Dear supporters,

I write with a sincerely heartfelt appreciation for your support in my campaign for the Planning Board. This was a hard fought contested election and you are the community that kept me and my campaign team inspired and motivated throughout.

Sometimes, an effort takes a village. This one did. I want to thank everyone who wrote emails to their circles of friends and neighbors; letters to the editor, hosted a lawn sign (more on that below), held signs in the cold on weekends, and stood out all day on election day.

Thank you to the incredible team that worked behind the scenes to make all of it possible and supported every effort we made.

Last night, the results were not in our favor, and it would be disingenuous not to acknowledge that the loss stung. That said, I am choosing to focus on the meaningful ways our campaign — and the broader conversation about thoughtful, sustainable zoning and development, affordable housing, and economic development — have already made a positive impact in Lexington.

I'm proud of everyone's work in bringing together a community of people who are looking forward towards Lexington's future.

1. Reaching new voters in new ways. We experimented with VoteBuilder and online ads to connect with residents differently. 428 people clicked on our mail-in ballot link, which gives me hope that this approach resonated in ways traditional outreach may not have. We also learned that text outreach was far more cost-effective than mailers — an important lesson for future campaigns.

2. Inspiring young people. Several parents shared that seeing a young candidate run for elected office sparked their child’s interest in local government. If this campaign helped even a few young people see themselves as capable voices in our town, that is something I will always treasure.

3. Broad and meaningful support. I was proud to earn the support of CAAL PAC and more than 250 individual endorsers. That encouragement meant more than I can say.

4. The power of canvassing. An impressive group of 36 volunteers hit the ground each weekend to meet voters and listen to their concerns. Those conversations mattered. We learned, we connected, and many residents told us that the ideas we shared resonated with them.

5. A focused and respectful campaign. I am proud of the campaign our team ran. We stayed grounded in voter issues and communicated a clear vision for Lexington’s future.

6. Providing clear information. We worked hard to share factual, accurate information about the issues and my qualifications. It was an important opportunity, and I believe more residents are better informed today because of it.

7. Keeping the conversation moving forward. The discussion around thoughtful planning and development must continue. I hope you will stay engaged as the new Planning Board begins its work. Let’s continue to keep economic development, housing affordability, and expanded housing options front and center.

For those hosting lawn signs — please leave them in the ground. Over the next few days, our team will be retrieving them. If we happen to miss yours by the end of the week, please let us know and we will arrange to pick it up promptly.

We are just $600 from fully funding the campaign. Thank you for any contribution you are able to give.

Thank you for being on this journey with me, my family, and our campaign team. We had a blast, made new friends, and strengthened old friendships. You made this an unforgettable and deeply positive experience — one I will always carry with me.

Warmly,
Kunal Botla

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Kunal Botla [he/him]
kunalbotla.com | LinkedIn