LtE: Together for Reading 2026 Election Endorsements

Dear Editor and Reading residents,

Reading’s annual local election is on April 7.  Historically, voter participation in local elections has hovered around 20–25 percent, an unfortunately low number, given local elections shape the decisions that affect our schools, neighborhoods, and community every day.  Reading would benefit from a larger percentage of residents making their voices heard at the ballot box.

The mission of Together for Reading (TfR) is to increase community engagement by encouraging more residents to run for local office, volunteer on town committees, and most importantly, to vote.  We also believe voters deserve transparency and accountability.

To that end, TfR is not affiliated with any anonymous political websites or mailing lists. As a registered political action committee (PAC), we operate openly: we designate a Chair and Treasurer, file financial reports with the state, and publicly share the issues we use to evaluate candidates for endorsement.

If you’re going to try to influence an election, you should be willing to put your name behind it. Anything less undermines claims of nonpartisanship, raises questions about consistency and fairness, and ultimately asks voters to place trust in a source that refuses to be accountable.

Our 2026 endorsements and more information about our work can be found on the Together for Reading website.

TfR extends our appreciation to everyone who chooses to run for local office. We encourage voters to consult multiple sources when researching every candidate and local issues in order to determine which candidates best represent their priorities.

Every vote matters in a local election. Please take a few minutes to learn about the candidates, make a plan to vote on or before April 7, and encourage your Reading friends and neighbors to vote as well.

Thank you,

Carolyn Johnson
Chair, Together for Reading
P2 Town Meeting member