Candidate Profile: Jake Wilson, City Councilor At-Large

SOMERVILLE, MA — Jake Wilson is one of eight candidates running for city councilor at-large in the Nov. 2 municipal election. Voters will elect four candidates for at-large seats. There will also be a citywide election for mayor and elections for city council and school committee in certain wards.

Somerville Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles this week.

Wilson has worked in technology consulting, journalism and publishing. His wife Catherine is the director of a Kendall Square biotech, and they have two children at the Healey School.

Are you running for office in Somerville? Contact Alex Newman at alex.newman@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate profile and submitting campaign announcements to Somerville Patch.

Age (as of Election Day)

44

Position Sought

Councilor-At-Large

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Spouse: Catherine Evans (director at a Kendall Square biotech)
Children: Ingrid (age 10) and Margot (age 7) -- both students at the Healey School

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

BA in English from University of Pennsylvania, 1999

Occupation

Technology Consulting & Advisory Services (1997-2001)
Journalism & Publishing (2001-2006)

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

https://www.jakeforsomerville....

Why are you seeking elective office?

I've been politically active since high school and I've been involved in the Somerville community as a non-profit leader and with local political campaigns as a volunteer for some time now. I’d long contemplated jumping into Somerville politics, because I believe the local level is where government can make the biggest positive impact on people’s lives. During the 2019 municipal election, several people approached me and urged me to run in 2021, and that was the spark I needed.

We know going into this election that it will result in a very different city government for Somerville. Vastly experienced elected officials are stepping down, and I want to be a part of a smooth transition and a new era of local government.

As someone with high expectations of myself and others, I want to bring my work ethic, integrity, responsiveness, empathy, and accountability to this role. I love tackling and solving problems -- big and small -- and I'm excited to do this on the council.

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 city is the risk that we might fail to remedy the societal failures exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a City Councilor, I will lead the fight to spend municipal efforts and funds on addressing our outdated municipal and school infrastructure, the disparate health, food, housing, and safety situations in some areas of the city, and the cultural divide we need to bridge in our community.

These aren't empty promises. I've spent the last four years working on these issues and I have the knowledge and track record to show for it.

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

I believe what sets me apart is the quantity and quality of specific policy proposals that I've put forward.

Rather than just talking about rent control, I want to keep rents affordable by basing the tax assessments of rental properties on rental rates.

I'm not just talking vaguely about investing in our city and schools infrastructure, I'm proposing the relocation of the DPW so a new elementary school can be built on that site to replace outdated Winter Hill and Brown school buildings.

I've called for an expansion of extended school-day programming from Pre-K on up that recognizes and meets the needs of working families.

When it comes to diversity and inclusion, I know what works -- direct engagement with key community liaisons -- and will bring that approach to the City Council to increase the number of voices in the decision-making process.

To my knowledge, I'm the only candidate declaring war on the cut-through commuter traffic that clogs our streets with cars, causes extra wear and tear, and makes them less safe for local pedestrians, bikes, and cars.

I also have a clear, multi-pronged plan for combating rats in our city, a very doable plan for dramatically growing the amount of private green space in the city, an idea for a senior parking pass that recognizes their unique mobility needs, and a call to prepare our city for the electric vehicle revolution.

These are the types of ideas I will introduce and fight to implement on the City Council -- and I know how to organize support and get things done.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

I don't consider myself a challenger. While one of us was appointed to finish a term, all eight of us are looking to be elected to office for the first time. I have enormous respect for the four winners of the previous two At-Large contests and I hope to bring to the council some of what they’ve contributed.

Stephanie Hirsch's data-informed approach and communication to constituents was hugely impressive and a major reason I supported her both times. Her departure last year was a major loss for our city and I want to pick up where Stephanie left off.

Bill White's mastery of municipal governing, encyclopedic knowledge of procedure and legal matters, and his institutional knowledge are irreplaceable, but I'll help fill the gaps in whatever ways I can.

Mary Jo Rossetti's ability to parse a spreadsheet, a report, or a budget and quickly drill down and identify key aspects made her a wonderful city councilor, and these are things I enjoy doing and aspire to do on the council.

Finally, I developed a real appreciation for Will Mbah's questioning approach in committee meetings, as well as his skill at examining both the processes and outcomes around matters of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

<b>How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?</b>

Many Somerville Public Schools parents wish the City Council had taken a more active role in overseeing schools during the pandemic, rather than deferring to the School Committee and administration to the extent they did.

Given the issues with funding, and the problems with the school buildings, I'd like to think I would've advocated for more direct oversight were I on the Council during this time. And I still haven’t heard anything from the Council about the urgent need to replace the Winter Hill and Brown school buildings.

I know it's easy to sit here and say I'd do things differently, but those are specific areas where I'd have taken a different approach.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

The regional housing affordability and instability crisis and our city's equity failings are getting a lot of attention in this race, as they should. I'm also prioritizing and introducing specific policy proposals in the areas of infrastructure, education, traffic and parking, mobility, climate change and justice, livability, and government transparency. These are key issues for our campaign.

I believe we can walk and chew gum at the same time by tackling both big, complex problems and smaller ones simultaneously.

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

It's easy to talk about diversity, equity, and inclusion, but I have walked the walk over the past four years with Somerville Youth Soccer (SYS), and have tangible results to show for it.

I received the 2020 Massachusetts Youth Soccer Administrator of the Year award for my work in making SYS more racially and ethnically diverse as an organization than the city of Somerville itself, by engaging our city’s immigrant families and working to get their children registered and playing soccer.

I've also organized in the community to rally support and push elected officials to support athletic fields projects and a $6.4 million schoolyard renovation project at the Healey School that is set to be completed next year. I know what it takes to bring people together for a cause and to get things done.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

My grandmother loved to tell me that “If a thing is worth doing, then it’s worth doing well.”

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

My pledge to Somerville:

I will always act in the best interest of our city and will be accountable to you, not outside groups or donors.

I will explore and pursue solutions for smart growth here in Somerville.

I will always be direct and honest with you and won't promise anything I'm not able to deliver.

I will be transparent about my council orders and votes, and will explain my thinking to you.

I will work for you full time as your City Councilor and this job will be my sole focus.

I will proactively reach out to constituents -- in English and Spanish -- and do my part to ensure the people of Somerville know what's happening with their city government.

I will listen and respond to you when you contact me.

I will make myself available to you -- via phone, email and text, and at virtual and in-person office hours with days, times, and locations that work for everyone.

I will have zero tolerance for waste, corruption, and inefficiency in our city government.

I will strive to treat everyone with respect, even if I disagree with them or take issue with something they've done.

I will work with leaders on Beacon Hill to advocate for our city at the state level.

I will work with leaders of neighboring communities to cooperate on regional issues.

I will repay your trust and make you proud of your vote.