Melrose Candidate Profile: Ed O'Connell For City Council

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

Here, we learn more about Ed O'Connell, who is running for Melrose City Council. O'Connell is among 10 candidates running for four councilor-at-large seats.

O'Connell is a civic engagement manager who has served on the Melrose School Committee for the past eight years, with two terms as committee chair.

Candidates were sent questionnaires and filled out the answers.

Name

Ed O'Connell

How old will you be as of Election Day?

60

Campaign website

https://ed4melrose.com

What city or town do you live in?

Melrose

What office are you seeking?

Councilor-at-Large, Melrose City Council

Please give us your party affiliation

Registered Democrat in a non-partisan election

Education

BA, University of Massachusetts; JD, New England Law

Occupation

Civic Engagement Manager, 12+ years

Family

Married with three adult children, all of whom were raised in Melrose and attended the Melrose Public Schools

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

None of my relatives work for the City of Melrose

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

I've served on the Melrose School Committee for the past eight years, with two terms as Committee Chair. I've run twice as a successful candidate for citywide office.

Why are you seeking this office?

I believe in the power of government, particularly local government, to have a positive impact on people's lives and our shared quality of life, and I believe I have the skills and experience to add value to the work of our local government in ensuring the equitable and efficient delivery of local services in a fiscally prudent manner.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

... lack of trust in government ... to continue to serve ably and steadfastly, to be open and honest about the challenges we face, to be diligent and creative in working toward creating opportunities for shared success, to work collaboratively with the new mayor, our city administration, and our schools, and to always be available and responsive to the residents and businesses of Melrose.

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

Experience, experience, experience. I've served at least twice as long as any other City Council candidate. I've seen, first-hand, what works and what doesn't. It's not enough to propose new initiatives or to demand change for the sake of change. To be effective, and to work in the best interests of our community, one must know how local government works; where the levers of power are and how to push and pull them. Given the primacy of our school budget in relation to the city budget as a whole, we need at least one councilor-at-large with deep, hands-on experience with the good, the bad, and the ugly of school finance.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

With two of our four councilors-at-large not seeking re-election, there are two open at-large seats. With the support and blessing of the voters of Melrose, I intend to fill one of those seats, and to support the at-large incumbents running for re-election — because representation matters — and to work collaboratively with them once in office.

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

Increasing housing opportunities in our community, improving our municipal infrastructure — including, importantly, our public safety buildings — fostering an inclusive social climate, reviewing and updating our local regulatory scheme (zoning, permitting, licensing, etc.) to enable robust and sustainable economic development, and ensuring that our schools are fully and fairly funded.

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

In addition to my many years of professional work in the field of civic education and engagement, I stand on my eight years of devoted service as a member of our School Committee, along with my prior, longstanding commitment to our community as a school volunteer, PTO officer, youth sports coach in multiple leagues over many years, and local nonprofit board member.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Stick to your guns. As Emerson said, "If the single man plant himself indomitably on his instincts, and there abide, the huge world will come round to him."

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

The question before all of us, as candidates and voters, is what does it take to be an effective elected official? In my view, it is the willingness and the ability to talk less and listen more; the ability to take a punch — or two or three — and keep coming back for more; the willingness and the ability to put the public interest above one's own personal or political interests; the ability to communicate, to negotiate, to persuade, to advocate, and to compromise when necessary and appropriate in the public interest; and as with all relationships and professional endeavors, the ability to work well with others; to lead when called upon, to follow when appropriate or necessary, and to support one's colleagues and their efforts in the public interest. That has been my approach during my eight years on the School Committee and that will be my approach to serving as a councilor-at-large.