Candidate Profile: Joseph Demers For Alderman Ward 4

WOBURN, MA — Woburn will have a number of contested races in the Nov. 2 municipal election, including a two-candidate race for the Ward 4 City Council seat

That seat is currently held by Alderman Joseph Demers, who is running for re-election.

Woburn Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles over the coming weeks.

Demers is facing challenger Anthony David Caliri in his re-election bid.

Demers is a program coordinator for the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services. He sat on the School Committee from 2014 until he was appointed to fill a City Council vacancy in 2020.

Are you running for office in Woburn? Contact Christopher Huffaker at chris.huffaker@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate profile and submitting campaign announcements to Woburn Patch.

Previously on Patch: Woburn Election 2021: Mayor, Council, School Committee Candidates

Joseph Demers

Age (as of Election Day)

36

Position Sought

Ward 4 City Councilor

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Eugene Demers (father), Lisa Lentini Demers (stepmother), Kristiana Demers Forsyth (sister), Robert Forsyth (brother-in-law), and Wesley Robert Forsyth (nephew/godson)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

n/a

Education

Woburn Memorial High School, Class of 2003; Providence College, Class of 2007; Bachelor of Arts - History/Secondary Education

Occupation

Program Coordinator for the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Legislative Aide (2009-2018), Woburn School Committee (2014-2020), Woburn City Council Ward 4 (2020-present)

Why are you seeking elective office?

I'm committed to serving my community to make sure we can keep Woburn an affordable, safe, and prosperous place to live, work and raise a family.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

To say that there is a single most pressing issue is difficult. There are a lot of issues that the City Council has to face head on, including but not limited to keeping Woburn affordable, making sure development respects the quality of life and character of the city, and maintaining the services that our taxpayers expect. (i.e. Schools, public safety, roads/sidewalks, etc)

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

Rather than point out any differences, I'd prefer to touch on what makes me a strong candidate for City Council. My experience, my responsive constituent services, my ability to think outside the box, and my dedication to serving my neighborhood and my community are why I believe I am a strong candidate for City Council.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

I strongly believe that the city of Woburn did its very best with the resources it had to respond to the Covid 19 pandemic. The Mayor, city department heads, city workers, and residents all came together to make sure that city operations continued, that Woburn was safe and that testing/vaccines were readily available. The Board of Health was expected to do quite a lot and I think they responded admirably to the residents for contact tracing. All and all I think it's a testament to Woburn's resiliency.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Important issues facing Ward 4 are traffic, road safety, Sound Barriers, the new Woburn Fire Headquarters, smart community development to help revitalize Central Square and Woburn Center just to name a few.

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

6 years of committed service moving the Woburn Schools forward (1 year as Chairperson).

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Always remember where you came from.

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

I'm running for City Council because I have a firm belief in public service and serving one's community. It is my hope that through my experience and through my commitment to make sure that Ward 4 is represented with the taxpayer's best interest in mind, the residents of Ward 4 will trust me to continue to serve as their voice on the City Council.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.