My name is Marc Charney, and I am writing to ask for your vote for election to the Wellesley Select Board.
I moved to Wellesley in 2003, where I met my wife, got married, and together we bought a modest single-family home. We restored that home and raised our three children here, now ages 19, 18, and 16. Like many families in Wellesley, we put down roots, invested in our neighborhood, and built our lives around this community.
My wife and I also started a small business together focused on restoring older homes in the MetroWest area. Over time, that business grew into a leader in retrofitting outdated houses into energy-efficient, sustainable homes that respect neighborhood character. That work shaped how I think about planning, fiscal responsibility, sustainability, and long-term stewardship.
My commitment to Wellesley extends beyond my family and business. I have served three years on the Historic Commission, four years on the Planning Board—where I currently serve as Chair—founded and served on the RIO Task Force, and served as a Town Meeting Member. These roles have given me firsthand experience listening to residents, balancing competing priorities, and working collaboratively to solve complex issues.
I am running for Select Board because Wellesley is a remarkable community strengthened by engaged residents and dedicated Town staff—and because effective Select Board leadership requires clarity, consistency, and sound judgment, especially when decisions are difficult or controversial. In the years ahead, Wellesley will face consequential choices around and those decisions demand steady, reliable leadership.
Two of the most critical issues facing residents are fiscal discipline and the MassBay development. The Town is currently considering more than $400 million in capital projects over the next decade—on top of a $200+ million annual operating budget. By the Select Board’s own estimates, just three of the proposed capital projects could raise the average household’s property tax bill by approximately $2,500 per year. I believe Wellesley must prioritize truly essential projects and protect residents from unsustainable tax increases.
Few issues underscore the importance of clear, principled leadership more than MassBay. This is not an issue that benefits from ambiguity or shifting positions. It requires leaders who are willing to evaluate the facts, listen carefully to residents, and then take clear, principled positions grounded in what is best for Wellesley—even when that path is not the easiest politically.
Trust in local government is built through consistency and follow-through. Residents deserve Select Board members whose words align with their votes, whose positions are clear, and whose leadership remains steady over time. On issues as significant as MassBay, clarity matters—and trust depends on leaders who are willing to stand by their decisions.
That belief is the foundation of my campaign: “Charney Listens.”
If elected, I will bring an independent, thoughtful approach to the Select Board—focused on transparency, long-term planning, and responsible stewardship of the Town’s resources. Experience is important, but judgment and reliability are essential. Wellesley needs leaders who provide stability and clarity at moments that will shape the Town for decades to come.
I respectfully ask for your support on March 3, 2026, and I encourage you to stay engaged in the important conversations shaping Wellesley’s future.
Mark W. Charney
www.charney4sb.org
