Brandon Burns

Education Brandon is a proud graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Operations and Information Management with a Business Analytics Certificate, followed by a Master of Science in Accounting with a focus on Forensic Accounting. Before UMass, Brandon was part of the Classical Academy at Haverhill High School and a member of the National Honor Society. Work Experience Brandon’s work ethic began early at sixteen, he worked for the Haverhill Housing Authority, supporting low-income residents and seeing up close how city services impact families. From there, he worked at Barrio Tacos, Tequila, & Whiskey in downtown Haverhill, where he rose from entry-level to management while attending college, a testament to his determination and leadership. While at UMass, Brandon also worked in the Student Activities & Campus Life Finance Department, mentoring more than 300 student organizations on financial management, giving him hands-on experience in accountability and organizational leadership. Finally, Brandon expanded his skills at the professional level with a Boston accounting firm, interning in the Tax Department where he applied his education in finance and forensic accounting. Though young, Brandon has consistently worked to bridge communities from local residents to small businesses to students; always focused on creating opportunities for others.

Aggressively pursue state and federal grants for water, sewer, and road upgrades. Require developers to pay their fair share for infrastructure expansion. Launch an online dashboard so residents can track projects and spending.

Mayor Melinda E. Barrett is a 3rd generation Haverhill resident, and she proudly serves the City of Haverhill as the first woman mayor in the city’s 300-year history. Prior to her election as mayor, she served on the Haverhill City Council for 10 years, becoming the first woman City Council president in 2020. Barrett credits her family for encouraging her love for Haverhill, people, and politics. She attended Haverhill public schools and received her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. After college, she returned home to help run the family business Barrett’s Menswear, founded in 1917 in downtown Haverhill. Barrett successfully opened and operated her own store Barrett’s Specialty Foods for 23 years until its closing in 2018, marking over 100 years of her family doing business in Haverhill. Her small business and City Council experience, combined with her deep roots in the city, make her uniquely qualified to lead Haverhill. As Mayor, Barrett prioritizes collaboration and making Haverhill one of the best cities in the Commonwealth to live, work, and visit.