Two candidates are running to fill one vacancy on the Board of Health.
Incumbent Julie Lemay is joined on the ballot by Michael Todd Thompson.
The Candidates
Below, listed in alphabetical order, are the two names voters will see on the April 1 ballot.
Julie Lemay
Tell us a bit about yourself (background/work experience, how long in Belmont, etc.)
My family has lived in Belmont for the past 11 years. For the past nine years, I have worked to protect and promote public health in Belmont as a member of the Board of Health. As an environmental health scientist with a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Boston University, I bring extensive experience addressing community-wide issues that impact residents across Massachusetts.
What is your motivation for running for a seat on the Board of Health?
I am seeking re-election for the Board of Health because I believe that my expertise in environmental health complements the skills of our existing board members. I also enjoy volunteering my skills to support community health in Belmont. I have a broad background not only in environmental health, but also in the various aspects of disease prevention, health promotion, and risk communication. I believe in open discussion and thoughtful policy-making to ensure a safe environment and a high quality of life for all Belmont residents.
What do you consider the biggest challenges when it comes to matters of local public health, and what should be the priorities of Belmont?
One of the biggest challenges for local public health is protecting the community with limited financial and workforce resources. Under my leadership, the Belmont Health Department won state grant funding to develop a cooperative public health agreement with 3 nearby towns. The funding allows our staff to build capacity to address community challenges such as rat prevention and opioid addiction. As a Board of Health member, I will continue to support public health in Belmont by seeking ways to build regional capacity to address local public health challenges.
Michael Todd Thompson
Tell us a bit about yourself (background/work experience, how long in Belmont, etc.)
My wife Julia & I have four children, the youngest being a student at Butler, and have lived in Belmont/Watertown for 15 years. I earned my BS in Biochemistry and Mathematics from the University of Arizona (1999) and moved to Massachusetts to attend MIT’s graduate chemistry program. In 2002, I joined the Harvard-MIT Division of Health, Sciences, & Technology, earning my doctorate in biomedical engineering & medical physics and attending Harvard Medical School, with clinical rotations at MGH (IBD Clinic) and the West Roxbury VA. Attending to unique, complex needs of veterans was among my most rewarding and challenging experiences and reinforced the value of a supportive community.
What is your motivation for running for a seat on the Board of Health?
Increasing concern about the implications of growing politicization surrounding public health institutions prompted my decision to run for Belmont Board of Health. Radical shifts in public perception about clinicians/scientists and a sharp rise in disinformation have fomented distrust resulting in substantial institutional budget cuts, all while we are seeing unprecedented need for mental health support, particularly in our schools. Ultimately, research and clinical organizations and patients will suffer if this trend continues.
What do you consider the biggest challenges when it comes to matters of local public health, and what should be the priorities of Belmont?
This new era of reduced guidance and support requires Belmont’s municipal institutions to operate with unprecedented agility & precision to better serve their communities. The Board of Health also faces the challenge of improving public trust in our institutions as good stewards of resources. Cooperative public health initiatives model a proactive approach that combines comprehensive preventive service to the community with increased fiscal efficiency. As a scientist with bench-to-bedside clinical experience, I’m able to bridge communication divides to forge these healthy, productive partnerships. Our Board of Health is a tremendous public resource that must continue to operate from a position of leadership that fosters trust. I intend to earn that trust and keep it.
