Candidate Profile: David Todisco, Medford City Council

MEDFORD, MA — David Todisco 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.

Todisco has worked on several political campaigns, including most recently as Congresswoman Lori Trahan's press secretary and digital director.

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)

24

Position Sought

City Council

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

My mother Nancy and father Dennis grew up in Medford. I grew up in Medford with my brother Dennis, sister Kimberly, and brother Nick. My sister Kim and brother-in-law Brandon live in North Medford and have two children, Austin and Aubree.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Undergraduate at UMass Lowell. Masters in Public Administration, American University.

Occupation

I currently dedicate most of my efforts to my City Council campaign. Previously I served as Congresswoman Lori Trahan’s Press Secretary and Digital Director.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

N/A

Campaign website

https://www.davidtodisco.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

At the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, I served as a Congressional aide, working to communicate critical information to families across Massachusetts. The unprecedented challenges brought on by the pandemic led me to focus more intently on what was happening in Medford. After looking closely at the state of our city, I felt residents deserve more from our municipal leaders. Despite the hardships that we face, I believe that remarkable opportunities lie ahead for our community if we have the courage to reach for it. Now is the time to send leaders to city hall that will act with expertise and urgency to bring tangible change that will move Medford forward. With the number of critical issues looming before our city, we can’t wait another two years to elect leaders who will take action.

I am focused on implementing a city-wide infrastructure plan, modernizing city services, and revitalizing Medford Square into a thriving downtown area replete with diverse local businesses. After a lifetime of preparation and an upbringing in this incredible community, I am excited to get to work and help move the City of Medford forward. I would be honored to have your vote on Tuesday, November 2nd.

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

The most pressing issue in Medford is the climate crisis we are currently facing. This past summer we witnessed four unprecedented heat waves, smoke from forest fires thousands of miles away, and flooding across the city during the two hurricanes that hit our city. To me, climate resiliency is directly intertwined with an infrastructure plan.

Our future plans must talk about addressing the state of all 719 streets and sidewalks in Medford. As a North Medford resident I can tell you that the state of our streets and sidewalks are dismal and many walkways are not ADA compliant. Now is the time to create plans to beautify our city, and take tangible action to have roads, sidewalks, and a downtown that reflect how much residents currently invest in our city. We can do all of this while implementing climate resiliency every step of the way.

While I believe this is one of the most pressing issues, my goals for Medford certainly don’t stop there. I am incredibly passionate about funding a new Medford High school, implementing Charter Review to gain ward representation in Medford, putting in place city-wide broadband to ensure equitability for every household, and bringing modernized systems to City Hall to better serve your issues. To learn more about our platform, please visit davidtodisco.com.

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

My age and breadth of experience make me original from the others in the field. I am nearly 25 years old and have previously worked for a Mayor and a member of Congress, the latter while simultaneously earning a Masters in Public Administration. Through all of these opportunities I gained valuable experience in understanding how to turn everyday problems into policy solutions. I believe we need individuals who understand how to build relationships across a broad spectrum to achieve our shared goals and throughout my career I have made this my strength.

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

Throughout the pandemic while working for Congresswoman Trahan, we worked to ensure our constituents had much needed information on small-business relief, vaccination accessibility, food resources, and many other issues relating to personal health. It was around this time I started tuning into the Medford City Council meetings. I believe we could have done more to make sure our residents had access to vital information. I believe we should be promoting information to increase accessibility in as many ways as possible, such as hosting tele-town halls, Zoom conversations through Facebook live, and ensuring all our information is translated to other languages. I believe we can do more to keep our residents, especially non-English speakers, more informed.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

While our team is focused on a city-wide infrastructure, robust city communications, and a revitalized Medford Square, our platform doesn’t stop there. Now is the time to prioritize climate resiliency, address the housing crisis, revize our zoning laws and practices, and ensure we are consistently making Medford more walkable, safe for all modes of transportation, and that we are consistently opening up conversations to every population.

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

I was working for the congresswoman when the COVID-19 pandemic began. Throughout the duration of the pandemic, our office was working 24/7 around the clock, helping constituents and distributing information on issues such as COVID-19 testing, available food resources, small business relief, and best practices for protecting your personal health. Through this I gained a deep understanding on the importance of an active government that updates its community with information based on truth and facts. While working for Congresswoman Trahan I earned my Masters in Public Administration with a focus in municipal planning. I hope to bring these learned skills from my higher education to the council chambers and perfect our practices to actually start implementing the many plans we have.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

My father met my mother at church on the Medford Hillside. He met her on a Wednesday, and proposed to her seven days later at church. My dad always says, “When you know, and you know you know, confidence replaces fear.” I have tried to hold this with me in life whenever I am scared of making a tough decision. In life, I try to let confidence speak louder than the fear that often holds us back. And yes, my parents are still happily married to this day!

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

Six months ago, we launched an ambitious, bold campaign. When we did, we had no idea how this would turn out, but we did know we were going to give it our all. Over that time, you - the residents of Medford have invested so much in our vision. You shared with me your stories, your struggles, your hopes, and your fears. I carry all of those stories with me every day, and with your support, plan to bring them with me to the City Council chambers in January.