Melrose Election 2019: One Way Or Another, Ward 7 Will See Change

MELROSE, MA — The voters in Melrose have a lot of choices to make Tuesday at the polls. In Ward 7, they'll be voting to change the very way things are done, according to one candidate.

"The choice that people have in this election comes down to whether or not we're going to keep with the insider culture we have in City Hall or whether we're going to try to bring in some fresh ideas," Ryan Williams said.

Williams is opposing Cory Thomas as both attempt to succeed President of the Board Scott Forbes, who is stepping away from public office.

For Thomas, it's about building on the forward momentum the city has garnered. He doesn't see too much daylight between himself and his opponent — probably less than Williams does.

"I think my longevity in the community is the biggest difference between Ryan and myself," Thomas, who has spent more than four decades in Melrose, said. "I think we're both against the 40B project in Swains Pond and for improving sidewalks and safety."

For Williams, who wants improved communications and more community input, it's about a fundamental change in city government.

"This is an opportunity to look big on the City Council, to look outside of our ward and our own borders," Williams said.

"I've talked to a lot of people in my neighborhood and I hear the same stories over and over again — they ask for services, whether it's sidewalk repair or tree trimming — and they feel like it's hit or miss or they need a special person to have access to to get this stuff done," he said, adding he doesn't want people to need access to a "special insider" to be heard.

Thomas is about change, too, and thinks his brand is what the ward and city can benefit from. He thinks the future has to be different from the past — and that starts with making sure the override funds are spent wisely.

"We need a smart spending plan," Thomas said. "We need oversight and accountability ... We're going in a right direction."

The residents he's talked to agree on needing a spending plan that prioritizes important expenses.

"They're concerned about our taxpayers' dollars," Thomas said. "I want to make sure our taxpayers' dollars are spent appropriately."

As a fundraiser for the Environmental Defense Fund, Williams also knows the importance of giving the taxpayers a good return on their investment in the city.

"In the world of private fundraising, if you don't do the job you don't get the money," he said. "We've got to show them we are keeping them happy, and we've got to work every day to make sure we get the dollars in the door for the next year."

As far as tangible change, Thomas is a proponent of the increasingly popular term "smart growth" in Melrose — not necessarily in his ward, but he said that's not a case of the NIMBYs.

"I want development that is on public transportation, whether it's a bus line, the commuter rail or the Orange Line," Thomas said.

He also wants changes in his ward. He looks directly at the Hoover School and the Swains Pond area where there are no sidewalks.

"If we want to be a walkable, accessible city, we need to improve our infrastructure," he said.

That is something Williams, a member of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee, is all about.

"Big changes have to be considered in the context of the entire city," he said. "How do we bring a smart analysis of the Hoover area to make sure we are adding sidewalks where they are going to drive walking?"

Whoever wins will be taking over a ward that's seeing change one way or another, particularly as the battle for Swains Pond plays out over the next number of years. They both say they're ready for the challenge.

Ward 7 votes at the Hoover School. The question is: by the next election, what kind of sidewalks will they be walking on to get there?

The election is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Subscribe to Patch for free for more previews and live updates.

• For A Change, Ward 1 Will Decide On Change
• McNaught Ready For Ward 2 Head Start
• 2 Choices, 1 Big Issue In Ward 3
• Ward 4 To Determine What's Next At Ballot
• In Ward 5, MacMaster Looking For A First
• Ward 6 Is A Real Door-To-Door Race
• One Way Or Another, Ward 7 Will See Change