Meet Waltham Mayoral Candidate Jonathan Paz

WALTHAM, MA — Local elections in Waltham are less than a month away, and Patch is determined to help residents get to know their candidates for council, mayor and school committee.

Patch has sent candidate questionnaires to each of the candidates that will appear on the ballot in a contested race for each of those three positions.

In this candidate profile, learn more about mayoral candidate Jonathan Paz's reasons to seek election:

Name

Jonathan Paz

How old will you be as of Election Day?

30 years old!

Does your campaign have a website? If so, include the URL here.

https://www.pazforwaltham.com

What city or town do you live in?

Waltham

What office are you seeking?

Mayor

Education.

Bachelor's Degree

What is your occupation?

Policy Advocate and Labor organizer

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

My sisters, Natalie and Gabby and my brother Daren.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

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

I have served in Waltham City Council for the past 4 years, after beating a 30-year incumbent.

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

As the child of Bolivian immigrants raised in Waltham, I ran for Waltham City Council in 2019 to give back. After four years of service, I see our city's great potential. However, our Mayor of 20 years is out of touch with the people's needs. We need new leadership to progress and ensure Waltham's statewide leadership. My goals include modernizing transportation, improving schools, and investing in quality and affordable housing. I will bring transparency, data-driven planning and practical problem-solving to the Mayor's Office. Together, we can achieve greatness while upholding our principles.

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

We face a planning crisis in our city, with numerous problems stemming from inadequate planning and a lack of capacity for coherent, data-driven growth. We need a long-term plan for this City that centers the voices and needs of residents, over those of out of town developers. A plan that centers traffic reduction, pedestrian safety, and public transit. A plan to invest in small businesses and create good-paying local jobs. A plan that ensures seniors can afford to remain in their homes, and families can achieve the dream of homeownership.

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

Jeannette McCarthy and I share some common ground on certain issues, although there are notable distinctions between us when it comes to leadership styles and public policy priorities. I am known for my inclusive leadership style, demonstrated by my track record of uniting people to address significant challenges. I would not have considered dividing our community farm, displacing our local food pantry, or obstructing the conversion of the Armory into affordable housing through executive actions. Unlike the incumbent, I would support - not demoralize - our educators and encourage innovation across our schools. I would have a proactive rather than a reactive approach to traffic issues, including prioritizing public transit.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

Mayor McCarthy has mismanaged and underfunded our schools. Last year, she cut $2,000,000 from the school budget, against the recommendation of former Superintendent Dr. Brian Reagan. After several years of COVID, this money would have added substitute teachers and funded more school counselors and basic school supplies. To make matters worse, she failed to secure a contract with Dr. Reagan and led us to a manufactured crisis: this summer, the School Committee failed to hire an interim Superintendent after a robust search and interview process. As School Committee Chair, Mayor McCarthy facilitated over 63 votes of the School Committee, refusing to cast a vote herself, as they stood at an impasse over a handful of qualified candidates. We now have the interim to the interim, acting as a Superintendent, with no educational background who is retiring this January 2024. In September next year, we will inaugurate the state's most costly high school project, yet we lack a true Superintendent to guide us through its opening.

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

I believe Waltham deserves an educational revival. It’s great that we have fantastic parks but if we don’t have adequate public education, we are selling our students short. We need to support our educators and ensure they have the adequate resources to educate our youth. No educator should have to host fundraisers to acquire basic school supplies for their students. We need a comprehensive curriculum that centers the arts, civics, STEM, project-based learning, financial literacy, and social emotional learning. Student’s mental health and building resiliency are key. We must expand access to dual language and vocational technical education and create pipelines to local good-paying jobs for young people.

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

I am proud to have taken on leadership responsibilities beyond the local level. As a labor leader, I represented hundreds of workers across a range of industries across Massachusetts. From custodians to paraprofessional educators, I negotiated major contracts, won concessions, and ran successful campaigns to save jobs. I represented over 1,200 medical residents and fellows during the outbreak of COVID-19 at Boston Medical Center and Cambridge Hospital.

In my current role as a policy advocate at the State House, I’ve navigated the complexities of working with numerous state departments. Last year, I helped stop a law backed by Big Tech companies that would adversely impact consumer and worker protections. This year, I helped make history by passing the Tuition Equity Act which would ensure thousands of students across Massachusetts - including hundreds of Waltham students - have the means to acquire a higher education.

I am eager to bring these experiences to the table, in service of the Waltham community.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

My grandfather imparted in me, “Leadership's purpose is to cultivate more leaders, not merely more followers.”

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

This year, I was featured in the Globe Magazine as part of Amplify LatinX’s inaugural ALX100, a list honoring 100 of the brightest Latino leaders from across the commonwealth. I am incredibly proud to have received the following endorsements: Sierra Club, Greater Boston Labor Council, SEIU Local 888, SEIU Local 509, IBEW Local 103, Boston Carmen's Union Local 589, and UFCW Local 1445.