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John Chaimanis brings 25 years of entrepreneurial experience to his Ward 4 At-Large City Council campaign, combining his background as a former educator and renewable energy professional with deep Newton roots.
After co-founding Uphams Corner Charter School in Dorchester and earning his MBA from Babson College, John launched Kendall Sustainable Infrastructure in 2012. His company has invested over $500 million in clean energy projects, creating jobs and powering roughly 25,000 homes while building his expertise in finance and sustainability.
John’s platform centers on practical solutions: publishing city budgets in accessible Excel formats at department levels, streamlining business permitting processes that currently burden entrepreneurs, and leveraging public-private partnerships for infrastructure improvements without upfront costs. He proposes performance-based contracts where private contractors fund energy efficiency upgrades and recoup costs through the savings generated.
On housing, John advocates protecting “naturally occurring affordable housing” while supporting mixed-use development near transit. For transportation, he suggests targeted shuttle services modeled on local universities and expanding Newton’s tree canopy for both environmental and cost-saving benefits.
As a Newton parent of three and active community volunteer, John emphasizes data-driven governance, fiscal transparency, and building collaboration between residents and local businesses to strengthen Newton’s economic foundation.