Woburn Candidate Profile: Robert Toro For City Council

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

Here, we learn more about Robert Toro, who is running for one of two councilor at large seats on the City Council. There are three other candidates: Robert Ferullo Jr, the incumbent, Robert Meaney, and Lori Medeiros.

Toro is the owner of Woburn-based Toro Construction. He also serves as a Member of Woburn's Commission on Disability, a position to which he was appointed by Mayor Scott Galvin in 2020.

Candidates were sent questionnaires and filled out the answers.

Name

Robert Toro

How old will you be as of Election Day?

37 years old

What city or town do you live in?

Woburn

What office are you seeking?

City councilor at large

Education

Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Massachusetts Lowell and Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Suffolk University

What is your occupation?

Owner of Toro Construction based in Woburn. I have been in construction for 10 years. Prior to, and during the beginning of my time in construction, I was an employee of the Federal Government as an investigator for roughly 15 years.

Family

Wife — Amanda Toro, pre-kindergarten teacher in Somerville.
Daughters — Ella and Olivia Toro, both students at the Goodyear Elementary School in Woburn.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

None

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

I currently serve as a member of Woburn's Commission on Disability. This is an appointment position by the mayor. I have served in this role since 2020.

Why are you seeking this office?

I am running for city councilor at large because I have a desire to leave our city in a better place than it is today. I have two young children that my wife and I are raising in Woburn and we have made the decision to call Woburn our forever home. Furthermore, my business is based in Woburn. I want to be part of the solution to achieve change in our city and be part of the important decisions to push our city forward as we continue to evolve and grow.

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

Availability and transparency. I will be available to my constituents and will take a proactive approach to handling issues within our city. I will ensure that I am accessible to address a variety of important issues that I have spoken to constituents about during my campaign, including housing, traffic, taxes, and fair contracts, to name a few. I will be sure to take the time to listen to everyone's concerns and represent everyone and the city of Woburn to the absolute best of my ability.

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

I am a young, energetic businessman who has the ability to be impartial so the best decisions can be made for the city of Woburn. Woburn needs change and I am that candidate. I will bring new, fresh ideas to the City Council and will do everything in my power to facilitate the necessary change to push the city forward. I am also the only candidate with extensive construction knowledge that will be extremely helpful when dealing with development within the city and housing problems. Lastly, Woburn is changing and there are a lot of young families moving into Woburn. I am most like these families and can relate to the needs and desires of those families.

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

There is an incumbent in this race. He and I have a great relationship and I believe he has done a lot of good for our city in a variety of roles throughout his life. Nothing specific to the incumbent, but I believe we can always strive to do better and be more accessible. Whoever the second city councilor at large is, I will work with them professionally and respectfully to make the best decisions for our city.

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

Transparency within the budget and proper budget forecasting, collaboration within our local government and with department heads, traffic, housing and infrastructure upgrades. These are all areas that our city can improve on. We need individuals on the council who will be persistent and push for what's best for the city and those who reside here.

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

I have successfully built a business (Toro Construction), that has established a reputation as a first-class construction company throughout Massachusetts. I have accomplished this by establishing proper budgets, treating people respectfully and fairly, coordinating with people at a variety of levels, and making smart decisions.

In my federal career, I served in a supervisory role and was regularly tasked with coordinating with local, state, and federal agencies, along with private industry to accomplish agency goals. I was tasked with making decisions on a daily basis that impacted both the local field office and the agency as a whole. As the owner of Toro Construction, I make decisions constantly that impact my employees, subcontractors and customers. Lastly, I understand that the primary job of councilor at large is to represent the constituents of Woburn and the best interests of the city. This will always guide my decisions and will remain at the forefront as I make tough decisions to move Woburn forward.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Always be yourself and treat people the way you want to be treated. You will never be able to please everyone no matter how hard you try. If you remain genuine and true, the majority of people will respect you for your honesty and know where you stand.

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

I do not claim to have the answers to solve every problem facing our city. I do however pledge to listen to everyone's concerns and do my absolute best in the position if I were fortunate enough to be elected. I will do this by surrounding myself with those who are considered experts in their respective fields, listening to concerns and educating myself on these issues. I want nothing but the best for Woburn and I want to see the city progress forward. We need advocates for our city and we need change. I am the candidate who will initiate change and invigorate our local government in ways no other candidate will. I respectfully ask for your vote on November 7, 2023.