Hello, neighbor!
My name is Jennifer Monroe Zakaras - most people call me Jen - and I’m running to be the City Councilor representing Burlington’s South District (Wards 5 and 6).
As a public health researcher, I spend my days working with data to find solutions to some of our most daunting social challenges. As a councilor, I intend to take the same evidence-based approach.
I believe Burlington’s best days are still to come, and I’m eager to work with you to build the city we all want, together.
Vote on or before March 4th –
Town Meeting Day!
Between 7:00am and 7:00pm
Ward 5 - Burlington Electric Department, 585 Pine Street
Ward 6 - Edmunds Elementary School, 275 Main Street
(*Note Ward 6 location change; enter from Main Street)
Unsure which Ward you live in? Check here!
If voting early, drop off your completed ballot in a designated drop box by March 3 at 4:30pm.
For more information about voting, visit my Voter Info page!
I call Bayview Street home with my two young daughters, Mia (8) and Emmeline (5), and my partner of 17 years, Michael. You may have seen me delivering homemade apple butter to my neighbors, reading at Nomad Coffee, throwing on the pottery wheel at BCA Studios, or winter dipping at Oakledge Cove. We love our neighborhood and city, and growing our family here has been a delight and a privilege.
My oldest will be graduating from high school in 10 years, and I find myself asking: What kind of city will Burlington be? And what choices can we make today to set us on a path of shared prosperity and wellbeing?
I’m running for City Council because I’m deeply invested in Burlington’s future and in working together towards the kind of city I believe we can be.
My Priorities
I’m optimistic about what’s ahead, while realistic about the problems we face.
Housing & Affordability
We urgently need to address our housing crisis and soaring cost of living so that Burlington can be an affordable place where people of all ages and backgrounds can live and flourish alongside one another.
Safety
Safety for all of us begins with ensuring that none of us has to live in perpetual crisis. We need evidence-based approaches to community safety that reduce harms and save lives now, while also addressing root causes so that all of Burlington’s residents can feel safe and secure over the long term.
Climate Change
We need to continue to ambitiously mitigate climate change and to ensure a “just transition” to a low-carbon economy in which the benefits and burdens are equitably shared among all members of our community.
Civic Health
We need to invest in our civic infrastructure to create more ways for Burlingtonians to channel their voices and concerns into meaningful collective action that solves problems and nurtures social trust.
Take a Deeper Dive into my Policy Priorities!
I bring crucial skills and perspectives that will make me an effective City Councilor.
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I earned a Master’s Degree in Public Health from Columbia University, focused on the social determinants of health.
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I manage multi-million dollar grants from the National Institutes of Health and coordinate large research teams.
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I serve on the leadership team of a major university center focused on protecting our health from climate change impacts.
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As a key part of my work, I use clear and compelling language that conveys complex ideas to the public.
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I serve on the PTO and a family advisory group at the Integrated Arts Academy, and I’m a weekly classroom volunteer with the students there. I also help coordinate the Old North End Mutual Aid network.
“I cannot think of a better city council candidate for the South District. Jen knows her values, excels at solving complex policy challenges within her professional public health work, and can effectively work with anyone. I’m excited about the new energy and fresh ideas she’ll bring to the council – the kind that will keep moving our city forward.”
-Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak
See Who Else Endorses Jen!
Get in touch and get involved!
I look forward to speaking with many of you in the weeks to come and to hear your priorities and aspirations for our neighborhood and our city. I can call or stop by, and my door is always open.
Check back here regularly for updates on meet and greets and other community events.
