Candidate Profile: Stephen Winslow, Ward 6 City Council

MALDEN, MA — Stephen Winslow is running for city council in Ward 6 in the Nov. 2 municipal election. He faces a challenger in Jerry Leone. There will also be a citywide election for councillor at-large, as well as elections for city council and school committee in certain wards.

Malden Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles this week.

Winslow is a city planner and current councillor at-large. He previously served as a school committee member in Ward 6.

Are you running for office in Malden? Contact Alex Newman at alex.newman@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate profile and submitting campaign announcements to Malden Patch.

Age (as of Election Day)

61

Position Sought

Ward 6 City Councillor

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Wife Helen, 11 Brothers and Sisters, 2 Daughters, 3 Granddaughters

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

BS - Chemical Engineer, JD Law - University of California

Occupation

Lawyer / City Planner - 35 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Currently Malden City Councillor at Large, Formerly Ward 6 School Committee Member

Campaign website

winslowformalden.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

Ward 6 City Councillor

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

The two most pressing issues in Ward 6 are the future of Maplewood Square and increased flooding in several residential neighborhoods. On the future of Maplewood Square, I have worked with my fellow Councillors to create a Special Committee on the Future of Maplewood Square that includes resident and business representatives. This committee will work with residents and businesses to create a vision for the future of Maplewood Square and propose rules to help ensure that vision is realized. I have been the lead author of a rules that would require any major developments in the City to go through site plan review to ensure residents have input in those projects, including any possible projects in Maplewood Square.

On flooding, I am leading the City's task force focusing on Water and Sewer infrastructure. I am working with the City Engineer, our Conservation Commission Chair and key consultants to assess the state of repair of our storm drain system, to identify necessary fixes and fund those improvements.

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

I am a candidate that believes that to ensure a "Strong Future" for Malden and Maplewood, that City leaders and residents must be forward thinking, open to new ideas and willing to undertake improvements that help improve the quality of life for residents of all backgrounds and abilities.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

Malden Health Officials, first responders, political leaders as well as front line workers and average residents all responded tremendously to a difficult crisis our community faced and continues to face to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Board of Health kept well informed of the latest guidelines the MA Department of Health and CDC developed based on the medical and scientific data as it was gathered. Personally I worked with the Mayor Malden BOH and Malden Housing Authority to limit visitors to senior apartments in early 2020 to help protect our seniors residents and also worked with Malden Neighbors to secure PPE for Housing Authority staff to ensure their safety and the safety of our seniors as the worked diligently to prevent the spread of COVID-19. When vaccines became available, I reviewed vaccinations rates and called on our Board of Health to do special outreach, particularly to residents on our African American / Haitian community to encourage more residents to get vaccinated.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

My campaign protect our seniors and youth by supporting safer and more accessible streets and sidewalks. To that end, I have worked to have the City hire a transportation planner, supported lowering our city-wide speed-limit to 25-MPH, called for the City to develop a "Transit Action Plan" to identify ways to improve bus service and support projects that invest in traffic signals and Complete Streets that are safer for users of all ages and abilities, whether they drive, take the bus, walk or bike. I plan to continue my successful work in improving Trafton Park and other parks to increase opportunities for safe, healthy recreation for all residents. I support diversity, equity and language access initiatives and will always seek community input on efforts to improve our transportation system, parks and Malden an affordable place to raise a family.

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

Secured $1.67 million in funds to improve Trafton Park, including the successful improvements to the playground and walking path in 2021. Secured $2.75 million in funds to expedite lead pipe removal and helped develop a tool that will ensure those funds go to the streets where more kids live. Worked with fellow Councillors to pass a Complete Streets Policy, lower our city speed limit to 25 MPH and successfully advocated for $1.2 million in funds for Complete Streets. Serve on Malden's Affordable Housing Trust and was a lead sponsor of the City's Inclusionary Zoning ordinance that ensures major new developments will include affordable units. Wrote the City's 5G Cell Ordinance and have worked to approve implementation of 5G in the City. Helped draft and support the City's sensible rules for cannabis retail. Supported the City's demolition delay ordinance to help ensure protection of our most important historic buildings. Co-founder of Bike to the Sea, Inc that lead the effort to create the Northern Strand Trail. Served as Chair the City Council Public Safety Committee which reviewed fire response times, worked with Fire Chief Sullivan on strategies to diversify our fire crews and met with Police Chief Molis and officers review Malden PD's Use of Force Policy and its successful, ongoing, forwarding thinking efforts to hire, retain and promote police officers of color to best work with the community to keep all Maldonians safe.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

You can make a difference in your community, that will only happen if you take the first step.

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

I back my words up with actions. I inform myself through listening, observation and research and I am forthright on how I come to my decisions. I am willing to withstand harsh and vocal criticism of some, even key supporters, when I have assessed that a course of action best serves the greater good of our broad and diverse community.