Waltham Candidate Profile: Jonathan Paz, City Council Ward 9

WALTHAM, MA — Waltham will have several contested races in this fall's election, including for mayor, school committee, at-large city councilors and ward councilors. Waltham Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Jonathan Paz, 26, is running for Ward 9's city council seat. He's facing off against incumbent Robert Logan.

Paz told Patch he moved to Waltham in 2000. He said he attended both the Plympton and Fitzgerald schools and then went to high school at Mansfield High School, before heading to college. He has his bachelors in Philosophy Politics Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. He's worked as a field representative for the SEIU Local 888 based in Braintree for the past year. For the past three years he's also been a tutor, helping students with Algebra, Spanish, AP US History, Economics and AP Calculus, according to his LinkedIn page.

Paz took a moment to answer a few questions. His answers have not been edited or fact checked.

Previously: Waltham Elections 2019: Here's Who Is Running

• When is candidate night? How to watch the debates.

Are you running for office in Waltham? Contact Jenna Fisher at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Waltham Patch.

The single most pressing issue facing our city is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Ward 9 residents keep telling me that our city's growth is unbalanced and not transparent. They feel they don’t know what the city’s priorities are anymore. They feel disconnected from the developments in their own backyards, which interrupt their daily lives. Growing traffic, rising rents, inaccessible sidewalks, and deteriorating streets are symptoms of this larger issue. We are not growing in a way that prioritizes our working families, our seniors and our youth.

For example, Waltham recently had the largest fire in its history, right in Ward 9. Five luxury apartment towers on Cooper and Elm Streets were quickly developed without the input of locals. After an arsonist set the development ablaze, the community gathered to ask questions. Councilor Logan - and the developers, from whom he accepted many donations - not only skipped the meeting, but also refused to meet with constituents.

That’s why my campaign’s motto is “Community First.” Waltham deserves to have leaders representing them, not developers. Ward 9 deserves a leader who will not put their health and safety on the line for a quick buck. We need a leader who will honor diversity and economic inclusion.

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

My campaign does not take money from outside developers. My opponent does.
I will provide a fresh, multicultural perspective to the City Council. While I honor Councilor Logan’s service to the community, I do think, after almost 30 years, it’s good to have a fresh voice to build upon the work of modernizing and growing our city.

My campaign would like to explore all options on the table to increase our stock of affordable housing. My opponent uses affordable housing as a pretext for the construction of luxury apartments.

I trust the expertise of education experts in Waltham. My opponent voted against their recommendation for the placement of the new high school.

I will be a voice for small businesses and help revitalize the Downtown District. My opponent has created an unnecessarily hostile environment for entrepreneurs in Ward 9.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)? If you're an incumbent, what's still on your to-do list?

First and foremost, I respect anyone who is willing to engage and be committed to serving the city.

However, we have disagreements.

I think Councilor Logan’s greatest disservice to the city came in a variety of ways: his use of committee power to stifle small businesses from investing in the city, his vote against the placement of the new high school going directly against the recommendation of education experts, his one-dimensional approach to affordable housing where he sells us out to outside developers, and his shameless taking of money from outside developers.

A low point in Logan’s term was after the fires on Cooper and Elm street. In times of crisis, a leader does his job and leads. Logan refused to meet with constituents to answer questions about what would be the future of that site. Instead of being transparent, he ran away from the problem. He turned his back on the people. That’s perhaps Logan’s most glaring failure to Ward 9 residents.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

Long term: promoting a state-of-the-art high school.

Short term: keeping the city affordable.

We live in a time of crisis not just in the environment, but also in the affordability of our city. Rising traffic and rents are making this city inaccessible to its working base. Every day, families are pushed out because of the lack of affordable housing options. Affordability is the crisis of now. However, our education system is underfunded and outdated. With a high school project under way, we are looking to make the greatest investment of our generation. These twin priorities of affordability and education will determine the future of our city.

In the short term, I want to promote a broader discussion on affordable housing, affordable transportation, and an end to displacement. We need to increase our Inclusionary zoning to 20% for folks earning less than 50% of the Area Median Income. Waltham’s recent zoning amendment is still drastically behind what other towns and cities provide in the name of affordable housing. I would work to expand our rental voucher program to include upwards of 200 families. Lastly, I would promote modernization of our public transportation stations. Transportation studies often highlight a demand for weekend bus routes and accommodations during inclement weather. By ensuring folks have adequate housing and means of transportation, we can keep the city affordable and moving.

Long term, I hope to promote a state-of-the-art high school. We cannot let politics get in the way of providing the best education for our youth. Whether it is working with community members or in city committees, I want to ensure the process is as transparent as it is ambitious. That means building contracts contain Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) where both cost-efficiency and timelines are secured. With the possibility of providing on-site vocational and project-based learning, this high school can make us a shining example of educational achievement and inclusion. Let us not cut corners towards that dream.

Ward 9 needs a champion for the working class, its youth and seniors. We need a leader who understands the nuances of affordability. We need a leader who understands that education is always the best investment. I will provide the leadership that puts our community first – today, tomorrow, and always.

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

I became the first member of my family to receive a higher education. I attended the University of Pennsylvania and studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics. At Penn, I learned Portuguese and centered my studies on the process of globalization.

I carried out development projects and research across major economies. I worked with UN Women in Bolivia, conducted a political ethnography in Brazil, helped manage a vocational program in India, and assisted microenterprises across Peru. In 2016, I returned to Waltham and worked in development and acquisitions.

Currently, I represent librarians at Brandeis and Boston University, custodians in Watertown and DPW workers in Arlington. Every day, I advocate for working class families across our commonwealth. I assist public sector employees in acquiring better wages, benefits and dignity in the workplace.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

One of my favorite artists growing up was Christopher Wallace. He said, “The key to staying on top of things is to treat everything like it's your first project. Stay humble. Stay hungry.”

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

My vision for Waltham is a government that puts the community first- plain and simple. Working families in Waltham should be able to raise their children in an affordable community that promotes sustainable and high-tech growth. Our seniors should have access to affordable and safe housing. Our disabled community should have access to ADA-compliant sidewalks and a modern transit system. Our youth should look forward to a state-of-the-art high school.

Big picture: our city can and should lead. Our schools can be a beacon of educational excellence and equity. Our transit system can be modern and intelligent. Waltham must lead the way in fighting climate change. It’s our future, our Waltham.

Your social media info (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook)

@PazForWaltham for both Twitter &Facebook

My favorite aspect of this city is...

Its diversity: be that socioeconomic, racial, cultural, or other. I never cease to be impressed by the sheer variety of people with yet more varied experiences among whom I have the great privilege of living.

What's your take on all the development?

Our city needs smart growth that prioritizes safety, sustainability and all of our neighbors. Luxury apartments congesting the city do not benefit anyone, but the profits of outside developers. I am not against all development but we need a green master plan before we allow further major construction. We cannot allow mega projects to compromise the safety of Waltham neighbors.

More on Waltham Elections:

• Waltham Mayor Jeannette McCarthy Announces She Will Run
• Possible Challenge To McCarthy's Run For Waltham Mayor
• Councilor Diane LeBlanc Hints At Run For Mayor
• Waltham Councilor Diane LeBlanc Announces She Will Run
• Waltham Election Calendar: What To Know About Election Season
• Column: Why I'm Running For City Waltham City Councilor At Large
• Don Desrochers Announces Campaign for City Council Seat

Waltham Candidate Profiles

• Heather May - Ward 2
• Sean Durkee - Ward 6
• Robert Logan - Ward 9
• Colleen Bradley-MacArthur - At Large City Council
• Steve Lydon - At Large
• Marisa Diamond - School Committee
• John Graceffa - School Committee
• Jeannette McCarthy- Mayor
• Diane LeBlanc- Mayor
• Tom Stanley, At Large City Councilor

Are you running for office in Waltham? Contact Jenna Fisher at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Waltham Patch.