Candidate Profile: George Scarpelli, Medford City Council

MEDFORD, MA — George Scarpelli is one of five incumbent city councilors seeking re-election. There are 14 candidates vying for seven seats on the Medford City Council in the Nov. 2 municipal election, as well as 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.

Scarpelli was elected to the city council in 2015 after being on the school committee for six years. He has served in various leadership roles, currently as chair of the subcommittees on Transportation, Education, Youth & Recreational Affairs, and Licensing.

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

52

Position Sought

City Council

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Wife Dina, son John, daughter Gianna

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Medford High School Salem State University BS Cambridge College, MPA Occupation Program Director, Somerville Recreation Department

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Current Medford City Councilor Former member, Medford School Committee

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am seeking reelection to continue my work of prioritizing education and youth sports programming and mentoring for our next generation of leaders. I believe we need to give our kids all the tools and skill sets necessary to compete and succeed in a global economy. I grew up in Medford and choose to stay and raise my family here, and I want to continue to lift Medford forward and realize our maximum potential as an area leader in smart development, clean energy, affordable housing, and a first rate public school system for all. I also want to work to end the divisiveness and rancor that has permeated our community, and hindered our potential. Only if we work together can we secure the best possible future for our city and our children in the years ahead.

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

I believe the most pressing issue facing our community is the recent divisions that have been manifested and now pit old against new, liberal against conservative, and have developed into an unhealthy "us vs them" mentality. We should now, for the betterment of our community, and Medford as a whole, work together to understand and respect one another and forge a common bond. Police reform is one such example. All of us want an accountable and professional police force, but stripping public safety of the resources necessary to keep our community safe will not accomplish that. A focus on retraining and community involvement is the only way to achieve a responsive and respectful police force. The partisan rancor that has permeated government at the federal level has trickled down to negatively affect state and local government across our great country. Unfortunately, Medford has not been immune to this petty bickering, and our residents deserve better. Council sessions should not be a forum to grandstand on issues-for the mere sake of grandstanding-without any viable and workable solution to the problems that we all know exist.

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

I bring a unique mix of education, youth sports, and community involvement to my portfolio. I do think that we are alike in the way that we all want what is best for our city, and the people who live and work here every day. I also have an invaluable experience as a former teacher, school committee member, and now Councilor to the table. With young families moving into Medford at an ever-growing rate, we need to keep our community and family values front and center while at the same time continue the advancement and progress we’ve made in education, transportation, the clean and green economy, and cutting-edge, transit-orientated economic development.

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

The COVID-19 public health crisis tested government and public service at all levels. In many ways we rose and responded to the situation with food and rental assistance programs, virtual learning platforms for our classrooms, small business forgivable loans, and many other relief measures that stabilized our people and our economy, and allowed us to get through the darkest early days of the pandemic. But we still have a ways to go toward re-balancing and restructuring our economy. Many industries, restaurant, hospitality, transportation, traditional retail, among many others, have yet to fully recover. We need to keep existing emergency measures like eviction moratoriums, food assistance, and unemployment compensation programs in place for the foreseeable future until we have the COVID-19 pandemic fully behind us.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Smart fiscal management, new opportunities for housing and commercial development along public transportation centers like the GLX extension, a continued effort on codifying an updated zoning ordinance, and an updated Master Plan for Medford Square.

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

My experience in education and my advocacy for the largest increase in school funding in decades. My continued commitment towards safe streets and roadways for pedestrian and cyclists, and my environmental initiatives like the banning of plastic bags and the transfer to all LED lighting for city streetlights.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

No matter what happens, it will pass and you will be stronger and wiser for the experience.

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

I am truly honored and privileged to serve as a Medford City Councilor and I will always make decisions in my capacity as an elected official with your (and Medford’s) best interests in mind.