As posted by Ron Newman on Monday May 9th
Monday was the first day that candidates for Somerville city office could take out nomination papers. They are due back at City Hall, with signatures, by June 12.
The city is keeping a list of the people who have so far taken out or returned nomination papers. You can find the list here. It will be updated as necessary.
[https://www.somervillema.gov/sites/default/files/candidates-for-municipal-office.pdf](https://www.somervillema.gov/sites/default/files/candidates-for-municipal-office.pdf)
Things to note so far:
– All eleven current City Council members are running for re-election.
– None of the seven Ward Councilors has an opponent so far.
– Three challengers are running for Councilor-at-Large, along with the four incumbents. One of those challengers is Jack Connolly, who has previously served as both Ward 6 Alderman and Alderman-At-Large.
– Mayor Joe has an opponent, Marianne Walles.
– Three of the current School Committee members appear not to be running for re-election. There is currently a contest only in Ward 3, where three candidates are running (which will require a preliminary election if all three qualify for the ballot).
– You can run for office too! See the election calendar and “How to Run For Local Office” at [https://www.somervillema.gov/departments/elections](https://www.somervillema.gov/departments/elections)
I would hope that there are more candidate’s not only to run but begin some debate on the slew of increases such as taxes, water and sewar, fees, excessive bonding. There needs to be greater accountability held on the administration by the next group elected to represent the city.
Tax and spend is wearing thin with the homeowners, renters and businesses. Every increase ends up back on those who live here, work here and play here.
Affordability is a click word being used by many to appease the socialist and our revolution groups. The scale of equality is leaning more towards the folks that have six figure incomes buying up the condos eliminating the middle class blue collar families leaving only those living in subsidized housing.
Agreements being made with developers should be designed to add housing affordable to middle class blue collar workers as well as those in need it should also assist with costs being constantly added to the homeowners trying to survive living here. The property owners who charge fair rents maintain their properties, the realitors who do the same and are not greedy.
Many of the current Councillors believe property owners are wealthy because of the equity built up in owning a home here for a long period of time. Using the equity by taking a loan to pay your taxes and other expenses not only requires payback but adds another bill to needed to be paid.
ELECTIONS NOT ONLY CREATE CHANGE THEY GIVE EVERYONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS AND ELECT PEOPLE WHO WILL WORK TO SUSTAIN A COMMUNITY THAT IS DIVERSE AND DOES PROTECT MIDDLE CLASS AS WELL AS OTHERS.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND GET OUT AND VOTE