Somerville Candidate Profile: Holly Simione For City Councilor At Large

SOMERVILLE, MA — The municipal election is fast approaching in Somerville, and the city council race is highly contested.

Somerville Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles leading up to November.

Holly Simione is running for reelection as City Councilor At Large in Somerville.

Age

56

Position sought

Somerville City Council At-Large

Party affiliation

Democrat

Family

Married with 2 daughters

Education

BS Management, Lesley College

Occupation

Case Manager, Medically Complex Children

Previous or Current Elected Office

none

Campaign Website

www.hollyforsomerville.com

Why are you seeking elected office?

Everyone champions the same ideas, we need to go beyond the current issues to bring the city to its full potential.This means embracing innovative thinking, and tackling challenges that haven’t yet been addressed. I want to continue the good work I have done for the city on the Somerville Disability Commission leveraging our City Council, and my advocacy work at the State House to improve the lives of people who live in Somerville. We need to bring back common sense policy making and democracy, and seek out different voices of experience in our community, not just those who can attend a meeting at 6pm, use Zoom technology and spend hours searching for agendas and opportuities to be engaged in the decision making process.

The single most-pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is

a lack of maintenance of our roads, parks, bike lanes, sidewalks, schools, public buildings and aging affordable/inclusive housing. We need to keep our promises to our residents to maintain public health and safety as a top priority. No more surveys about school locations while students are displaced from their friends for years, and sit in rooms with rats close by. Small businesses are closing and our permitting process and the steep hill for newendeavors turns away people with great ideas. We are losing the artists and creatives that make Somerville unique. We have the second most expensive puiblic high school and it sits empty, when we could be leveraging the space for adult education, job training for people seeking new careers, and helping people become independent.

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

I have years of experience leading teams, negotiating contracts and understand how to build strong partnerships that can sustain differences. I think of the issues that affect everyone, how do we improve everyone's life . I am not a politician, I am an Advocate, a Problem Solver, and a Negotiater who strives to learn more and celebrate all people in our community.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

We need more trees and public parks with inclusive play for all. Public health and public safety must be our top priority. We need to seek grants in warp speed, invest wisely in technology, and leverage partnerships to solve for our housing crisis without craming 6 story buildings in neighborhoods with historic homes. Build tall in areas like Assembly, Union and Brickbottom as long as we allow for enough green space around and between buildings to prevent heat islands from impacting our air quality. Think more about electric vehicles, and understand that not everyone can ride a bike or use public transportation. Be kind to others and try to understand each others transportation needs and preferences before passing judgement. Ensure that neigborhoods have safe bike routes to local schools, and ensure all public events include bike storage. Increase free public transportation for residents and people who work here. Bring in bus routes that travel North/South ie Broadway to Somerville Ave, rather than East/West transit along lower Broadway towards Arlington.

The best advice ever shared with me was

“look twice before crossing the street"

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

I will always listen, and apprecite when people share a different perspective on an issue. I will act in the best interests of all the residents of the city with compassion and integrity.

See Also:

Somerville Candidate Profile: Wilfred Mbah For City Councilor At Large

Somerville Candidate Profile: Emily Hardt For Ward 7 City Council