Salem Candidate Profile: Domingo J. Dominguez For City Council

SALEM, MA — Salem will have several contested races in this fall's election, including a 11-way race for four at-large seats on City Council. The preliminary election on Sept. 17 will thin the field of at-large city councilor candidates to eight and the field of school committee candidates to six. Salem Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

First up is Domingo J. Dominguez, 55, who is running for reelection to City Council. Dominguez and his wife Belkis have seven children and three grandchildren. Dominguez works as a regional sales manager.

Are you running for office in Salem? Contact Dave Copeland at dave.copeland@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Salem Patch.

Previously on Patch: Salem Election 2019: Here's Who's Running

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing our community right now is affordable housing. The diversity of Salem is one of our treasures. If we are not able to figure out how to remain a place where everyone can live, we will lose the richness of our diversity and our identity as a community. Salem has always been a city where working class people can make a life for themselves and their families and we need to continue to be that. Immigrants and minorities are likely to be the most affected if we cannot provide affordable housing solutions and I want to support everyone in my community.

To resolve our issues around affordable housing I will be active and informed about solutions that will benefit as many people as possible while keeping our community whole. I will meet with developers, other government officials, businesses and employers, and members of our community to find the best solutions. In Salem we need to be flexible enough to allow developers to provide new housing options, but we cannot displace our current residents. We need to be transparent and inform the community about what is happening and why, and use housing formulas that include low income projects and mixed housing projects. We need to develop a long-term plan for housing in Salem and stick to that plan. I will work to make that happen.

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

First, I want to say that we have very great candidates all around and like me, they love the city of Salem. The most obvious difference between me and the other candidates is I am an immigrant from the Dominican Republic and Spanish is my first language. We have a large percentage of Latino residents and right now I am the only Councilor who can communicate effectively in English and Spanish and have grown up in that culture. Something that is less obvious is that I have a strong belief in the importance of being independent and working across the aisle. I do not believe we can make strong decisions when politicians are working against each other, or when there are members of our community who think their voice is not heard or that the people representing them already have their mind made up. The last thing that makes me different from the other candidates is my experience in Salem. I have been a teacher, a business owner, a community leader, and raised a family. I believe I have proven my dedication to this city and will work every day to continue to do so.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

I always want to quickly respond to concerns raised by Salem residents. In addition to affordable housing my priorities as a city councilor are to enhance and preserve the quality of life for all Salem residents by focusing on traffic and parking and the use of public parks and spaces. I also want to increase our level of civic engagement by continuing to offer community conversations and events where all of Salem can come together. I want to make opportunities for everyone to be involved in supporting the city and sharing their voice, or where find out ways in which they can support Salem.

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

The biggest accomplishment that has prepared me for my role as a councilor is raising my family in Salem. Family is the most important thing to me beside God and Salem has given me support in raising my family in so many ways. My first job as a Salem Public Schools teacher gave me a way to feed my family, valuable professional experience, and a stronger understanding of what our youth need to learn to be successful and the challenges they face. As a business owner, the Salem community supported me for 15 years, and I learned how to be independent and work with so many good people who have helped me in creating and operating a successful small business. I have been able to become a homeowner and make Salem the place where my children consider home. I consider raising a family the biggest accomplishment that has prepared me to be a city counselor because I know what it takes to have a beautiful life in Salem, and I want everyone who lives here to have that same opportunity.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

The best advice ever shared with me is from the Bible and it is to love your neighbor. I understand that not everyone is Christian, and I am fortunate to have met so many people and have so many friends of different faiths. I have never been someone who has tried to make others follow my religious beliefs, but they are what help guide me in supporting my family and community. I believe loving your neighbor is something we can all work to do, regardless of your religious belief.

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

I love the City of Salem for what it has given me, and this position is my ability to give back. I am always advocating for the health and wellness of our city and I make decisions based conversations with Salem residents and what I believe is the best interest of the people. I want to be a voice for all of Salem and to hear from more residents about what you believe we should do as a city or what you want to learn more about.