Local municipal attorney Yael Magen is running for Select Board in the upcoming June 10 election, highlighting her extensive experience in municipal law and committing herself to preserving Marblehead’s multigenerational character while addressing the town’s pressing challenges.
With nearly a decade of experience representing municipalities across Massachusetts, including Wakefield, Winfield and Princeton, Magen believes her professional background gives her unique insight into effective local government operations at a time when Marblehead faces significant financial and administrative hurdles.
“My daily job is to help those who run towns and basically give advice to those who run towns, to select boards, to planning boards, chiefs of police, school committees, town employees working with the unions, like all local government bodies that operate a town or a city,” Magen told the Current.
Magen, who has lived in Marblehead since 2014, resides with her father, three children and brother, who owns a local business. Her family ties run deep, with her children actively involved in local schools and activities.
The candidate’s decision to run comes amid challenges facing the town, particularly its ongoing budget constraints.
Magen identifies three main priorities for her campaign: a new town charter being developed, budget challenges and zoning reform.
Charter, budget and zoning
The town charter, expected to be drafted by 2026, represents a critical governance document that Magen says requires careful consideration.
“It is extremely important that it is drafted correctly, that the allocation of power between elected and appointed officials is done in a way that protects our governance and moves us forward,” she said.
Regarding budget challenges, Magen emphasized the need for new revenue sources.
“We have a problem. Our revenue sources are not as high they should be. We need to find more revenue sources, whether it’s grants, partnerships, other things that we can do to bring in revenue,” she said. “We also need to be more efficient in our financial decisions and structure, technology and operations.”
The attorney also focused on zoning issues, noting their impact on Marblehead’s multigenerational character.
“I’m a believer in a multi-generational family,” Magen said, pointing to her own living arrangement with her father after her mother’s passing. “I want to help them continue to live here.”
Zisson’s campaign
Jim Zisson, Magen’s opponent in the race, has also emphasized financial issues as central to his campaign. A longtime fixture at municipal meetings and current Town Charter Commission member, Zisson announced his candidacy in November 2024, saying the town’s financial management would be his core focus.
“Going forward, there’s no doubt that the primary focus of the Select Board will be finances,” Zisson said at the time. “What has amazed me over the years is that, unlike most boards, the Select Board doesn’t receive a monthly update on operational expenses, which I find mystifying.”
Zisson’s experience on the Town Charter Commission gives him direct involvement in the governance reforms that both candidates identify as crucial for Marblehead’s future. His work on the commission, which began in 2024, involves helping draft the document that will serve as Marblehead’s municipal constitution if approved.
As an engineering project manager at GE’s helicopter division, Zisson brings a different professional background to the race, focusing on what he describes as a systematic approach to problem-solving.
“As an engineer, I try to be very objective about things and work through problems in a systematic way,” Zisson said. “I listen to people, gather data and try to wring the emotions out of things to make decisions.”
His regular attendance at town board meetings, including Select Board and Finance Committee sessions, has given him a front-row view of Marblehead’s governance challenges.
“I go to a lot of meetings because I have interest,” Zisson explained. “I like listening to what other people have to say as well. I learn a lot from that.”
The winner will replace Brett Murray, who is not seeking reelection after serving eight years across nonconsecutive terms. Murray has advocated for regular turnover on town boards, saying, “People should be there for two or three terms max, and rotate off.”
Transparency and unity
Magen believes her professional experience gives her a valuable perspective in addressing these challenges. “I always believe that if you have a tool in the skill set, then you need to use it,” she said. “It’s both your obligation and responsibility to use something especially if it can help others, especially if it can, you can take responsibility.”
She also emphasized transparency and unity as core values in her approach to governance.
“I think that the more transparency we have, and the more communication we have, the better we are,” Magen stated. “We are now in a discourse of separate ideologies. People are not talking to each other, neighbors are not talking to each other.”
Magen also noted her willingness to stand up for her principles even when unpopular. “I am known, really, to be somebody who stands up for what is right, like I fight for what is right. I stand up for what I believe in,” she said. “There were many times I found myself the only one going against a popular view.”
Both candidates will continue campaigning ahead of the June 10 election, which will be the second under Marblehead’s new staggered three-year term system for Select Board members, with polling locations set to be split between Abbot Hall for Precincts 1 and 2 and the Marblehead High School Field House for Precincts 3 through 6.
