Politics & Government

Brookline Library Trustee Michael Burstein Exploring Congressional Run

Library Trustee and Patch columnist, Michael A. Burstein, announced today his intent to form an exploratory committee to look into running for Barney Frank's soon-to-be-empty seat.

Michael Burstein, a Brookline Library trustee, announced today the formation of a exploratory committee for a congressional run as a Democrat. The announcement also appeared on a website for Burstein's campaign

“There were other potential candidates who I hoped would get into the race,” Burstein said in a press release. “But when they announced that they weren’t running, I realized that I had to explore the possibility of running for the office myself.”

Burstein is also , and a , where he and his wife Nomi write about raising their twin daughters. He also edits science textbooks, and is an award-winning science fiction writer. 

Find out what's happening in Brooklinewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

He is exploring a run for the Fourth Congressional district seat, which will be open following . Joseph Kennedy III has also announced an , and he may be . Along with Kennedy,  and  have also announced campaigns for the Fourth District seat. 

On the Republican side,we've got , and Brookline School Committee member and Republican Elizabeth Childs has already announced she will run for the seat.

Find out what's happening in Brooklinewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The following is Burstein's full press release: 

Michael A. Burstein, an elected Library Trustee and Town Meeting Member in Brookline, announced today that he is forming a committee to explore a possible run for Congress as a Democrat from the Fourth District.

“There were other potential candidates who I hoped would get into the race,” Burstein said. “But when they announced that they weren’t running, I realized that I had to explore the possibility of running for the office myself.”

Burstein has been involved in local town government for almost ten years. He was first elected as a Town Meeting Member in 2001; since being in office he has never missed a night of Town Meeting. He has been an elected Library Trustee since 2004 and is currently serving in his third term.

“As an elected official in the town of Brookline, I understand the need to be responsive to constituents,” Burstein said.

Burstein was born and raised in New York City. He attended Harvard College and Boston University and holds degrees in Physics from both institutions. He worked for many years as a teacher at the Cambridge School of Weston and the Rashi School, and he currently edits science textbooks for middle school and high school students. He is also an award-winning writer who has been publishing short stories since 1995.

Burstein first lived in Brookline from 1991-1993 when he was a graduate student, and he was so delighted with the town that in 1995 he and his wife chose to start their life together in Brookline, where they have lived ever since. They are the parents of twin toddler daughters, Elisheva and Yael.

“As someone who has lived in the Fourth Congressional District for almost all of my adult life, I feel I have a good perspective on our district’s needs,” Burstein said. “Our country faces many tough challenges ahead, and I’d like to do what I can to make a better world for my children.”

For more information, the committee chair can be reached at chair@bursteinforcongress.com.


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