The Lincoln Squirrel – News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

elections

My Turn: Callow asks for votes for School Committee

(Editor’s note: Callow is running unopposed for one of the seats on the School Committee. See the full slate.)

By Jessica Callow

My name is Jessica Callow and I am pleased to announce my candidacy for the Lincoln School Committee. I have been a Lincoln resident for nearly 13 years, and my husband Dane and I are raising two children currently in the seventh and fourth grades. As a parent deeply invested in our district, I care profoundly about the strength, inclusivity, and future of our schools.  
 
Over the years, I have been actively involved in our community, serving on board at Lincoln Nursery School for five years, Codman Farm for three years, and most recently the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) since its reactivation in 2023 after years of inactivity. Through SEPAC, I have worked alongside families and district leaders to advocate for students with disabilities and to strengthen communication and collaboration.
 
I have a unique perspective to bring to the School Committee, most notably having a child in district and one who has received out-of-district services for the majority of his elementary education. These experiences have given me a deeper understanding of the varied paths students may take and the importance of ensuring every child feels supported and seen. Recently, I completed the Parent Consulting Training Institute at the Federation for Children with Special Needs, broadening my advocacy skills for neurodiverse learners and students with special needs. This experience deepened my understanding of special education law, collaboration, and systems-level thinking.
 
In addition to my advocacy work, I care deeply about maintaining Lincoln’s tradition of academic excellence while ensuring our schools are financially responsible and sustainable for the long term. I am committed to supporting all learners, strengthening social-emotional and tiered supports within general education, and working collaboratively to ensure our schools remain academically strong, fiscally responsible, and responsive to families. I believe in listening carefully to diverse perspectives with the goal of a shared path forward. I support instructional approaches that foster critical thinking, collaboration, and meaningful real-world learning experiences for students. I look forward to listening, learning, and serving Lincoln in this role and welcome you to reach out and connect.

Jessica Callow
8 Brooks Hill Road
jessicabcallow@gmail.com

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnians. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

One contested seat in upcoming town election

The only contested seat in the town election on March 30, 2026 is on the Parks and Recreation Commission. David Onigman is currently a Parks & Rec member but not technically an incumbent, since he was  appointed to the seat. He’s running against newcomer Hilary Dionne.

Rachel Marie Schachter is not running again for Trustees of Bemis Fund and no one has filed to run for her seat. On Election Day, voters may write in a candidate for that position, and whoever gets the most write-in votes will be elected, assuming the candidate is qualified and willing to serve. This last occurred in 2024 when Commissioner of Trust Funds incumbent Donald Collins did not file papers for reelection but was re-elected as a write-in candidate.

BOARD/COMMITTEECANDIDATES
Board of Assessors (one seat)Ellen Meadors*
Board of Health (one seat)Frederick L. Mansfield*
Cemetery Commission (one seat)Manley Boyce*
Commissioner of Trust Funds (one seat)D. Paul Fitzgerald*
LSRHS School Committee (two seats)Ravi Simon, Sudbury*
Jason McLure, Lincoln
Moderator (one seat)Andrew Payne
Parks and Recreation Committee (one seat)Hilary Dionne
David Onigman (see above)
Planning Board (two seats)Lynn DeLisi*
Setha Margaret Olson
School Committee (three years)Matina Madrick*
School Committee (three years)Thomas Nickerson
School Committee (one year)Jessica Callow
Select BoardKim Bodnar*
Trustees of Bemis FundNone (see above)
Water CommissionMatthew Bio*

* running for re-election

My Turn: McCLure is running for L-S School Committee

By Jason McClure

I want to announce that I’m running for Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Committee to succeed Lucy Maulsby, who is stepping down after three years of thoughtful and dedicated service to the school and our community.

For those who don’t know me, I’ll share a bit of my background. My wife Tessa and I moved to Lincoln in 2022 from St. Louis and have two children at L-S. The high school was a major factor in our decision to live in the area, and I am heavily invested in its success.

While here, I’ve been involved in Lincoln Youth Soccer, First Parish Teen Service Committee, L-S Graduation Late Night and the Lincoln School promotion committee, which helped restore the D.C. trip for Lincoln’s eighth-graders.

You might have also seen me marching in the Lincoln Fourth of July parade with the Lincoln Minutemen, flipping burgers at L-S football games, or chasing fly balls in the Lincoln Co-ed Softball League.

Professionally, I’m a journalist for a nonprofit investigative news outlet that covers global health. Previously, I worked for Bloomberg News, Reuters and a number of other media organizations. I also taught journalism for six years at the University of Missouri.

I believe that L-S is an amazing school, and I want to help sustain its momentum. If elected, my priorities would be to:

  • Support L-S’s diverse course offerings that allow our teachers to teach classes they’re passionate about and give our students course options that rival those at many colleges.
  • Bolster initiatives that foster community at L-S among students of different grades and backgrounds.
  • Aid the school committee’s commitment to transparency and open communication with staff, parents, students and the community.
  • Work to keep the L-S Regional School District on a sound financial footing.

The district faces challenges that will require careful planning. The school’s roof requires a major repair or replacement that will likely necessitate a new bond issue. Federal funding for our special education programs is uncertain due to changes in Washington, D.C. Like many public schools, L-S’s enrollment has been gradually declining, necessitating spending and staffing adjustments.

If elected, I’m committed to addressing such issues with the long-term health of our high school in mind ­– while remaining mindful of the growth of property taxes.

I’ll work to continue the current committee’s record of collaboration, respect for differing viewpoints and reasoned debate. Finally, I’m eager to hear your thoughts on how we can improve our school and how the committee can better serve the community.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at  jmclure@yahoo.com. I would be grateful for your support at the polls on Monday, March 30.

Jason McClure
191 Concord Road, Lincoln

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnians. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Nicholson won’t run again for Planning Board

Editor’s note: On January 19, a sentence was added to make clear that there are two openings on the Planning Board in the upcoming election. 

Incumbent Craig Nicholson has said he will not run for reelection, so unless another candidate files, Margaret Olson will regain the seat she lost in 2025.

“Between family commitments, work responsibilities, and my desire to focus my attention on ensuring a successful relocation of the Codman Community Farm store, the year ahead is shaping up to be a very full one. Given that, I don’t feel I would be able to dedicate the time and energy that effective service on the Planning Board requires,” said Nicholson, who was elected as a newcomer in 2023.

“That said, I do hope to remain involved in planning-related efforts in Lincoln. I plan to continue my work with the Dark Skies Committee and other planning and policy initiatives in town, and I would not rule out the possibility of serving another term on the Planning Board in the future, should circumstances allow and the town sees fit,” Nicholson added.

As it now stands, the Planning Board candidates for the March 30 town election are incumbent Lynn DeLisi and Olson for the two openings on the ballot, so both will win seats if no one else decides to run. Olson was chair of the board in 2025, having served on the panel since 2013, but lost her bid for reelection last year when newcomers Susan Hall Mygatt and Rob Ahlert won seats in the wake of the Housing Choice Act controversy.

The last day to take out nomination papers is Thursday, Feb. 5, and the deadline to return the papers to the Town Clerk’s office is Monday, Feb. 9. Available seats:

  • Board of Assessors – one seat for three years
  • Board of Health – one seat for three years
  • Cemetery Commission – one seat for three years
  • Commissioners of Trust Funds – one seat for three years
  • Lincoln-Sudbury Regional District School Committee – two seats for three years
  • Moderator – one seat for three years
  • Parks and Recreation Committee – one seat for three years
  • Planning Board – two seats for three years
  • K-8 School Committee – two seats for three years
  • K-8 School Committee – one seat for one year
  • Select Board – one seat for three years
  • Trustees of Bemis Fund – one seat for three years
  • Water Commissioner – one seat for three years

To learn more, see the Town Meeting/election schedule or contact Town Clerk Valerie Fox at 781-259-2607 or email foxv@lincolntown.org.

Olson hopes to win back her seat on the Planning Board

Editor’s note: Olson served on the Planning Board from 2013–2025 but lost her bid for reelection last year when newcomers Susan Hall Mygatt and Rob Ahlert won seats (incumbent Ephraim Flint did not run again).

There are two Planning Board seats open in March 2026: those of incumbents Lynn DeLisi and Craig Nicholson. DeLisi has already announced she will run for reelection. As of Jan. 12, Nicholson had not pulled papers to run for reelection, according to the Town Clerk’s office, and did not immediately reply to an email asking if he planned to run again.

For more information, see the 2026 Annual Town Meeting and election calendar.

By Margaret Olson

I’m running for Planning Board and asking for your support. The Planning Board is a critical force in shaping the town we all love, and I am hoping you will grant me the privilege of applying my years of planning board experience and knowledge of land use policy to keeping Lincoln a fantastic place to live.

Increasing political pressure to address the lack of housing requires a planning board with the knowledge and experience to respond effectively. I have a long history of volunteering for planning: the Zoning Board of Appeals followed by ten years on the Lincoln Planning Board.

My principles:

  • Focus on planning: Stay on top of the broader regulatory environment so we are prepared for any legal and climate changes.
  • Incrementalism: Where possible, make changes incrementally so the town gains experience with new regulatory approaches.
  • Fairness: Regulatory reviews (site plan review) should be consistent, fair, and predictable.
  • Transparency: Be clear to applicants and neighbors about what the board can and cannot do. And make it easier to find the agendas!

Some of my past accomplishments on the Planning Board:

  • Worked with town staff to streamline the site plan review process. This has resulted in benefits for both residents and the planning board, saving residents time and the town money.
  • Led a series of incremental changes to our accessory apartment bylaw, increasing opportunities for multi-generational housing. This series of incremental changes left us in an excellent position when the state mandated that all residential districts permit accessory dwelling units (accessory apartments).
  • Engaged cooperatively with boards and stakeholders to pass the Housing Choice Act that allows the town to qualify for state grants — for example, Lincoln received $430,000 for water main replacement. We have received over $2,400,000 in grants in the last five years.
  • Improved safety for all forms of transportation by serving on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, the Roadside and Traffic Committee, and as chair of the Transportation Coalition.
  • Instituted Lincoln’s first Dark Sky lighting regulations.

The election is on Monday, March 30. I’d be very grateful for your vote. If you have any questions or concerns please get in touch at margaret@margaretolson.com. Thank you.

Margaret Olson
17 Boyce Farm Road

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

My Turn: DeLisi aims for another Planning Board term

By Lynn DeLisi

Dear Lincoln residents,

I am pleased to announce my candidacy for re-election to the Lincoln Planning Board, a position I have cherished for the past decade, and I ask for your continued support.

Lincoln is not just where I live; it is a community I truly care about. From the moment we moved here 15 years ago, I have felt a strong responsibility to protect the neighborhoods, open spaces, and sense of safety that make this town so special.

My work on the Planning Board has always centered on one goal: to represent all residents thoughtfully and with sensitivity to their needs, and ensure that no project or policy coming before the Planning Board negatively impacts neighbors or their property. I listen carefully, research thoroughly, and speak up when development threatens the character or stability of a neighborhood.

If re-elected, I will continue to:

  • Safeguard residents’ properties and quality of life.
  • Ensure responsible, transparent development.
  • Update our long-range plan to reflect both growth and preservation.
  • Protect Lincoln’s trees, farmlands, and natural beauty.
  • Facilitate strong open communication between residents and the Board

I am dedicated to keeping Lincoln the community we all chose for its peace, integrity, and shared respect for one another. I would be honored to continue representing you.

With gratitude and commitment,

Lynn E. DeLisi, South Great Road
delisi76@aol.com

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

My Turn: Ravi Simon running for reelection to L-S School Committee

By Ravi Simon

Dear Lincoln,

Thank you for the honor of electing me to serve on the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee. I am excited to declare my candidacy for a second term and ask for your support once again.

I ran for the L-S School Committee in 2023 to bring my perspective as a former student to the committee’s work and to help ensure that today’s students receive an education as strong as the one I received as a member of the Class of 2015.

Over the past three years, I have been proud to take on a leadership role on the committee. Anyone who knows me knows that I hold strong views grounded in my values. At the same time, I firmly believe that good leadership begins with listening respectfully to all perspectives and working toward consensus. In that spirit, I have focused on strengthening the committee’s collegiality and our working relationships with the L-S Administration, our teachers, and both towns. This approach has earned the confidence of my colleagues, who elected me vice chair in 2023 and chair in 2024, and unanimously re-elected me as chair in May 2025.

During my first term, I played a key role in successfully negotiating a fair contract with our teachers, helped launch the process that resulted in a ban on cell phones in classrooms, and ensured greater transparency by releasing documents to the community in advance of our meetings. Most of all, I am proud to have played a part in ensuring that L-S remains on stable financial and academic footing, while preserving the unique character and culture that make our high school special.

Serving Lincoln at both the local and state levels has been a privilege. For close to five years, I have also worked as the sole staff member for State Rep. Carmine Gentile, who represents constituents in both Sudbury and Lincoln in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. This role has provided me the opportunity to meet many of my neighbors in both towns and to listen closely to their priorities and concerns, which helps me better serve students and families on the School Committee.

Although work and friendships already connected me to Lincoln, one of the most enjoyable parts of serving on the committee has been getting to know the town even better. We may have crossed paths at the Winter Carnival Coffee House, Girl Scout pancake breakfast, Council on Aging holiday lunch, Town Meeting, IDEA newcomers party, the PTO back-to-school picnic, or other community gatherings. I look forward to continuing to be a familiar face around town — although you’ll have to forgive me for remaining a Sudbury resident.

My current objectives on the committee include:

  • Completing a long-overdue legal and technical update to the regional agreement between Lincoln and Sudbury, which has not been revised since the 1980s;
  • Ensuring that the School Committee and administration are able to successfully repair or replace our aging roof
  • Helping foster an environment where all students feel welcome by including a nonvoting METCO representative in the committee’s discussions, evaluating our ADA compliance, and advancing efforts to educate students about issues of inclusion and respect for human differences.

And, of course, I will continue to bring my distinct perspective as an alumnus to discussions as the committee works to meet the academic and social-emotional needs of students.

I will be working to earn your vote on Monday, March 30. If you’re interested in learning more, I hope you will visit my campaign website (ravisimon.com), and please reach out (raviforlincolnsudbury@gmail.com) if you have any questions, or would like to talk.

Warmly,

Ravi Simon
437 Cold Brook Drive, Sudbury

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

My Turn: Payne running to succeed Town Moderator Sarah Cannon Holden

(Editor’s note: Longtime Tow Moderator Sarah Cannon Holden announced in December that she would not be seeking another term.)

By Andy Payne

Fellow residents,

I’m running for Town Moderator.

Some of my background and principles: I was on the Finance Committee for several years, chairing it for five. I have experience with and appreciation for the Town Meeting process, working with residents and town staff, finding agreement, and respectfully disagreeing.

Our little town depends heavily on volunteers. I’ve lived in Lincoln nearly all of my adult life and raised three children here. I know it’s a cliche, but I feel an obligation to continue to “give back.”

My LincolnTalk posts and Town Meeting podium time demonstrate my approach to ensuring that residents are informed about (sometimes) complex topics, the implications of their votes, and essential trade-offs. If voters support it, I’d be honored to continue that work as Moderator.

On Town Meeting itself:

Town Meeting starts long before the actual meeting. I would strongly encourage groups to host sessions and post materials (FAQs, videos, slides, etc.) in advance so residents can come fully informed. For especially contentious topics, it might be possible for the moderator to serve as a pre-meeting facilitator between opposing groups.

Long meetings are burdensome for some, and the Town Meeting Study Committee has done excellent work identifying accessibility issues.

I believe that clickers, front-loading the schedule with the expected contentious topics, pre-published information, and moving even more items onto the consent calendar will go a long way toward keeping things manageable. Also, chyrons on the video feed clearly indicating the current and next warrant articles, along with (possibly) a simple text alert system for agenda items, will support those who need to “cherry-pick” their attendance.

With that said, I believe it’s worth spending some extra meeting time to ensure the process is as fair as possible and people feel heard, even when the vote goes against them. Also, it’s important for us all to understand the mechanics of Town Meeting and town government.

The election is on Monday, March 30.

Sarah Cannon Holden will leave some very big shoes to fill after our upcoming Town Meeting on March 28, and I’m humbled to have a chance to try. If anyone has questions, comments, feedback, concerns, and/or suggested dad jokes, please email me at andy@payne.org.

Respectfully,

Andrew Payne, Tower Road

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

My Turn: Bodnar is running for reelection to Select Board

By Kim Bodnar

I’m excited to announce that I am seeking re-election to the Select Board. This role has been both humbling and energizing — every conversation, every late-night meeting, and every decision directly touches the lives of people who care deeply about Lincoln. I respectfully ask for your support as we continue this important work together.

Looking back on my three years on the Select Board, I’m reminded daily what a privilege it is to help shape the future of our town. Public service is demanding, but I couldn’t have anticipated how deeply rewarding this role would be. From the Council on Aging & Human Services’ (COA&HS) lunches and clinics, Coffee & Conversation gatherings to board meetings and informal chats around town, I deeply value the relationships that we have formed and am grateful residents feel comfortable sharing both their positive experiences and concerns about Lincoln.

Serving on the Select Board has deepened my appreciation for the complexity of our town’s challenges, from managing budgets and maintaining infrastructure to planning growth that preserves Lincoln’s character. I’ve also seen firsthand the dedication of our volunteers, committees, and staff —  their commitment is inspiring and a reminder that local government works best when we all pull together.

At its core, public service is about stewardship: listening closely, understanding the issues, balancing competing needs, and striving to make decisions in the community’s long-term interests. It requires hard work, integrity, commitment, and collaboration. I have approached this role with those values at the forefront, and I am proud of the progress we’ve made together.

Above all, my experience has shown me that public service is a partnership. Lincoln’s values emphasize collaboration and consensus, and because responsibility is shared across multiple boards, we accomplish the most when we work together. In that spirit, I am proud to have contributed to a number of important initiatives during my first term, including a year serving as chair of the Select Board, such as:

Town Meeting Study Committee — Helping the board define a charge and process that we are confident will lead to improvements that will ensure voter trust and confidence and enhance the effectiveness and engagement of Town Meeting.

Community Center Building Committee — Serving as the board’s liaison, helped the Committee clearly define and communicate program and budget choices for voters.

Lincoln 250th and Fair & Feast — Serving as chair of Lincoln250, leading the town’s planning for local events and celebrations commemorating the anniversary of the American Revolution; representing Lincoln in regional and statewide planning efforts in coordination with our public safety teams; collaborating with other Lincoln boards and community organizations on historical education initiatives; and chairing a committee-led effort to host the culminating community event, the Lincoln250 Fair and Feast.

Transportation Coalition —Acting as part of the Transportation Coalition’s leadership team, grateful to have been involved in many milestones over the past few years including; creating a five year plan for improving pedestrian and cyclist safety and connectivity, securing grants to install new sidewalks/paths and crosswalks, administering a resident survey, and hosting public forums.

Committee Liaisons — Serving as the Select Board liaison supporting 14 town boards and committees.

Select Board Priorities — As a team, the board and the town administrator are pleased to report progress on a number of important initiatives including completion of the landfill solar project; earning Commonwealth designation as a Climate Leader Community; securing multiple planning, infrastructure, climate, and other grants; and creating new ways to keep residents informed, including the recently launched semi-monthly electronic newsletter, SelectConnect.

Looking ahead, there is important work still to do — continuing strong fiscal discipline, improving our roads and infrastructure, advancing new climate initiatives and expanding transparency, and communication so residents feel engaged and heard. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together, and I would be honored to continue this work with you in a second term.

In closing, I’d welcome the chance to connect with residents who want to learn more about my work on the Select Board or share ideas for Lincoln. I’ll be following up with dates and times when I’ll be at the transfer station, Donelan’s, etc., but I hope you’ll also stop by Bemis Hall or join the Zoom meeting on February 24 beginning at 10:30am for “coffee and conversation” hosted by the COA&HS. Also, please don’t hesitate to reach out using the email addresses below — I’d be glad to meet or chat. As a reminder, our town election will be held on Monday, March 30, 2026.

Thank you for your consideration and for the honor of serving this community.

Respectfully,

Kim Bodnar, 11 Fox Run Road
Kimbodnar1007@gmail.com (personal) or bodnark@lincolntown.org (town)

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.