Candidate Profile: Mary Cassesso, Somerville Mayor

SOMERVILLE, MA — Mary Cassesso is one of four candidates running for mayor in the Sept. 14 preliminary election, which will whittle down the field of candidates ahead of the municipal election in November. There will also be preliminary elections for City Council in Wards 5 and 7.

Somerville Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles over the coming weeks.

Cassesso is the chief community officer of the Cambridge Health Alliance. She has many years of administrative and financial experience for the city of Somerville and Patrick and Dukakis administrations, and previously served as the dean of administration and finance at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine for 20 years.

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.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for.

My sister is head of the children’s department in the Central Branch of the Somerville Public Library, and has worked at the library for 50 years

Education

Master of Public Administration Northeastern University
Bachelor of Psychology and Certification in Secondary Education Northeastern University

Occupation

Chief Community Officer, Cambridge Health Alliance 7 years
Assistant Secretary of Administration and Finance under Governor Deval Patrick: Executive Office of Health and Human Services for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 2 years
Dean of Administration and Finance, Harvard School of Dental Medicine 20 years
Deputy Director, Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership 1 year
Director of Administration and Finance under Governor Michael Dukakis, Executive Office of Communities and Development 3 years
Budget Director, Department of Employment and Training Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1 year
City Auditor under Mayor Gene Brune, City of Somerville 5 years
Executive Director, Council on Aging and 60+ Health Center 1 year

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

N/A

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running to listen to and advocate for the people of Somerville. I have a lifetime of experience and relationships to help lift up our community and grow the city that I love so much.

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

By addressing the social factors of health - public health, affordable housing, education/employment, climate justice, food security - with a commitment to social justice, we can reduce the inequities and disparities within our system. That is the framework that will make our community healthier and more equitable. We must expand access to all the services that keep our city healthy. We need new and expanded locations for healthcare delivery serving a larger population of Somerville residents. We can do this in schools, through mobile services, and use new state and federal funds to grow our infrastructure to care for all of our residents.

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

I am ready to take on the role of mayor from day one. I have the unparalleled experience to deliver for the people, the only candidate who has operated large and complex organizations. I am a public servant, not a politician. I will listen to our neighbors and communities to make our City more equitable, safe, and inclusive.

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

Public officials were handed an immensely difficult task during the pandemic and had to take action with constantly evolving data. However, I would have reopened schools earlier than we did. This is not just for the sake of our children, but for their parents and caregivers. Shutting schools down for as long as we have has brought a tremendous burden upon all families, but disproportionately among our more vulnerable families and single-parent households.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

We need to be laser-focused on continuously improving vital city services, managing new development, and investing in the city’s infrastructure.

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

My transformational work in senior administrative and financial roles in the city of Somerville, the Patrick and Dukakis Administrations, Harvard University, and Cambridge Health Alliance have prepared me to become your next mayor. Whether it was automating the financial functions at City Hall to bring the books up to date or adding community-needed services at CHA, such as peer recovery coaches or fresh produce markets, I have always delivered for the people of Somerville and beyond. Somerville not only needs a leader who has a vision for equity and sustainability but someone who has a proven track record and is committed to listening and tapping into a vast and diverse network to get the job done. I have joined large organizations and left them on surer financial footing, operationally stronger, and restructured to be more effective. I have improved accountability and created a culture of care in all my executive positions that drive engagement with staff and stakeholders.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

My mom told me and showed me in action when I was growing up: don’t stay on the sidelines.

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

I have the values and lived experience to lead our city. All of my experience in creating buy-in and achieving results has been centered around the values instilled in me here in Somerville. It’s not just what I do, it’s how I get it done - with respect and kindness. I keep an open ear and an open heart.