Melrose Candidate Profile: Cal Finocchiaro For City Council

MELROSE, MA — With the Melrose Municipal Election scheduled for Nov. 7, Patch is profiling the candidates.

Here, we learn more about Cal Finocchiaro, who is running to represent Ward 6 on the Melrose City Council. Finocchiaro is facing Barbara Travers in a race to fill the seat currently held by Jennifer Grigoraitis, who is running for mayor.

Finocchiaro is an interior designer who previously worked as a clinical research manager.

Candidates were sent questionnaires and filled out the answers.

Name

Cal Finocchiaro

How old will you be as of Election Day?

44

Campaign website

https://calforward6.com

What city or town do you live in?

Melrose

What office are you seeking?

City Council Ward 6

Please give us your party affiliation

Independent

Education

Melrose High School grad 1997, Salem State College

Occupation

Owner/interior designer 2017-present
Sr. clinical research manager, MGH 2001-2023

Family

Husband Mark
3 boys, Charlie 17, Amato 14 and Mark 11
3 dogs, Hobbs, Remy and Socrates

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

No

Why are you seeking this office?

I was raised to be of service to others and always give back to the community. The motto, "do bigger than you," resonates with me. I want to advocate for the residents in my ward and help solve their issues. I also want to contribute to the decisions for the future of our 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 budget and financial status of our city. This is compounded by the lack of communication to the residents.

I would like to initiate educational forums for the residents to ask questions about the city's finances. Open forums that educate and create clarity.

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

The major difference between me and the other candidates is that I not only grew up in Melrose, which gives me the historical knowledge and background of the city, but I also own a small business, have parents who are 65+ and live in Melrose and I have 3 kids in the Melrose schools. All of these aspects and experiences give me a deeper understanding of the city and the residents

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

I intend to advocate for the Ward 6 residents to help them with infrastructure issues with streets, sidewalks etc. A main issue that I want to help fix is the rat issue that many residents are dealing with.

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

I have over 15 years of volunteering in the community on several committees and boards. I am enthusiastic and my goal is always to make things better than how I found it. I have owned two successful small businesses and I have helped manage hundreds of clinical oncology trials, working with the budget and finance groups to allocate funds across the trials

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Be a good listener. Be humble. Always be of service to others. Especially those that are underserved and in need.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am a big supporter of the arts and believe they offer so much to our city and our youth. I support maintaining and enhancing our green spaces. I support our servicemen and women. I want our schools to be better and our teachers to have competitive salaries. I believe that pushing sustainability will make our city and earth better.

I want Melrose to progress forward with affordable housing options while making sure the properties make sense for the surrounding areas and residents