​​Hi! I'm Katherine. I'm a professor, a Florida Ruffin Ridley and daycare parent, and a Brookline Town Meeting Member representing the best place in town: Coolidge Corner.

By day I am a professor of political communication at Northeastern University, where I research and teach about voting and democracy (and yes, it is a chaotic time!). By night I am a Mom of two great kids (ages 4 and 6). Prior to entering academia, I was a long-time community organizer working on electoral and issue campaigns in Austin, Texas. You can usually find me in our neighborhood shopping at Trader Joe's, exercising at HealthWorks, or waiting for the T.

My priorities continue to be housing, economic development, affordability, and climate. Housing supply is too limited for families to grow and seniors to age in place. We need more homes of all sizes, configurations, and price points built near transit to meet the needs of our friends and neighbors who already live here! This will reduce our reliance on cars and help the planet. We need to bring down the crushing costs of daycare and after-school care that are hurting families and working parents. We can solve all of these problems together by proactively enabling commercial and housing development in our existing transit corridors to generate more tax revenue.

Brookline can be a community that helps families, working people, and retirees thrive, not just survive.

​​I moved to Brookline in 2008, got involved in the Town when I was appointed in 2018 to the Housing Advisory Board (HAB), and have now served as a Town Meeting Member for 5 years (first in P10, now in P17).  I am also an active and proud Board member of Brookline for Everyone.  Before retiring from law practice in 2020, I spent my career representing nonprofit, mission-driven organizations that build, own, and operate affordable and mixed-income housing, including tenant-owned developments and limited-equity co-ops.  

In my view, the most pressing issues for Brookline are the high price of housing, the fiscal challenges of our Town budget, and the larger issue of climate change.  We can address all three by reforming our zoning to allow more multifamily housing and mixed-use/commercial development in and near our richly served transit corridors.  Over time, more housing will lead to lower prices; more commercial development will enhance our Town revenues and allow us to retain our quality Town services; and building multifamily housing near transit is key climate strategy, since apartments near transit are so much more efficient than single family homes hear highways. 

In addition to running for re-election as a TMM, I am also ​I’m on the ballot as a candidate (unopposed) for one of five seats as a Commissioner of the Brookline Housing Authority (BHA), where I hope to use my experience to help the BHA continue its work providing much-needed deeply affordable housing and supportive services to over 2,500 of Brookline’s citizens.

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I moved to Brookline in 2024 when my partner and I were drawn to Greater Boston as an ideal place to pursue our careers. I work as a scientific researcher in the biotech industry helping to design vaccines. I previously obtained a PhD in computer science from Oregon State University. I am running for Town Meeting because I believe that affordable housing is a prerequisite for economic stability and mobility. I see Coolidge Corner as a model neighborhood and hope to support policies which improve environmental sustainability and increase the supply of affordable housing near transit and urban amenities.  

Favorite spot in Precinct 17 - Kung Fu Kitchen

I have been a resident of Brookline since 1999.  Over that span, I have been a renter, condo owner, and condo board member. Through my lived experience, I value the role that Town Meeting can play to facilitate more housing opportunities in Brookline.  In my conversations with neighbors this year, the number one concern is our structural deficit and its implications for the override vote.  While I am a strong Yes vote on the override and the services that would be supported, I think that our town government needs to work together to increase commercial development.  With a coordinated effort, we can lessen the burden on residential taxation. This issue needs to be addressed first and foremost as it has implications for all of the services provided by the town.  I thank the Town Administrator for his efforts to educate Brookline residents about our budget and financial challenges.  It is time for Town Meeting Members to help educate the public as well and support commercial development efforts.

Favorite spots in Precinct 17 - Coolidge Corner Library, Brookline Booksmith, Trader Joe's

I moved to Brookline over 10 years ago when I started law school at Boston University. While at BU, I lived near Cleveland Circle and in Washington Square. I moved to downtown Boston but after a couple of years I knew I had to come back to Brookline. When an apartment in my price range became available in Coolidge Corner, I jumped at the opportunity. I’ve wanted to live here since I first stepped off the T and walked into the Brookline Booksmith. I love living in such a vibrant, walkable community. Everything I need is a 10 minute walk away, an independent bookstore, a grocery store, my doctor, my dentist, and even my dog’s vet. I’m running for Brookline Town Meeting to ensure that everyone who wants to live in this wonderful community can afford to do so. 

Favorite spot in Precinct 17 - Eureka! Puzzles and Games. Whether I’m looking for my family’s annual Christmas puzzle(s), picking up a present for my nieces, or grabbing the perfect game for a night with friends, I know Eureka! has exactly what I need.