Photo: Roy Epstein

Roy Epstein, a two-term member of the Belmont Select Board, has decided not to seek re-election for the seat he’s held since April 2019.

“I wanted to tell you that after months of thinking about it, I’ve decided not to seek a third term on the Select Board this spring,” said Epstein.  “This has honestly been one of the greatest privileges and one of the most interesting jobs I’ve ever had.  As those of you know who have been there, it’s hard to give it up.  I thank everyone who asked me to run again.  It’s very rewarding to have served and to feel that people believe I’ve done a good job,” he said.

“Thank you … for being part of the community in Belmont that is vitally concerned with how our little democracy can continue to thrive,” Epstein noted. “I said in 2019 that good government doesn’t just happen. It takes constant work. And you are key partners in helping to make it happen.

Epstein was first elected to the board in one of the closest races in town election history, defeating Jessica Bennett by 128 votes out of roughly 5,150 ballots cast. He was re-elected in 2022 by a comfortable two-third margin.

In an email sent on Monday night, Nov. 25, Epstein said he will be backing the candidacy of Taylor Yates, the Planning Board chair who has taken out nomination papers for Select Board.

As for his support of Yates, Epstein said he had been impressed with Yates in his support of the leaf blower bylaw in 2022 and his leadership of the Yes for Appointed Treasurer Committee and championing the MBTA Communities Act that came before this month’s Special Town Meeting.

“I know that [appointed treasurer] was controversial and not all of you agreed with the decision.  But Taylor organized a fair, fact-based campaign and events have proved that an appointed treasurer has worked out well,” said Epstein.

Epstein pointed to his experience leading the Planning Board as “an excellent training ground” to fill the seat on the board. “[Yates] showed the intelligence, maturity, and demeanor we need on the Select Board,” he said.

“By the end of the Special Town Meeting, I felt strongly that we had just seen the next member of the Select Board.”