Town Election, 2012

Brownsberger Eases Into State Senate

Unopposed, Belmont resident moves from reps side of the State House to the senate.

While most Belmont residents were looking across the New Hampshire border today, Tuesday, Jan. 10, to see how another resident was doing, the attention of Will Brownsberger's supporters was closer to home. And at 8 p.m., when the polls closed, the inevitable became fact as Brownsberger, running unopposed, won the general election with a little more than 4,500 votes to become the next Senator from the Second Suffolk and Middlesex District, comprising Belmont, Watertown, parts of Cambridge and Belmont. His vote tally was nearly equal with the amount he received last month in the Democrat primary. In Belmont, 15.6 percent of registered voters – about half the number who voted in the December primary – came out for Brownsberger, casting 2,416 …

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Special State Senate Election 2012

Why Will Won: Staying Close to Home Pays Off for Brownsberger

State Rep's needed to win over his Belmont/Cambridge base and they came out for him.

'Tip' O'Neill popularized the saying "all politics is local." And at last night's Democratic primary election to succeed Steve Tolman as State Senator in the Second Suffolk and Middlesex District, Will Brownsberger and his team perfected the application of that phrase.  A combination of getting out voters who know him the best, the money committed to that goal and the benefit of a wild card candidate in the home town of his strongest challenger, will allow Brownsberger to exchange the title of State Representative for State Senate come Jan. 11 when he waltzes to a win in an uncontested general election. "We'll be right here for the next four weeks, in this office. But I guess I should be getting use to being called "Senator" but I really …

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Special State Senate Election 2012

Belmont's Brownsberger Wins Primary for State Senate

Pledges to "working for you, the people" in emotional victory celebration.

Before a joyous crowd of campaign workers, friends and Belmont residents, State Rep. Will Brownsberger declared victory in the Special State Senate Primary in an emotional speech 35 minutes after the polls closed on Tuesday, Dec. 13.  "I will be working for you," said Brownsberger who seconds before proclaimed, "We won!" The final vote total from Watertown, Belmont, Cambridge and Boston:

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Letters to the Editor

In Tuesday’s election, Brownsberger is the clear choice

A letter of support for the Belmont state Rep. seeking to become state Senator.

Tuesday’s state Senate primary will, in effect, choose Steve Tolman’s successor as the state Senator representing Belmont, Watertown, and parts of Cambridge and Allston-Brighton.  Absent a huge write-in campaign for the general election in January, one of the four Democratic primary contenders will be the new state Senator for the 2nd Suffolk and Middlesex District.   I encourage all Patch readers to go to the polls, between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., and vote for the candidate they support.  (Of course, Belmont voters always have to remind themselves when an election happens on a Tuesday instead of our municipal elections on a Monday!) I’ve known Will Brownsberger, as a friend and as a public official, for many years.  While I respect the other …

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Brownsberger Grabs Boston Daily's Endorsement in State Sen. Election

Boston Globe pinpoints Belmont's state rep's "history of creative thinking about making government more effective, honest, and transparent."

Special State Senate Election 2012

At Tonight's Forum, Candidates Seek to Define Themselves

The final four - Brownsberger, Hecht, McCarthy and Schofield – prepare to address Belmont.

In a race with no incumbent, the four candidates running for the Second Suffolk and Middlesex State Senate seat – who will meet at a Candidate's Forum tonight at the Chenery Middle School at 7:30 p.m. – have split into two groups. Current state representatives Will Brownsberger of Belmont and Jonathan Hecht of Watertown touting their experience on Beacon Hill, and former state firefighters union president Bob McCarthy and Brighton attorney Tim Schofield talking about ways they would shake up things in Senate. The candidates got their first chance to face each other in public last Tuesday night at a candidate forum run and hosted by the Church of the Good Shepherd in Watertown. The district includes all of Watertown and Belmont and parts of…

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Special State Senate Election 2012

Brownsberger Summarizes State Senate Candidacy

Belmont resident and state representative vows concrete legislative progress as state senator.

As the Dec. 13 special election approaches, I'd like to summarize what I bring to my candidacy for state senate – a deep commitment to making government work for the people, the skills, experience and vision to deliver on that commitment and a record of results to offer as proof. Eight years building financial back-office software taught me how deeply technology can change organizations. It also taught me how tough the business world is and how rapidly business organizations have to change in order to survive. Public sector organizations should not be exempt. Nine years running the Town of Belmont as a Selectman taught me to think long-term and to recognize financial limits. I built a long-term financial plan and fought for more resources …

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Brownsberger Opposed to 'Three Strikes' Crime Bill

Belmont State Rep. critical of proposed mandatory life sentence for habitual offenders.