Medford Candidate Profile: Zac Bears For City Council

MEDFORD, MA — The municipal election is fast approaching in Medford, and the city council race is highly contested.

Medford Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles leading up to November.

Incumbent Zac Bears is running again for a City Councilor at-large seat in Medford.

Age

32

Position sought

Medford City Councilor

Party affiliation

Democrat

Family

Bruce (Dad), Laura (Mom), Isabelle (Sister)

Education

Medford High School Class of 2011, UMass Amherst Class of 2015 (BA, Economics and BA,
Political Science)

Occupation

Nonprofit finance and operations director (2022 to present), formerly a nonprofit executive
director, economist for Bureau of Labor Statistics, labor union communications staff member,
and self-employed communications and administrative consultant.

Previous or Current Elected Office

Medford City Councilor (2020 to present)

Campaign Website

https://zacbears.com/

Why are you seeking elected office?

I’m running for re-election to the Medford City Council because it’s time to create and implement
a bold, transformative plan to fund Medford’s future and build a city that works for all of us.
We need to implement a real revenue plan to fund our city budget, build a new Medford High
School, pass policies to make housing more affordable, create more vibrant business districts,
and make city government more inclusive, accessible and democratic.

As a lifelong resident and graduate of Medford Public Schools, I know what this community
means to residents, whether they have lived here for 5 days or 50 years, because this
community means so much to me.

What we’ve accomplished over the past six years and what we will achieve in the years ahead
is only possible because of the commitment of so many residents to work together to make
Medford an even better place to live.

We can do even more if we take action on the great opportunities that lie ahead for Medford.
The single most-pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is __________ and this is
what I intend to do about it.

Two years ago, I promised to pass the city’s first-ever Budget Ordinance, establish the Financial
Task Force to deliver a real plan to invest in our public schools and city services, and take
urgent action to raise revenue.

I’m so proud to say that we accomplished each of those goals and our city and schools are
better off because of our successful efforts.

But I know we’re all still fed up with broken streets and sidewalks, understaffed city services,
and a beautiful Medford Public Library that doesn’t have the funding or staffing to stay open on
Sundays.

We still have a $200 million street and sidewalk repair backlog to address. We still need more
code enforcement officers, health inspectors, and economic development planners. We still
need to fix our water and sewer lines and build a new Fire Headquarters and new Medford High
School.

While the 2024 overrides stopped the bleeding of budget cuts and allowed for significant
investments in our schools, Medford must enact and implement a real plan to raise revenue
through smart and transformative new growth and development. That’s the work this Council
has been focused on this term.

Now is the time for us to come together and move forward collaboratively to make the big
decisions to fully fund the city budget and build a better future for Medford and all of its
residents.

Over the next two years, I look forward to:

● Bringing together the city’s development planning and revenue planning processes to
ensure that the city raises the revenue necessary to provide basic services through new
growth of our commercial and mixed-use tax base
● Demanding clear plans and timelines from the Mayor and City Administration for when
and how we will fix our streets, update our water and sewer lines, and restore our public
buildings by using the transparent budget process created by the new Budget Ordinance

● Working with residents, families, the Mayor as part of the Financial Task Force, and the
Medford High School Building Committee to outline a plan to fund the construction of a
new Medford High School with significant state funds from the Massachusetts School
Building Authority

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

Over the past six years as a councilor, I've developed a deep understanding of the structural
problems that have left Medford with a deeply underfunded city budget, a need for smart growth
policies to build more housing that fits our negihborhoods and revitalize our business districts,
and streets and sidewalks in desperate need of repair and safety improvements.
I have a clear plan to address these issues that is grounded in the grassroots 2025 Medford
People’s Platform, which was created by hundreds of Medford residents and outlines the shared
values and policy goals that guide me in my work with colleagues in city government.
Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I’m especially proud that we’ve already passed so many important ordinances and policies to
make Medford an even better place to live, work, and raise a family:

● The Affordable Housing Trust Fund Ordinance creates a dedicated fund to build more
affordable housing here in Medford
● Major investments in our Middle Schools and Elementary Schools to replace out of date
HVAC systems will help our students learn better and keep these facilities working for
students and educators for decades to come
● The Welcoming City Ordinance protects our immigrant neighbors by preventing the use
of local resources to enforce violent anti-immigrant federal policies
● The new Wildlife Feeding Ordinance, updated Rodent Control Ordinance, updated Snow
and Ice Removal Ordinance, updated Solid Waste Ordinance, Leafblower Ordinance,
and new Citywide Composting Program all advance our community’s efforts to better
protect our environment and quality of life
● The creation of General and Capital Stabilization Funds that should have been
established years ago means that our city resources are available to respond to
emergencies and to invest more in water, sewer, street safety, and infrastructure
improvement projects
● The Gender-Affirming Care and Reproductive Health Ordinance fights back against
federal attacks on our most basic rights and ensures that Medford residents will have
access to health care they need
● The Values-Aligned Local Investments Ordinance ensures that Medford stands strongly
in support of universal human rights by preventing the investment of the city’s public
funds in companies that are destroying our climate, profiting from private prisons,
manufacturing weapons, or contributing to severe human rights violations

● The updated Community Control Over Public Surveillance Ordinance protects residents
by ensuring democratic control, approval, and regular reporting on all city uses of
surveillance technology
With your support, I will continue to work with the Mayor’s Office, my fellow councilors, and the
School Committee to make sure that your voice is heard, that we make big decisions together
by including as many residents as possible, and that we keep building a Medford that works for
all of us.

The best advice ever shared with me was __________

Stand up for what you believe in, and “when we fight, we win.” Meaning that when we come
together and advocate for what we believe in, we can build a stronger community and better
future together.

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

I've talked to thousands of residents in my first three terms as a Medford City Councilor, and I
am deeply involved in our community. From the smallest request for help to the biggest changes
we need to make as a council, I will continue to work hard for the people of Medford every
single day. I will strive to be a responsive, open, and passionate councilor who advocates for
any resident who needs help in any way I can.
I would be honored to receive your support and one of your seven votes on Tuesday, November
4th.

See Also:

Medford Candidate Profile: Emily Lazzaro For City Council

Medford Candidate Profile: Nicholas Giurleo For City Council

Medford Candidate Profile: Patrick Clerkin For City Council

Medford Candidate Profile: Matt Leming For City Council