Brendalee Smith launched a successful write-in campaign to win the Republican nomination for state representative in the 10th Bristol district. File photo, submitted 2025.
Press Release
Brendalee Smith has officially secured the Republican nomination for State Representative in the 10th Bristol District after receiving 185 write-in votes in the September 1 primary election. Smith surpassed the 150 votes required to qualify and will appear on the November General Election ballot.
“I am incredibly grateful to everyone who wrote in my name, especially my family, friends and neighbors in Fairhaven, who helped us reach this important moment,” Smith said. “This victory belongs to every person who volunteered, encouraged us, and believed that voters deserve a choice. We will continue building on this momentum, listening to voters, and turning their concerns into practical action.”
Smith enters the General Election with a campaign message that reflects both why she is running and how she intends to serve: Turning Concerns into Practical Action.
“My why is my love for our community and the families who call it home,” Smith said. “My how is listening carefully, developing a practical plan, budgeting responsibly and remaining persistent until the work gets done.”
Smith brings experience from the business, nonprofit, education and public-service sectors. As the founder and CEO of Amel Technology, she has worked with engineers, attorneys and business leaders to develop and advance patented display technology. As Director of Community Development for Rebuilding Lives, she has managed programs and budgets while helping individuals facing homelessness find housing and supportive services.
Her background also includes developing educational safety programs for students from kindergarten through college and coordinating multidisciplinary teams involving law enforcement, government agencies, schools, healthcare providers and social-service organizations.
Smith has served Fairhaven as an elected School Committee member and Town Meeting member, as well as a member of the Charter Committee and Special Bylaw Review Committee. She has also served on the board of the Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative.
“Business has taught me how to take an idea, build a plan, manage resources and stay with the work,” Smith said. “Community service has taught me to listen, bring people together and respond to real needs. Being a mother and grandmother has deepened my sense of responsibility for the kind of future we leave to the next generation.”
Smith’s campaign priorities include tax relief and responsible state spending, fair and dependable school funding, and dedicated funding with clear public timelines for roads, the Fairhaven–New Bedford Bridge, drainage and flood protection. She also plans to address concerns about state-driven building and energy codes to ensure energy- efficiency standards remain practical and affordable for homeowners and builders.
“I will keep this campaign focused on the issues and on practical, attainable goals,” Smith said. “People deserve more than an acknowledgment of their concerns. They deserve a representative who will develop a plan, manage taxpayer dollars responsibly and persist in turning those concerns into action.”
The 10th Bristol District includes Fairhaven, Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester, along with portions of Acushnet and New Bedford.
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9-11 Audio file courtesy of Elizabeth Cardoso-Medeiros
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