My name is Melissa Murphy, and I am running for reelection for one of the two Select Board seats open in the Town of Reading on April 8, 2025. I am seeking reelection to continue making a difference in our town. I aim to use my skills, energy, and ideas to make Reading the best place for my family and yours.

I have been an active member of the Reading community for many years, serving in various roles, most notably as a Select Board member since May 2024 and a Town Meeting member for the past four years. 

My husband, Brian, and I moved to Reading in 2008 after an exhaustive search of North Shore communities. With the goal of raising a large family and establishing roots in a safe community with easy access to Boston, we found Reading to be the ideal location. We have lived in the same house since 2008 and have built lifelong relationships with community members over the past sixteen years.

I hold a degree in criminal justice from Northeastern University. Before focusing on my family, I worked for eight years as a paralegal at a law firm specializing in plaintiff civil and complex tort litigation. In 2012, I stepped back from my career to raise our growing family and actively participated in Reading's community events. My education and experience have given me a strong background in researching and analyzing complex issues. I’ve developed the ability to communicate clearly about how statutes and administrative guidelines impact those issues. I feel this has been evident in my work on Select Board matters since May.

We have raised our four children—Isabelle (16), Elizabeth (14), Annaliese (12), and Thomas (11)—in our home on Van Norden Road, complemented by our beloved Leonberger dog, Bear (we lost our older Leonberger Gus in September).

During my 16 years as a Reading resident, I have established many connections in our town. While balancing the demands of raising four children, I have volunteered my time to improve our town and schools. I started with Connect the Tots and have continued through the Wood End PTO, the Wood End School Council, Town Meeting, and now the Select Board. Seeing the difference we can make when the community comes together is gratifying.

I ran in 2023 and again in 2024 because of my growing concerns about the changes within our town government, particularly the increasing divide among elected officials. I have worked tirelessly to address this issue, striving to bring the Select Board back to focusing on what is best for Reading residents. All residents deserve fair hearings, equal access, and equal priority, regardless of their viewpoints.

In my ten months as a Select Board member, I have worked to ensure that every resident has a voice. I firmly believe in communication and respect, and I have demonstrated my commitment to these principles. If re-elected, I promise to maintain professional, respectful, and open communication with all residents, business owners, board members, and fellow Select Board members. Even if I disagree with your opinions, I will always respect your right to express them as a citizen of this great country. Progress can only be achieved when both parties recognize that differing views do not make someone an adversary. The best ideas often emerge from listening and engaging in constructive debate. I know we can work together!