An attorney by training, Mehreen Butt has long been involved in politics, volunteering on dozens of campaigns across Massachusetts and New Hampshire. But in 2016, when a special election for Wakefield Town Council presented itself as an opportunity, Butt decided that it was time for her to become the candidate.
Though her first campaign ended in defeat, Butt was undeterred. She ran again the next April, highlighting environmental, education and social justice issues. Her subsequent win was historic: Butt became the first Muslim-American woman elected to a local select board in the Bay State.
At a time when our national politics are so divided, Butt believes that communities can come together to create positive change. Even seemingly small changes, like raising the Pride flag or enacting a single-use plastic bag ban, can be a powerful statement about a town's values. As the only person of color on Wakefield's council, however, Butt carries an additional responsibility beyond policy debates. She is acutely aware that there are young girls watching her on television, looking up to her as an example of what is possible.
"I do think representation matters," said Butt, who was born in Boston and raised in Lynnfield, Massachusetts. "There's a saying that 'If you can see it, you can believe it and you can achieve it. And, I think the more we see nontraditional candidates running for office and winning, then we will have better local government."
