Beverly Candidate Profile: Kathleen Feldman For City Council

BEVERLY, MA — Beverly will have contested races for City Council in Wards three and five and a contested school committee race in Ward Four this fall. Beverly Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Kathleen Feldman, 39, is challenging incumbent Ward 5 City Councilor Donald G. Martin in the Nov. 5 city election. Feldman, who works as an operations manager and paralegal, has never held elected office before. She and her husband Mike have two sons.

Are you running for office in Beverly? Contact Dave Copeland at dave.copeland@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Beverly Patch.

Previously on Patch: Beverly Election 2019: Here's Who's Running

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Scaling public services to meet the growth that has taken place in recent years. I look forward to working with the mayor, the Parking and Traffic Commission, and the fire and police departments to improve the conditions and safety of sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes, and high-traffic intersections throughout Ward 5.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I have new ideas and fresh energy for Beverly. I’ve been endorsed by the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus and Ward 5 is the only seat on Beverly City Council that has never been held by a woman. I’m a mother with two young children in the public schools and there is no set of eyes more focused on what needs to be done to build a safer and brighter future for the upcoming generations.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community?

I’m in this race to talk about what I can do for my community, not to sling mud at my opponent, so I’d rather focus on how we can work together to build an even better Beverly. My opponent first took office in this seat in 1989 and has had several decades to push for his core priorities. My supporters and I think it’s time for a change.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

Excellence in education, traffic planning and pedestrian safety, environmental stewardship and sustainability, and fiscal responsibility. On education, we are one of the few districts in Massachusetts that doesn’t have free full day kindergarten; our leaders have been talking about it and pledging to do it for years. Let’s get it done! Looking forward, I see environmental sustainability and fiscal responsibility as highly related. Some communities are moving boldly to achieve fiscal savings and greater market certainty for citizens while creating local jobs through municipal-owned renewable clean energy. We should be exploring those options.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I’ve successfully put my MBA to use as operations manager at the Wenham Museum while being deeply involved in the community as treasurer of the North Beverly PTO and volunteering with Cub Scouts, First Parish Church, and Family Promise. I previously spent two years volunteering with children in rural Tanzania, and the challenges of living and working in the developing world taught me that I’m tough enough for the job.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

A Jesuit priest once told me that boiling water turns potatoes soft and eggs hard, but coffee actually changes the water around it. You can let the world around you make you soft or hard, or you can be the coffee and try to change the world. I love coffee, and I aspire to be like it!

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

As a Ward 5 voter, you should know that I will listen closely to your concerns, speak forcefully on your behalf, and remain involved in our community. My husband, kids and I enjoy camping and always try to leave our campsite better than we found it. I care deeply about making sure that we leave Beverly better than we found it for future generations, and no one will work harder on your behalf to make that happen.

Previously Published Beverly Candidate Profiles:

Candidates for reelection are marked with an asterisk (*).

City Council, Ward Three

Stacy Ames

Euplio "Rick" Marciano

Kirstin Shapiro

Kris Silverstein

City Council, Ward 5

Don Martin *

School Committee, Ward 4

John Mullady *

Jeffrey C. Silva