Ward 2 Resident Launches Campaign For Malden City Council

MALDEN, MA — With the new year came new action in Malden municipal electoral politics last week as Malden resident Sheila Rachels launched her campaign for a seat on the City Council.

Rachels filed paperwork to organize her campaign committee on Monday of last week. Speaking Thursday, she confirmed to Patch that she is running for the seat currently held by incumbent Councilor Paul Condon.

Rachels describes herself as a lifelong resident of Malden. Currently working in the private sector, Rachels said she became increasingly involved in various community events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said she wants to bring a deeper focus on community engagement and the environment to the City Council, expanding on work to date around the Malden River and other sites.

Rachels noted the ongoing local Malden River Works project, which aims to build a waterfront park on land next to the Malden River currently occupied by Malden Department of Public Works facilities.

She noted other environmental concerns which have come before the City Council, as well as city efforts to develop a climate action plan aimed at steering Malden’s response to climate change.

Rachels called Condon “a great councilor.”

“I really do appreciate the work that he’s done,” she said.

She continued, though, saying she feels it’s time for a change in Ward 2’s City Council representation.

“I’m really trying to bring that fresh perspective into the position,” she said.

Malden’s 2023 election schedule is yet to be finalized. City Clerk Carol Ann Desiderio told Patch on Monday, though, that the window to pull papers to run in the municipal election is set to open in May.

Condon has not yet announced whether he will run for reelection this year.

Condon won his first council election in 2015, running uncontested to replace former Councilor Steve Ultrino. Condon has won reelection on three occasions since 2015, similarly running uncontested in each campaign.