To Wellesley voters:

I am deeply grateful to the residents of Wellesley for their support and participation in this year’s School Committee election. It has been an honor to engage with so many thoughtful, informed, and dedicated members of our community throughout this process.

Wellesley is a town that cares deeply about its schools, its students, and its future. Over the course of this campaign, I had the privilege of listening to parents, educators, and residents who are committed to maintaining excellence while thoughtfully addressing the challenges ahead. Your insights, questions, and perspectives strengthened my understanding of what matters most to our community.

I am sincerely thankful to those who placed their trust in me with their vote. I also want to acknowledge everyone who took the time to vote, volunteer, host conversations, or simply share their views. Civic engagement is the foundation of a strong community, and Wellesley continues to set a high standard.

As we move forward, I remain committed to supporting policies and decisions that prioritize students, respect taxpayers, and uphold the high standards that define our schools. I look forward to continuing the important work of ensuring that Wellesley’s educational system remains among the very best.

Thank you again for your support, your engagement, and your commitment to our shared future.

Sincerely,

Costas Panagopoulos
Wellesley School Committee member

To Wellesley’s voters:

Thank you to all of the Wellesley voters who participated in the March 3rd election, and to all of you who voted for me for a fourth term on the Select Board. It is an honor to serve on the Select Board, and I look forward to the work ahead.

I want to thank all of my advisors, supporters, family, and friends who were always there providing support and advice. I especially want to thank my campaign team: Patti Quigley, Eunice Groark, Susan Covo, and Christina Dougherty, who were tireless in their efforts to build a campaign that delivered an important message about thoughtful planning for Wellesley’s future, fiscal responsibility, sustainability, and a commitment to inclusive decision-making. The team was always available, always working, and always focused.

Thanks also to my family, and most importantly to my wife. They have encouraged me to serve throughout my time on the Select Board and have provided constant support and encouragement. I would be unable to do this job if it weren’t for their belief in me and in the importance of public service.

One of the most meaningful aspects of this election has been the diverse constituencies that supported my re- election. On a deeply personal level, I appreciate and will not forget the lasting friendships I formed and will always be grateful for them.

The Select Board has important work ahead, and I look forward to working collaboratively with my fellow board members as we move forward with Annual Town Meeting and the next fiscal year.

I want to hear from you. I am always available to discuss your concerns or questions. Please email me at tulfelder@wellesleyma.gov and we will find a time to talk.

Thank you again for your support.

Tom

To the editor:

We are very fortunate, as Wellesley residents, to have Beth Sullivan Woods, who personifies genuine leadership, running for re-election to the Select Board. Beth has a rare combination of a truly independent voice, compassion for the community, and
sound decision making.

With the constantly changing political landscape at all levels of government, Beth has found a way, over the years, to keep a refreshing independence to her thinking and decision making. She comes to all matters with intellectual curiosity and open-
mindedness, thus allowing her to approach each situation with a true sense of impartiality.

As a lifetime resident of Wellesley, Beth consistently engages citizens, business owners, and members of the Wellesley community. Her strong ability to listen, and, in turn, understand the needs of her constituents prior to making tough decisions is a unique
skill that demonstrates her excellent emotional intelligence.

There is no question that Beth has the experience necessary to do this job. As a member of the Select Board since 2017, she has evaluated and advanced a multitude of important projects and issues. The overwhelming sentiment voiced by many citizens
is that Beth is always thoughtful, fair, and pragmatic when it comes to community concerns.

Please consider voting for Beth Sullivan Woods.

Sincerely,
Lynn and Doug Youngen

To the editor:

I enthusiastically support Tom Ulfelder for re-election to the Wellesley Select Board and ask voters to join me in voting for him in the Town Election on March 3. Tom and I served together on the Select Board for six years, from 2019 to 2025, and I worked particularly closely with him when we each served as Chair and Vice Chair.

Tom provides a strong hand in overseeing the development of the Town’s $225 million annual budget, bringing the understanding and insights that only experience can provide. He has also served for many years as the Select Board liaison to the Permanent Building Committee, which oversees all the Town’s major construction projects. With more than $400 million in currently
proposed capital projects, the Town needs Tom’s exceptional knowledge and judgment as these projects are evaluated, prioritized, and developed.

In addition to his extraordinary experience, Tom has three qualities that differentiate him as a candidate:

 Tom is fair-minded. He takes a balanced approach to challenging issues and listens thoughtfully and openly to all perspectives. He makes a deliberate effort to seek out community members on various sides of an issue to understand their thinking before making a final determination.

 Tom is dedicated. He serves with steadfast commitment and always seeks to protect the interests of the taxpayers while also maintaining the Town’s high standard of municipal services.

 Tom is an experienced leader. He has the respect of his colleagues, having been elected Select Board Chair twice and Vice Chair three times during his board terms. Tom also works collaboratively with Town staff, providing appropriate guidance and policy direction while being respectful of the staff’s professional expertise and allowing them to get the job done.

Voting for Tom on March 3 is a strong vote for Wellesley and its future.

Sincerely,
Lise Olney
Town Meeting Member, Precinct E
Chair, Town of Wellesley Climate Action Committee
Past Select Board Chair and Vice Chair

To the editor:

My name is Costas Panagopoulos, and I am proud to announce my candidacy for the Wellesley School Committee. Our family moved to Wellesley 9 years ago. Our son George is in the 1st grade at Hardy Elementary School. We love our town, and we love our schools. I believe the public schools are the heart and soul of our community. Like many families, we moved here largely because of the excellence of the Wellesley public school system. We didn’t know what to expect when we moved here, but what we have found is a welcoming and inclusive community that has embraced our family in ways we could not have imagined. From the very beginning, it
has felt like home.

I have been passionate about education my entire life. My parents emigrated from Greece with only third grade educations. They instilled in me an appreciation for education that endures to this day. I am the product of the Massachusetts public school system, and I am indebted to it. I graduated from Dracut High School which prepared me to go to Harvard as an undergraduate where I completed my BA in Government magna cum laude.

I now work as an educator at Northeastern University where I am Distinguished Professor of Political Science. I was Chair of the Political Science department at Northeastern for 5 years, where I supervised nearly 30 faculty members and oversaw an annual budget of $4.5 million.

I am also dedicated to serving the Commonwealth in other ways. In 2020, Governor Baker appointed me to serve on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority. The Board oversees an annual operating budget of over $18 million and we manage loans and assets of nearly $12 billion. I am proud of my work on this board because our primary goal is to help to make college educations accessible and affordable for Massachusetts families.

These experiences may qualify me to serve effectively on the School Committee, but the strongest qualification—and perhaps the most important reason I am interested in this position—is because I am a parent whose experience with the Wellesley Public School system has been life changing. Our son has benefitted directly from the expertise and tireless commitment of extraordinary teachers, administrators and staff in the Wellesley public school system, first at the PAWS preschool program, then at Sprague Elementary and now at Hardy. We are so grateful to the Town of Wellesley and to the public school program.

I am running to keep our school system strong and flourishing. I want to empower teachers, administrators, staff and students—families—to succeed. I pledge to support policies to strengthen our schools and to make them better than ever. I will fight for high standards and academic excellence. I will fight for accountability, transparency and sustainability. And I will fight for fiscal responsibility. I will fight for you and your families. My approach is data-driven, collaborative and results-oriented. I believe strong schools are built when families, teachers and administrators work together with trust and shared purpose.

Over the course of this campaign, I have met with so many Wellesley families, students and town leaders. I am so grateful for their willingness to share their views about our school system and ideas about our how to make them stronger. I am listening. And if elected, I pledge to always do so and to represent our community in a thoughtful and responsible way. Without exception, these individuals clearly share my love for our town and our public schools, and they are committed to ensuring our schools and our children continue to thrive. They support investing in education and in our future and putting sound and sustainable policies in place that deliver results and strong outcomes. I invite you to reach out to share your thoughts or to support our campaign at electcostas.com.

I believe strong schools are built when families, teachers and administrators work together with trust and shared purpose.

I ask for your support.

Thank you

Costas Panagopoulos
Wellesley School Committee candidate