Melrose Resident Announces Bid For City Council

MELROSE, MA — Resident Alex Rodriguez has announced his candidacy for Ward 7 City Councilor in the upcoming Municipal Election on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Not affiliated with any political party, Rodgriguez named some of his priorities if elected as funding the school district, improving public safety, and a focus on budgetary oversight.

"We have closed off the voices of mainstream Melrosians who simply want to see their children receive a good education and live in a safe and affordable city. This backdrop has led to an entrenched and entitled political establishment that is often contemptuous of those they are supposed to represent,” Rodriguez said. “We can change this status quo by putting someone on the City Council that will encourage collegial but meaningful disagreement and debate, and Melrose will be better for it."

Rodriguez will be running against incumbent Devin Romanul, who was first elected in 2023. According to Rodriguez, Romanul has not adequately leveraged Mayor Jen Grigoraitis to maximize public school funding or provided adequate budget oversight which directly corresponds to his priorities.

Rodriguez first moved to Melrose in 2016 with his wife and two sons. He received a Doctor of Business Administration degree from the University of the Incarnate Ward in San Antonio, Texas. He has also gotten involved in the city through coaching little league baseball and volunteering at the Hoover School library.