Marlborough Council Candidate Trey Fuccillo Seeks Ward 6 Seat: Q&A

MARLBOROUGH, MA — Marlborough's 2023 election is shaping up to be one of the most consequential in years.

For the first time in a decade, there's an open race for mayor with Mayor Arthur Vigeant stepping down at the end of the year. There are also five competitive city council races for At-Large, and the Ward 2, 4, 6 and 7 seats. The Ward 6 race is wide open with incumbent Sean Navin running for an at-large seat in 2023.

To help voters decide who they'll pick ahead of the November election, Patch has asked each candidate — even those running unopposed — to answer candidate questionnaires. Here's how Ward 6 candidate Albert "Trey" Fuccillo answered:

Name: Albert 'Trey' Fuccillo

How old will you be as of Election Day? 21

Education: I’m working towards my Bachelor of Science in Political Communication from Emerson College. I also hold a verified certificate in American Government: Constitutional Foundations from Harvard University.

What is your occupation? Currently, I’m focused on campaigning to deliver for the people of Ward 6. I also work for the Emerson College Office of Student Accessibility Services. Previously I’ve worked at Marlborough City Hall and the Marlborough Community Development Authority.

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them. I come from a family of three. 25 years ago my parents moved to Marlborough for the unique job opportunities and family-friendly community. I have lived here my whole life and I consider many of my neighbors to be family. I also have many aunts, uncles and cousins with deep ties to the Marlborough area.

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective? I have been both an appointed and elected delegate to the Massachusetts Democratic State Convention. I was also appointed to the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Associations (MIAA) Student Advisory Committee. In this role, I represented thousands of high school students and petitioned the state to support their collective interests; including prioritizing educational athletics, investing in special education and expanding mental health support resources for all. I also served on the AMSA Board of Trustees Education Committee. One of my greatest accomplishments in this role was helping to develop our schools online learning model and getting students back in the classroom in response to COVID-19.

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

I’ve been proud to call Ward 6 home my entire life. I’m a product of our public schools, played baseball in our parks, and learned the value of public service in our city. I’m running for City Council to protect our community’s character and way of life so it can be enjoyed for generations to come. I see our untapped potential, and as the next Ward 6 Councilor, I hope to help us achieve it in a way that brings us back to being a country-kind-of-city.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ... and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing Ward 6 and our entire city is unsustainable development. Big, out-of-state developers are setting their sights on Marlborough, and if we don’t act now, we risk losing our city’s small-town charm and our revered outdoor spaces. If I’m elected, I’ll stand up to those developers who are looking to profit at the expense of our community. Additionally, I’ll make sure we maintain the necessary affordable housing stock required by the state so that we can continue to enforce our zoning codes.

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

I’m focused on uplifting our community, not bringing my opponent down. But I will say one thing my team and I are proud of is our special relationship with the community. I’ve been campaigning since May, and in that time, I’ve knocked nearly every door in Ward 6! I’ve had the privilege of talking to folks from every corner of our community–from renters, to homeowners, to small business owners. I’ve listened to them about what issues matter most and had serious conversations about how the city government can help. It’s been an honor to earn the support of so many, and I hope to represent every resident of Ward 6 as their next city councilor.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

I’m ready to help Ward 6 residents with all the issues that matter to them. But after talking to so many in our community, some of the common concerns I’ve heard are ensuring funding for our first responders, preserving our outdoor spaces, improving our school district, and maintaining our streets, sidewalks, and other infrastructure.

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

I worked at City Hall for two years, handling constituent concerns and finding solutions for some of our neighbors toughest problems. While there, I collected outstanding account receivables that were owed to our city. I worked in tandem with our finance department, helping streamline important processes including the automation of the city payroll. I also have experience at the Marlborough Community Development Authority, our local housing authority, where I found affordable housing opportunities for hundreds of vulnerable residents. It was an honor to show struggling residents how supportive and compassionate our city can be.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

The best advice I ever received came from my late-grandfather, a fifty-year volunteer firefighter and dedicated community member. In one of the last conversations I had with him, he told me, “You always have to be prepared, you never know when someone is going to need your help.” At the age of 82, when flash floods hit his small community, he was still one of the first to set up important road closures and detours–putting himself in harm's way to protect his community. He was always prepared to help his neighbors, and I can assure you, I will be ready to do the same.

Marlborough voters will head to the polls on Nov. 7 to elect city councilors, school committee members and a new mayor. Register to vote here.