MARBLEHEAD — At Wednesday night’s Select Board meeting, a newly launched grassroots organization, For Marblehead, made a public debut, offering a vision for the town’s future and a clear call for action.
Speaking jointly during public comment, co-chairs Kate Thomson and Matt Hooks introduced the group as a rapidly growing civic movement focused on long-term financial stability and community investment.
Hooks said, “Three weeks ago, we launched For Marblehead, which is a grassroots organization that is dedicated to strengthening our town’s municipal services, schools, and infrastructure through sustainable funding, responsible policies, and good governance.”
The organization, according to both their remarks and official launch materials, was formed in response to mounting fiscal pressures and what members see as the need for a coordinated, community-driven solution.
Both speakers emphasized the speed and scale of community engagement since the group’s launch — something they framed as evidence of widespread concern and readiness for action.
“Since we launched this three weeks ago, I can tell you firsthand that the response has been extraordinary,” Hooks said. “There is real, palpable enthusiasm in this town to support an override campaign that delivers the services holistically across the community.”
Thomson added detail to that momentum, highlighting what she described as unprecedented volunteer turnout:
“I have been part of a few campaigns around these parts, and I have literally never seen anything like this. We have people stepping out by the 100s… I think last time we checked, we had 262 volunteers in less than a couple of weeks.”
She also pointed to strong early digital engagement on the website, www.formarblehead.org.
“We have launched our website… in only three days [we had] 1,000 unique visitors… and they’ve been joining Zoom… 86 people on a Zoom on Monday night. They want to know how to help,” she said.
Thomson said in an interview, “Marbleheaders understand what’s at stake. We care deeply about our schools, civic life, services, and infrastructure, and it has become abundantly clear that we’ve reached a moment in which inaction simply is no longer an option.”
She added, “Once people saw that there was a serious, constructive effort to advocate for a comprehensive solution, they wasted no time stepping in to help.”
Despite their support for a budget override, the co-chairs stressed that their backing is conditional, framing the organization as both an advocate and a watchdog.
“Our support is conditional. This is not a rubber stamp for any override that is put forth,” Hooks said.
He made clear the group is pushing for a comprehensive, long-term solution rather than a short-term fix.
He said, “If what’s put forth is short-term, short-sighted, and doesn’t collectively support the town in a holistic way, that’s not something that we’ll be able to get behind.”
That position aligns closely with the group’s official launch message, which calls for “a comprehensive, forward-looking” plan that ensures “multi-year financial stability” and protects essential services.
“Let all of us work together… people in the departments, in the finance committee, they’re ready to work,” Hooks said. “Give us the opportunity to get this done.”
Thomson extended that message beyond the board to the broader community:
“Whether you’re… a parent or student or teacher, community member or one of our town employees… this thing is about all of us, and we’re going to do it together.”
The group’s emergence comes amid ongoing debate over how to address Marblehead’s structural budget challenges. In both the meeting remarks and their press release, leaders framed the issue as more than financial.
“This effort is about more than a budget—it’s about what kind of community Marblehead wants to be,” Thomson said in the launch statement.
Thomson said in an interview, “I can speak for both Matt (Hooks) and myself when I say, the experience of realizing how many people want to be part of something solutions-oriented is energizing. Being part of a campaign exuding positivity and optimism has, so far, been a deeply gratifying experience. “
For Marblehead plans to focus in the coming weeks on outreach, voter education, and mobilization ahead of key decisions by the Select Board and Town Meeting.
The organization will be launching a kickoff party at a future date.
