people with solid skills for committee appointments. Just one example--I've recruited residents for the Warrant Committee who know how to work with budgets and financial data in order to solve problems. It's not enough to hold the line on spending every year. We need to look for new sources of revenue and squeeze more services out of our tax dollars.

Problem-Solvers, Not Inertia

I've made it a point to recruit broadly for Moderator-appointed committees and Town Meeting. Our largely volunteer Town governance institutions work best when everyone has a seat at the table, including underrepresented members of our Belmont community. We can do so much more to improve diversity in our Town committees and Town Meeting.

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I’ve spent my life in public service, and I want to continue serving Belmont.

<img src="https://run.imgix.net/9427428c-fa92-497f-aab3-c9c5dc576459/5cd4ecb8-74b7-4213-83ad-592613425bf3/5cd4ecb8-74b7-4213-83ad-592613425bf3.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=35&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C2258%2C3010&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"><h3>I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, one of seven siblings, in a family where public service was a way of life.</h3>My father was a police officer, my parents took us to the public library every week, and my first summer jobs were with the local parks department. From an early age I learned that government matters most when it works for everyday people.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/9427428c-fa92-497f-aab3-c9c5dc576459/42818e93-cc70-49d2-b2bf-f2fa84c589c0/42818e93-cc70-49d2-b2bf-f2fa84c589c0.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1500%2C1271&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="30" variant="framed">I spent three decades in Washington, D.C., working in government finance and budgeting—first as an economist at the Bureau of Labor Statistics, then at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and ultimately for over 22 years at the White House Office of Management and Budget. In 2015, I joined the Brennan Center for Justice as a Senior Fellow, leading a major national research project on how state and local courts are funded until 2019.After moving to Belmont with my wife and son, I’ve put my experience to work locally. I’ve focused my energy on serving this community—first on the Warrant Committee, then as a Town Meeting Member, then the Belmont School Committee, and now as your Town Moderator, elected in April 2025. I have an in depth knowledge of the issues facing Belmont and I'm committed to helping Belmont reach decisions on the critical issues facing our Town Meeting and our community. My commitment is simple: to bring experience, fairness, and problem-solving to Belmont’s town government, and to keep working to make it stronger, more inclusive, and more effective.

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Please let me know what's on your mind. Fill out the form to send me a message. You also can email me directly at <a href="mailto:mike@crowley4belmont.com">mike@crowley4belmont.com</a> or phone me at (617) 752-2250.

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<img src="https://run.imgix.net/9427428c-fa92-497f-aab3-c9c5dc576459/a21d0c7a-80dd-426c-8cb7-a8cbd61a3213/ecf89cf3-5bec-4fce-90ab-dfae0db7b77b.webp?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=35&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C3106%2C4096&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="right" variant="framed">The citizen’s petition I filed for the May 2026 Annual Town Meeting has been certified. Its purpose is straightforward: to ask the Select Board to seek special legislation from the Massachusetts Legislature that would permanently authorize Belmont to hold hybrid or remote Town Meetings.Today, Belmont’s ability to meet in hybrid or remote form exists only under a temporary legislative authorization that expires in March 2027. I have spoken many times with State Senator Will Brownsberger and State Representative Dave Rogers about the need for a permanent solution. Both are supportive. The obstacle is not local support, but legislative inertia: statewide legislation to permanently authorize hybrid and remote Town Meetings has stalled.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/9427428c-fa92-497f-aab3-c9c5dc576459/450af7ff-b23c-443f-bed0-33a7bbeb58bb/9909ffd0-dc6d-4193-ab91-3fa6df069400.webp?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=35&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C3104%2C4096&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">More than 60 Massachusetts municipalities have already asked the Legislature for permanent authorization. Concord and Wayland have gone further, requesting town-specific legislation. While my petition is specific to Belmont, its broader aim is to increase pressure on the Legislature to act—whether through a statewide fix or legislation tailored to Belmont.Hybrid Town Meeting has expanded participation and strengthened local democracy. This petition is about ensuring that access is not temporary, fragile, or subject to expiration.

My certified petition for the next Annual Town Meeting asks the Select Board to seek state legislation permanently authorizing hybrid and remote Town Meetings in Belmont before the current authority expires in March 2027.

Citizen’s Petition Filed to Make Hybrid Town Meeting Permanent

Two long-time Town Meeting colleagues and residents have joined my campaign team today. Julie Schwendiman Crockett is joining as my campaign manager. Julie's assistance has been critical and invaluable during my previous campaigns for the Town Moderator's position. Naming her as my campaign chair recognizes her deep strategic and organizing skills, something I will count on during this year's campaign.Roger "Rogelio" Fussa has joined as my new Treasurer. Roger's assistance is greatly appreciated and I know that I will be leaning heavily on him in coming months both for his expertise and advice.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/9427428c-fa92-497f-aab3-c9c5dc576459/01184671-afd5-474d-a5bb-b14d03b5b60b/01184671-afd5-474d-a5bb-b14d03b5b60b.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=77%2C0%2C2782%2C2065&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="right" variant="framed">

I want to publicly recognize two long time Belmont residents and Town Meeting Members who are joining my campaign team as Campaign Manager and Treasurer. Their assistance will be invaluable as we push forward to the Town Election on April 7th.

New Campaign Team

Belmont’s Special Town Meeting concluded successfully on March 4th and 5th after two nights of vigorous debate, strong member participation, and final action on two significant zoning measures. Town Meeting approved the Belmont Center Overlay District on March 4 and, the following evening, approved the hotel overlay proposal along Concord Avenue by more than the required two-thirds margin.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;On the first night, Town Meeting voted 172-82, with 7 abstentions, to approve Article 2 creating the Belmont Center Overlay District after rejecting an effort to dismiss the measure. The proposal had been the subject of extensive discussion and strong views on both sides, but members debated the issue fully and reached a clear decision through the vote.&nbsp;&nbsp;On March 5, Town Meeting then approved Article 3, the hotel overlay proposal, by a 196-52 vote, with 8 abstentions—more than the two-thirds margin required for passage. Supporters argued that the measure could create an opportunity for new commercial activity and town revenue, while opponents raised concerns about feasibility, parking, and occupancy assumptions. After considering those arguments, Town Meeting voted to adopt the bylaw.&nbsp;&nbsp;Taken together, the two nights reflected Town Meeting at its best: members asked tough questions, debated contested proposals seriously, and made decisions through an orderly and fair process. Whatever one’s view of the articles themselves, the March 4th and 5th sessions showed Belmont’s legislative body doing the difficult work it was elected to do. Belmont's Town Meeting works.

Belmont's Town Meeting works. That's the important takeaway from our most recent Special Town Meeting. Vigorous debate on complicated zoning issues, but Town Meeting reached decisions. This is Town Meeting at its best.

Special Town Meeting Concludes Successfully After Two Nights of Serious Debate and Decisive Action

On Sunday, December 14th, I announced my intention to seek re-election as Belmont's Town Moderator. I was elected to this position in April 2025, pledging to make positive changes in Town government. We've just begun the work and have to maintain the momentum.

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I'm Running for Re-Election!

Some Town committees can fall into inertia, with too little emphasis on rigorous data analysis and real problem-solving. The Warrant Committee—Belmont’s finance committee and one I served on for several years—is a clear example and a priority for improvement.Its recommendations carry significant weight on budgets and financial issues. While members work hard and bring a great deal of talent, too often opinion has substituted for the difficult analytical work needed to guide the Town through serious financial challenges. Changing culture isn’t easy, but it’s necessary.That’s why, as Moderator, I’m committed to appointing problem-solvers—people willing to do the hard, data-driven work our finances demand. I’ve already reappointed two members with strong financial expertise and appointed three more with professional backgrounds in finance, analytics, and problem-solving. Fully transforming the committee will take time, but these changes are already making a difference.This approach extends to all Moderator-appointed committees. I’ve begun placing skilled problem-solvers on the Warrant Committee, Comprehensive Capital Budget Committee, Bylaw Review Committee, and Permanent Building Advisory Committee—and I remain committed to building the teams we need to tackle Belmont’s toughest challenges.

Problem-Solvers, Not Inertia

Join me to learn about the role of the Moderator, the progress we've made during the past year, or just to chat about the campaign.

Meet the Moderator

Join me to learn about the role of the Moderator, the progress we've made during the past year, or just to chat about the campaign.Note that the Belmont Public Libary does not endorse any candidate for public office.

I just posted at <a href="http://BloggingBelmont.com">BloggingBelmont.com</a> about why I filed a petition urging Belmont to secure a permanent authorization for hybrid and remote Town Meetings — because expanding access strengthens our local democracy.

Why I’m Pushing to Make Hybrid Town Meetings Permanent in Belmont

See the Belmont Voice article. Unfortunately, the Voice has not made their article available online. (Zoom with your browser to read the article, below.)<img src="https://run.imgix.net/9427428c-fa92-497f-aab3-c9c5dc576459/f29ba979-b90f-4470-bb4f-484a340e0d8b/b6f9b365-bbd6-420d-a92b-37b2ff3ad2b8.webp?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=35&amp;rect=35%2C40%2C3632%2C3608&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" variant="base">

A number of Citizen Petitions have been submitted for the Annual Town Meeting. Click below to see the Belmont Voice article.

Hybrid Town Meeting Citizen Petition on the Warrant for Annual Town Meeting

I’ve made it a priority to recruit broadly for Moderator-appointed committees and Town Meeting. Our largely volunteer system works best when it reflects the full range of people who live in Belmont and bring different experiences, perspectives, and life circumstances to the table.For decades, Town Meeting was dominated by a narrow slice of the community, often leaving out parents, people with disabilities, and many others with demanding schedules or different lived experiences. Participation is changing, but expanding it requires constant outreach. As Moderator, I’ve worked with community groups and spoken with residents across Belmont to encourage more people to run for Town Meeting and get involved.There is also important work to do on Town committees. In my appointments, I’ve focused on bringing in people whose voices and experiences have too often been missing, including parents and residents from underrepresented backgrounds.Building a more representative Town Meeting and committee system is ongoing work—and it’s a commitment I will continue to honor.

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I’ve campaigned hard for hybrid Town Meeting for the past two years because accessibility matters.For decades, Belmont’s Town Meeting was dominated by middle-aged homeowners, while many parents, people with disabilities, and working residents were effectively shut out. Not so long ago, Town leaders raised alarms about hybrid Town Meetings—claiming they would weaken debate, be unfair to those in the room, or even threaten the institution itself—while paying little attention to who was being excluded.That has changed. Access is now front and center, and we’ve proven that hybrid Town Meeting works.Since my election in April, I’ve run a hybrid Annual Town Meeting, a fully remote Special Town Meeting, another hybrid Special Town Meeting, and we have yet another hybrid Town Meeting scheduled for March 4. Debate has been strong, and participation has been broad—both in person and via Zoom.With today’s technology, there is no excuse for backsliding. Accessibility must remain a core value, or we risk silencing important voices in our community.Belmont is not alone. Other Massachusetts towns are moving in this direction, and the momentum is clear. Our current authority to hold hybrid meetings expires in March 2027, and I’ve been actively advocating for permanent authorization at the state level.Just as important, though, is local commitment. You have mine. I will continue pushing for hybrid Town Meetings so everyone has a real opportunity to participate and be heard.

I campaigned for hybrid Town Meeting for two years--and now it's the default. Keeping our focus on remote access to Town Meeting allows busy parents, those traveling for work, people with disabilities, and many seniors to participate in Town Meeting where previously they could not. We need to make sure that we have everyone's voices in our Town governance and decision-making.

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Last April, I set out to fix a long-standing lack of transparency in how the Town Moderator makes decisions. For years, there was little visibility into how Town Meeting was run or how members were appointed to key committees like the Warrant Committee, Capital Budget Committee, Bylaw Review Committee, and building committees.Nearly every other elected body in Belmont operates under Open Meeting Law. The Moderator traditionally did not.I changed that by creating a Moderator’s Advisory Committee that meets under Open Meeting Law and advises on Town Meeting operations and committee appointments. Its members are Town Meeting Members elected by their precincts—not chosen by the Moderator—so the advice is independent and representative.The Committee has already provided extensive input on improving Town Meeting and on committee appointments. While the Moderator isn’t bound by its recommendations, it creates something Belmont never had before: a public, transparent forum where the Moderator explains decisions and residents can see how they’re made.

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