Here’s Who’s Running for Public Office

February 24, 2025
• Civic engagement is coursing through Needham ahead of the April 8 election. Dozens of Needham residents pulled papers to run for town-wide office.

The deadline to return the required signatures — 50 for public office, 10 for Town Meeting — was Tuesday, Feb. 18.

As the town clerk’s office continues to certify names on the ballot, here’s where the races stand:

Select Board Vice Chair Heidi Frail will defend her seat against Vikram Kaul. Select Board terms are three years, and Frail is currently serving her first term.

The race for School Committee looks to be the most contentious, as seven candidates will vie for three seats. Longtime committee member Connie Barr, first-term member Alisa Skatrud and Andrea Longo Carter — who has served since 2015 — are all running for reelection. Their challengers include Sri Devi Baqri, Scott Marder, Leanne Ratti and Kara-Anne Albert.

Over the last year, the School Committee has confronted a number of challenges, including a nearly $2.5 million budget shortfall, chronic absenteeism, student mental health and a potential new literacy program that provoked skepticism and discussion.

Planning Board member Paul Alpert chose not to seek reelection, leaving his five-year seat open to two candidates: Eric Greenberg and Kenneth Buckley.

Barbara McDonald and Geoffrey Engler are seeking one open five-year position on the Needham Housing Authority, which oversees affordable housing units.

The Board of Health, Needham Public Library Trustees and Park and Recreation Commission are also all contested.

Tejal Gandhi and Stephen Epstein of the Board of Health are running for another three-year term against Khristy Thompson. The Board of Health recently adopted a nicotine ban for those born after 2003 and would be responsible — with the Public Health Division — for enforcing a proposed ban on plastics and partial ban on leaf blowers, both of which are on the Town Meeting warrant.

Town Clerk Louise Miller, in her first term in the role, is running uncontested, as is longtime Moderator Michael Fee.

It appears all but one Town Meeting precinct race is also contested, with as many as 14 people running for eight seats.

A full list of the candidates is available on the town clerk’s website. Election Day is Tuesday, April 8.

The Needham Channel’s Municipal Producer, Yuxiao Yuan, spoke with Town Clerk Louise Miller about the uptick of interest in running for town offices. You can watch that report below.