Endorsements for Local Election
Early in-person voting for the Reading town election starts this Saturday, March 28, and election day is April 7. Elections are often decided by a very few votes, so DO NOT wait â make a plan to vote now!áŻđđťââď¸ââĄď¸
Reading Votes is pleased to offer endorsements for responsive & fiscally responsible candidates.
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đłď¸Check out the ballot for your precinct below and use it at the polls.
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đTo maximize their chances of winning, consider only voting for the  candidates noted on the endorsement ballot.
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âđźSeveral precincts have suggested write-in candidates shown in RED on the endorsement ballots. Please, write their names as shown.
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Be sure to vote on BOTH sides of the ballot (Candidates + Question #1)
Carlo Bacci for Select Board
Carlo Bacci is a two-term member of the Reading Select Board and Town Meeting, running for reâelection with a record of commonâsense leadership. On the Select Board, he supported the successful effort to stop the MBTA turnback track and has consistently pushed for disciplined budgeting and smart financial decisions, helping Reading limit tax impacts and stretch the life of the last Proposition 2½ override. A longtime small business owner, Carlo brings a practical, taxpayerâfocused voice to town government.
Sal Bramante for Select Board
Sal Bramante is a longtime Reading resident, Board of Health member, and Town Meeting Precinct 1 Chair who is running for Select Board to put taxpayers first. Sal is focused on controlling costs, demanding transparency and discipline in town budgeting, preparing responsibly for any override, and strengthening downtown, so Reading remains fiscally sound, welcoming, and moving forward together.
Lori Hayes for School Committee
Lori Hayes (Gisetto) is running for Reading School Committee to support a smooth superintendent transition, advance academic excellence and student wellâbeing, and strengthen the collaboration that helps RPS thrive. A Town Meeting Member for Precinct 8 with 34 years in the pharmaceutical industry, she is committed to fiscally responsible, transparent decisionâmaking and protecting strong programs while developing leadership skills for all Kâ12 students.
Town Meeting Endorsements
Reading Votes proudly endorses Town Meeting candidates who bring common sense, factâbased decisionâmaking, and a clear focus on Reading residents. These hardworking neighbors understand tradeoffs, ask tough questions, and put practical governance ahead of politics.
Our endorsed candidates supported minimalist compliance with the MBTA Communities Act, minimizing the impact of tiered water rates on larger families, holding the line on increasing the business tax rate split, and opposed the MBTA Turnback Track due to serious environmental, health, and traffic concerns.  They are also ready to address Readingâs looming fiscal challenges. A Proposition 2½ override (property tax increase) is expected as soon as Fall 2026. Smart fiscal management NOW can help delay or reduce future tax increases. That means carefully scrutinizing major spending proposals, such as the Community Preservation Act, ReCAL operating costs, and Walkers Brook Drive, while finding creative ways to fund priorities that matter (eg, Unified Sports) without overburdening taxpayers.
Reading needs steady, thoughtful leadership. These candidates are ready to deliver.
Confirm your precinct here: https://www.readingma.gov/669/
-The Vision-The Common Sense Voter Project.
-The Details-See exactly how we accomplish our goals.
Step 1: Mission
To provide awareness, insight, education, and opportunity for engagement in regards to local issues within the community that impact all Reading residents.Â
Step 2: Core Values
- Integrity: We hold ourselves to the highest of standards and operate with integrity.
- Honesty: We will be truthful at all times.Â
- Respect: We will treat others with the same respect that we expect for ourselves.Â
- Factuality: We will adhere to the facts, and not operate from opinion or emotion.
- Accountability: We hold one another accountable for the information that we share and how we engage members of our community.
Step 3: Statement of Ethics
We will adhere to and maintain exemplary standards of personal conduct, function with honesty and integrity at all times, be truthful and factual in our actions and communication, and respectful of all community members despite any differences of opinion or thought.Our Guiding Principles of Interaction.
- Foster healthy, respectful, open and honest debate
- Refrain from personal attacks or name calling
- Listen to each other, never drown out voices of dissent
- Avoid emotional arguments, stick to the facts and use logic and common sense
- Donât be afraid to confront lies (with facts), or to call out specific actions and behaviors
- Never identify a problem without making a recommendation for a solution (or at least a path to find a solution)
- Have courage to stand up for what you believe
- Defend the right for everyone to speak without fear of repercussion