Candidate Profile: Abigail Dickson, Medford City Council

MEDFORD, MA — Abigail Dickson is one of 14 candidates vying for seven seats on the Medford City Council in the Nov. 2 municipal election. There are also contested races for mayor and school committee.

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

Dickson is the founder and artistic director of the Youthquake Theater Company. A Medford native, Dickson said they are concerned about housing affordability.

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

Age (as of Election Day)

23

Position Sought

Medford City Council

Family

My parents live in Medford in the house where I grew up. I also have three older siblings, two nephews, and a niece.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

B.A., summa cum laude, in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies with Theatre Arts minor from UMass Boston Honors College.

Occupation

Founder and Artistic Director, Youthquake Theater Company (10 years)
Sales Associate at Ciao! Bow Wow in Winchester (~6 months)

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

dickson4medford.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

The issue that got me interested in running was housing affordability in my city. I grew up in West Medford and saw a lot of people move out of my neighborhood over the years. More often than not, their houses would get bought up by a developer who would flip it and turn it into luxury condos. Now, I’m a renter in Medford and experiencing the affordability challenges from that standpoint. There is a lot of policy action that we can take to support people who are experiencing housing instability and to help support more affordable housing in Medford. I’m running to put forth those policies and others that will make our city more equitable, affordable, and sustainable.

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

There are so many pressing issues facing our city, including the ongoing pandemic, the housing affordability crisis, the climate crisis, and infrastructure issues including the need for a new high school. The city council needs to establish an affordable housing trust and an office of housing stability, update our zoning code, and move the Housing Production Plan forward, all with an eye toward long term sustainability. The need for climate mitigation and resiliency plans is also dire and should include making the city more walkable and bikeable and greening our infrastructure. We also need to address issues of diversity and equity, including the fact that our city government and workforce do not reflect the diversity of our city.

To achieve all these vital goals, we need a more representative and functional city government. Our city government structure has not been reviewed or updated in over 30 years, and does not fit our current needs as a city. We need a city council that fully supports a city charter review process in order to move forward on making our city government more equitable and more representative of the city and its neighborhoods, and more able to efficiently and effectively address the challenges we face.

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

My background in the theater world gives me a unique outlook and experience. As a performer, I’ve had to practice empathy and get into the minds and hearts of my characters. On stage management teams, I’ve been charged with ensuring all the moving parts of a production go off without a hitch, and dealing with issues in the moment when crises with costumes, sets, or cues occur. As a director, I’ve helped actors tap into their characters and get through creative blocks, conceptualized the big picture of a piece of work, and created and implemented my vision. My work in the theater has given me substantive and transferable interpersonal, creative, problem solving, collaborative, and visioning skills.

Another thing that may make me unique is that I don’t drive or have a car. I get myself to my commitments on foot, by public transportation, or by bicycle. I’ve experienced firsthand how difficult and treacherous some areas of the city are for pedestrians and cyclists, and I’m committed to addressing those problems.

Finally, I am a non-binary person, which marks a difference between me and my fellow candidates.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Affordable housing, climate resiliency, youth empowerment, charter review, fully funding vital city services including infrastructure and education, and equity.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

My parents always encouraged me to follow my passions. That has been a guiding principle for me, one that has led me to pursue public service as well as my personal artistic goals as a director and performer of theater.

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

The best thing about running for office has been connecting with voters. I've knocked thousands of doors and heard from people about their climate crisis concerns, affordability concerns, and the need for a more representative, effective city government.

It's been an honor and privilege to listen to my neighbors. I hope to enjoy the even greater honor and privilege of responding to their concerns and serving them as a Medford city councilor.