Somerville Candidate Profile: Jack Connolly For City Council

SOMERVILLE, MA — With the Somerville Municipal Election scheduled for Nov. 7, Patch is profiling the candidates.

Here, we learn more about John "Jack" Connolly, who is running for Ward 6 city councilor. Connolly previously served as Ward 6 alderman from 1984-2005 and alderman at-large, now known as councilor at-large, from 2007-17.

Connolly has been an independent insurance agent for over 30 years.

Candidates were sent questionnaires and filled out the answers.

Name

John "Jack" Connolly

How old will you be as of Election Day?

72

Campaign website

https://www.facebook.com/jackc...

What city or town do you live in?

Somerville

What office are you seeking?

Ward 6 City Councilor

District

Ward 6

Party affiliation

Democrat

Education

Bachelor's degree in political science from Boston College and a master's degree in education from Tufts University.

Occupation

Independent insurance agent for more than 30 years

Family

I have a tremendous wife named Gail. We have three daughters and a "wonderful" dog named Scout.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

In addition to serving as an alderman-at-large, I was the Ward 6 alderman from 1984-2005. I also served as alderman-at-Large — now known as Councilor-at-Large – from 2007-2017.

Why are you seeking this office?

I am seeking this office because I care about my community. The same community that I have spent most of my life living and working in. It doesn't sit well with me that our ward is being neglected, local businesses are struggling to stay open, community safety needs improvement, the education of our children is on the back burner, and residential concerns are directed to City Hall instead of the ears of the current ward councilor, whose job is to not only to listen to the community, but to also seek resolutions. I can give the attention the community deserves while working for them, with them, and because of them.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ______ and this is what I intend to do about it.

No one is actually listening to the residents of Ward 6 and when they do listen the conversation ends and there isn't any follow-up. Affordable housing, public safety, children's education, and sustainable businesses, all of these are well-known issues. Let's actually start working on them. Everyone seems to want an equitable city of Somerville, how about we start with equitable wards first?

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

Ward 6 hasn't made improvements with the current ward councilor. It's fair to say that it has only gotten worse with them being elected. Long-time businesses have closed their doors and have been forced out, while others struggle to stay open, safety concerns have risen throughout our community, the education of our children has left the spotlight, and residential concerns are redirected to someone else. Ward 6 has been neglected for years now and the community deserves better. I can and will dedicate my time as your councilor, doing more than just mandatory job requirements. I am part of this community and will do everything I can to seek the improvements necessary for Ward 6 and find reasonable resolutions for Ward 6 residents. I will not say I am a better person than anyone in the city of Somerville, but I do care more about Ward 6 than our current ward councilor.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Somerville is facing a lot of issues and I am hopeful that while working alongside other councilors we can realign the priorities to put our own residents first.

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

I have 3 decades of experience and am an elected official at the ward and citywide level. While working with others, we planned the development and the arrival of the Red, Orange, and Green T-line into the city. I have also been responsible for major assessing and licensing reform.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Be the change you wish to see in the world.