Framingham Charter Commission: Meet the Pro-City Candidates

Framingham, MA - Should Framingham be a city or town? As a city, how much power would its mayor have? Who decides how much you'll pay in local taxes and where businesses can open up shop?

A measure on Tuesday's ballot will determine whether or not a charter commission should answer those questions. Twenty-six people are vying for nine seats on that commission, and would take up to one year to develop a proposed government structure. Voters then choose whether to support or oppose that proposal.

• READ MORE: Patch breaks down the Framingham charter campaign
• Check back with Patch after polls close for results from Framingham's ballot question, elections

Most candidates say they haven't settled on a specific government structure, but many lean toward a city form. You can meet them below. Several others are either leaning against a city form, or say they're on the fence. You can meet them here.

Keep in mind that if a charter commission is formed, its members must work together to select one of several possible governmental structures, then draft that proposal and publish it two months prior to a public vote.

Note: An asterisk (*) denotes a candidate endorsed by the Framingham Business Association, and a hash mark (#) indicates a candidate is affiliated with the Framingham First movement. "City vs. Town" indicates candidates' interests, as stated in the videos below.

Name: Adam Blumer*#

City vs. Town: “I come in with one non-negotiable, and a bunch of preferences”; would never support new charter where mayor also chairs school committee, leaning toward town or city council

Political experience: Former school committee member

Would run for office under new government system? No

Name: Deborah Butler

City vs. Town: Interested in council election process as seen in Franklin, Marlborough city structure

Political experience: Currently running for board of selectmen

Would run for office under new government system? Would seriously consider it

Name: Dennis Cardiff*#

City vs. Town: City, with strong mayor; supports any form of government without Town Meeting

Political experience: Former Selectman, school committee member, parks & recreation committee; previously sat on previous charter commission

Would run for office under new government system? Possibly would run, "but I have no interest in being the mayor."

Name: Doug Freeman*#

City vs. Town: Pro-city, believes Town Meeting “ineffective,” should be replaced with town or city council, elected mayor

Political experience: Former selectman candidate

Would run for office under new government system? “I wouldn’t speculate on that. I don’t have any plans to run for anything except charter commission.”

Name: Janet Leombruno*#

City vs. Town: Believes Town Meeting "doesn’t work,” and has interest in Lowell’s city government with “weak mayor” who sits on City Council

Political experience: Town Meeting member, campaign work for governor/lieutenant governor

Would run for office under new government system: “I can’t answer ‘yes’ or ’no.’”

Name: Valerie Mulvey*#

City vs. Town: Interested in hybrid town manager-town council form of government, such as Braintree's

Political experience: Current town clerk

Would run for office under new government system? No

Name: Joseph Norton*#

City vs. Town: Replace Town Meeting, did not specify form

Political experience: Zoning Board of Appeals associate member

Would run for office under new government system: Depends upon the time commitment, form of government

Name: Jason Smith*#

City vs. Town: “Keep an open mind,” get input from community; most interested in Newton’s strong mayor-council city structure

Political experience: Selectman

Would run for office under new government system? Yes, depending on form of government

Name: John Stefanini*#

City vs. Town: Pro-city, supports ending Town Meeting

Political experience: State representative, Selectman

Would run for office under new government system? “Don’t know.”

Name: Tom Tierney

City vs. Town: City form of government, with five city councilors

Political experience: Member of 1996 charter commission

Would run for office under new government system: No

Name: Ted Welte*#

City vs. Town: Would like to see a mix of elected mayor, professional town/city manager

Political experience: Former MetroWest Chamber of Commerce executive

Would run for office under new government system: No

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Videos courtesy Access Framingham and The Audrey Hall Show. Used with permission. Charter commission candidates Cheryl Gordon, Bob Merusi and Christine Long did not participate in video interviews for Hall's program, and are not included here.