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Ahead of the March 21 election, incumbent Michelle Prior and challenger Shamus Brady offered contrasting styles, but frequent agreement at a candidate forum for the Select Board, with both backing the pending override vote while differing on how to generate revenue, speed housing development and attract businesses.
The two are competing for one three-year seat. The League of Women Voters of Winchester organized the debate at the Jenks Center on March 5, with Nell Forgas moderating. WinCam broadcast the event.
Prior, the Select Board chair, is a 21-year Winchester resident who has served on the board since 2023. She spent six years on the Finance Committee, one as chair, and works in public sector consulting.
Brady, a former School Committee and Finance Committee member, acknowledged an unusual dynamic: his wife, Anthea, serves on the Select Board, and he said he entered the race only because no other candidate filed.
“Michelle deserves a competitive election with with a serious opponent,” Brady said. "I’m running because I wholeheartedly believe we need another progressive voice on the Select Board.”
Asked what cost reductions they would recommend if the override fails, Prior said she would work with the town manager to identify positions that could go unfilled and potential efficiencies.
Brady called for opening the conversation to residents.
“I think if the override doesn’t pass, you almost need to have a mini state of the town to hear from the citizens,” Brady said.
On reviewing town operations, both agreed Winchester’s staff is competent and that significant waste does not exist.
Prior cited joint purchasing between schools and town departments and exploring regionalized services as opportunities.
Brady said the town should trust its employees, but pivoted to revenue, suggesting school buildings and Town Hall could be rented in the evenings. He noted his child practices soccer at Lexington elementary schools because Winchester’s sit empty at night.
The candidates split more clearly on slowing school budget growth. Prior, as vice chair of the State of the Town, said the School Committee agreed to a growth rate of 5% this year and 4% in the out years.
“It’s not about cutting, it’s about growing more slowly or growing at a different pace,” Prior said.
Brady focused on new revenue. He said he advocated for school choice while on the School Committee, proposing 10 open slots in the high school freshman class for out-of-town students who would bring per-pupil funding without requiring additional staff.
“If you added 10 kids to the high school, you don’t have to hire any more staff, but you’re going to get about $150,000, which is at least one position,” Brady said.
He also suggested renting the Parkhurst building to a collaborative.
Housing drew pointed remarks from Brady, who called the town’s development pace “embarrassing” and referenced Lexington’s appearance in The New Yorker for quickly building affordable housing. He proposed the town buy a house every year and place it in trust as affordable housing.
Prior said the Select Board manages land disposition agreements for the Washington/Swanton Street and Waterfield parcels and can facilitate meetings between developers and the new town manager to prevent last-minute surprises.
On attracting businesses, Brady called for fewer regulations, citing the difficulty Nouvelle Maison has faced obtaining a wine-service license and suggesting year-round outdoor dining.
Prior countered that year-round dining would face opposition from residents who want their parking spaces back and called for streamlining the licensing process.
Both expressed openness to ranked choice voting, which will come before Town Meeting. Brady said it could encourage more candidates to challenge incumbents. Prior said the concept has merit, but questioned its impact given Winchester’s typically small fields.
On roadway safety, Brady said the citizen-based Transportation Advisory Committee has been dissolved and advocated for working with the Police Department, which tracks speeding and accident data. Prior said a staff-based traffic advisory committee still meets and cited engineering money allocated to redesign Sims Corner.
In closing, Prior emphasized her qualifications and knowledge of town operations. Brady struck a personal note.
“I want to fight for the people who are struggling financially or otherwise in our town,” Brady said. “I think those folks don’t often have a vocal advocate, because they are just trying to make it through each and every day with their challenges.”
The election is March 21, with early in-person voting beginning March 14.
Will Dowd is a Massachusetts journalist who covers municipal government and community life for Winchester News. He runs The Marblehead Independent, a reader-funded digital newsroom.
