Maureen Bastardi Announces Run for Alderman in Ward 1

On March 13, 2013, we posted news that Ward 1 Alderman Maureen Bastardi, who had been appointed to the position, was running for the office in this fall's elections. Here's her official announcement:

Incumbent Ward-1 Alderman Maureen Bastardi has announced her candidacy for the office to which she was appointed in December, 2012.

“After two decades of community service to my fellow Ward 1residents, I am looking forward to making my case to the voters that I should continue to serve as their alderman,” said Maureen today. “I am honored that many Ward-1voters are already familiar with my record but I expect a challenging race and I’m taking nothing for granted.  I will be making every effort to reach out to make fresh connections, to share my record and my values, and to listen as I have always done to the needs and concerns of every Ward-1 resident.”

Maureen's involvement in the Ward-1 community began 20 years ago with her work as a parent volunteer on the local parent-teacher organizations.  She served as vice-president of both the Edgerly Education Center PTA and the East Somerville Community School PTA, and eventually as Treasurer and Hospitality Representative for the Somerville Council of PTAs.  She has also served on several community-based committees, including the East Somerville Neighborhood Association,  Ward-1 Enhancement Committee,  and currently on the Ward-1 Democratic Party Committee, and the Democratic State Committee (representing the 2nd Middlesex District).  Maureen has also served as the co-captain for the past several years for the Ward-1 annual spring clean-up.

First elected to the City’s School Committee in 2004, she served as School Committee Vice-Chair in 2005 and 2008 and was unanimously elected to serve as Chairperson of the Committee in 2009.  She was in her fifth term on the School Committee when she was unanimously appointed by the Somerville Board of Alderman to fill the Ward-1 vacancy created by William Roche’s resignation in December.

At the time of her appointment, Mayor Joseph Curtatone declared"... there is no better deserving person to step up and take on the role as Ward-1 Alderman ..." and former Mayor Gene Brune observed that “Maureen developed into an excellent School Committee person and she will be a fine Alderman.” 

As Ward 1 Alderman, Maureen worked closely with Mayor Curtatone to close down the Holiday Inn Lounge for bad judgment on the part of management and customer behavior that, in her words, “was completely inappropriate and totally inexcusable in a residential district.”  She has also coordinated with the Somerville Police Department in several public safety and quality-of-life initiatives – most notably in addressing a drug dealing problem in the Home Depot parking lot.  During snowstorms Maureen rode snow plows to assure that Ward 1 streets were properly plowed.

“I’m very proud of the fact that I’ve also worked to open up the processes of government to public review and participation by scheduling and facilitating a record number of neighborhood meetings on a wide variety of civic concerns as well as seeking input and sharing information on economic development projects affecting Ward 1,” Maureen said.

If elected, her primary objectives as Ward 1 Alderman will be: to continue the build-out of Assembly Square; completion of the construction of the East Somerville Community School; lower Broadway enhancement project; to address quality of life issues and public safety concerns; and to assure smarter and more sensitive local economic development.

“I originally ran for School Committee in order to ensure that we maintained smaller class sizes and had fully qualified teachers in every classroom,” Maureen said.  “I think we’ve been able to accomplish that and a great deal more.  The Somerville Public Schools are stronger, and offer better opportunities to our students and their parents, than when I first took office.  Along the way, my School Committee service gave me a solid grounding in fiscal policy, the legislative process and the details of city government.   All of that has helped me to be effective as an Alderman from my first day on the job – and will help me to continue that effectiveness if elected.”

“I’m fortunate that many residents already know me from my work with the PTA's, the annual Spring Clean-up, from neighborhood meetings, the SomerStreets on Broadway event, or maybe even the dunk tank at Family Fun Day, but I am going to do everything I can to build on that base of friends and neighbors who have supported me in the past,” Maureen said.

“It’s very important that all Ward-1 residents understand that I am honored to serve as their alderman and that I am working to earn their support every day.  They shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to me with questions, issues or requests for city services.  I can be reached by phone at 617-764-5373 or by email at AldermanBastardi@comcast.net." 

Maureen has also opened up the lines of communication by utilizing certain social media sites.  It is not uncommon to see Maureen posting on her Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MaureenBastardi) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/MaureenBastardi) along with writing on her blog, Ward-1 Online (http://wardoneonline.blogspot.com/), which she created right after taking office. 

“This is an exciting time for Ward -1 and for the entire Somerville community and I’ll be asking voters to give me the continued privilege of serving their interests,” Maureen said.