Brendan Sweeney: Beverly City Council Candidate Profile

BEVERLY, MA — Brendan Sweeney is a member of the Beverly Planning Board and cable TV advisory committee chair who is seeking his first term as a Beverly At-Large City Councilor.

The 26-year-old has worked in the state Executive Office for Administration and Finance as well as the town manager's office in Reading.

He earned a bachelor's degree from Gordon College and a Master's in Public Administration from Suffolk University.

Campaign website

SweeneyforBeverly.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am truly passionate about local government; I believe that it is the level of government where you can have the most tangible positive impact on the lives of your friends, family, and neighbors. That's what drove me to get involved here in Beverly originally — I've done so as a member of the Planning Board and as the Chair of the Cable TV Advisory Committee — and it's what's led me to dedicate my career to public service.

Specifically, my professional experience has included my time working for the town manager in the town of Reading, where I was given the opportunity to learn how local government works and how to get things done within town hall. Since that time, I've spent the past three years at the state level working in the executive financial management office, where lately, I've worked with mayors and town managers at the local level to finance COVID-19 response and recovery initiatives. That I have experience on that front, with COVID-19 recovery being at the forefront here in Beverly, is one major reason why I jumped into this race.

Additionally, we are going to be experiencing notable turnover on the city council. Two longtime incumbents — City Council President Paul Guanci and At-Large City Councilor Tim Flaherty — are stepping down. While this presents an opportunity to bring some new perspectives to the table, it will also leave a void of institutional knowledge. I believe that, at this crucial transition point, I can offer both a fresh face as well as knowledge of and experience in local government.

Finally, my fiancée (Sydney and) I have committed to Beverly. It is a wonderful city with an abundance of natural beauty, historic character, and a vibrant downtown. We know that we'll be raising our family here — and that our kids will go to school here — and I am committed to ensuring that we preserve the things that we all love about Beverly for years to come while building off of the successes that the city has seen in recent years.

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

In the short term, the most pressing issue facing our city is COVID-19 recovery. More specifically, it's ensuring that the city government, which is the level of government that possesses the best understanding of the needs of our specific community, proactively addresses the needs of the stakeholders within our city who have been hit the hardest by the pandemic.

Beverly has roughly $13 million in available COVID-19 relief funding from the federal government. As a city councilor, I intend to advocate for the use of some of this funding to support a stakeholder group that has been particularly hard hit — our small business community. At a time when many businesses have had to close their doors — and given that the supply of federal and state COVID-19 relief aid was vastly outstripped by the demand for such aid — it is imperative that we provide assistance to our businesses that may otherwise have to close their doors after struggling through unprecedented hardship for the better part of the last two years. These small businesses are the backbone of our community and we as a city have a responsibility — not to mention an economic incentive — to make sure that they are able to weather this storm.

In the long-term, I believe that our focus must shift to "sustainable development." We've seen significant growth in Beverly in recent years. Much of it has been positive, such as the revitalization of Cabot Street. However, what I believe is crucial for our city going forward is that we're scaling any future growth to fit Beverly's historic character. Additionally, as future development is considered, we need to make sure that we are placing an equivalent focus on improving our infrastructure and supporting our public safety departments (police and fire) so that they have the resources necessary to serve a growing city.

There is a need for more housing — particularly reasonably-priced housing for seniors who are looking to downsize. However, we must be well aware of the complete picture when considering future development and make sure that we preserve Beverly's historic character and picturesque New England seaside beauty that differentiates Beverly from the satellite cities surrounding Boston. This approach and focus on sustainable development will guide my actions as a city councilor.

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

I believe that my experience in local and state government management — specifically, financial management — sets me apart from the pack.

A city councilor has two primary responsibilities: (1) to provide timely constituent services to residents and (2) oversight of the operations of city government and its nearly $150 million budget. I have demonstrated experience with both.

When I worked for the town manager in Reading, my role was centered around constituent services; I was the first face that someone saw when they came to the town manager's office with an issue. Through that experience, I became well-versed in the operations of local government and gained an understanding of which specific departments could best address the variety of issues that residents face. Additionally, I now work with each of the 351 cities and towns to administer funding tied to COVID-19 response and recovery, meaning that I am constantly in contact with municipal officials to determine how best to finance their emergency expenses. The combination of these experiences, in addition to my desire to problem-solve for those in need, will allow me to effectively tackle the core constituent service responsibilities of being a city councilor.

Regarding oversight of city operations and the city's multi-million dollar budget, during my time with the state's executive financial management office, I've been responsible for the development and oversight of the housing, economic development, and education portions of the state's nearly $50 billion annual operating budget. Additionally, I've managed a $500 million grant program that funds COVID-19 response efforts at the local level. These experiences have equipped me with the knowledge necessary to thoroughly review and critique any budget proposals coming from the mayor's office, as well as given me the ability to ensure that our city is in good financial standing for the long-term future.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

Although I am a new candidate, I am not challenging any one candidate in particular. With the City Council At-Large race, all candidates compete for one of the top three spots and each voter can vote for up to three candidates. With this in mind, I ask that you would consider me for one of your three votes for City Council At-Large this election.

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

I believe that the city — particularly our first responders — responded admirably to the incredibly challenging circumstances that Beverly faced as a result of COVID-19. Additionally, I commend the mayor and his administration for their work to set up COVID-19 testing clinics here in Beverly and to maintain constant lines of communications with residents regarding new developments with regards to the frequently changing circumstances around us.

The one critique I have is with transparency, or the lack thereof, regarding how COVID-19 relief aid has been utilized by the city to date. This data can tell an excellent story of how Beverly persevered through adversity and utilized federal relief aid to finance these heroic efforts. I would have (and will, going forward) advocated for more transparency in making this data readily available for interested residents.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

As City Councilor, my five key priorities for Beverly include:

- Small business support for Beverly's COVID-19 recovery.

- Sustainable development that meets our city's needs while preserving Beverly's historic character.

- Support for public safety and the police and fire Departments that serve our growing city.

- Strategic financial planning to maintain essential public services at an affordable level.

- Timely constituent services and accountable government for the citizens of Beverly.

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

As I mentioned in an earlier question, I have extensive experience in both local and state government management that uniquely qualifies me to serve as a City Councilor At-Large. In addition to that experience, I believe that my accomplishments locally also speak to my readiness to assume the role of city councilor.

For the last two years, I've served as the Chair of the Cable TV Advisory Committee in Beverly. The role of that committee is to lead the city's negotiations with Comcast regarding a new cable television contract for Beverly (for more information on why Comcast is the only cable and internet provider in Beverly, please see my Facebook post on the topic, which is posted on my campaign page and to advocate for funding for Beverly Community Access Media, better known as BevCAM.

Recently, I led the committee through these contract negotiations and our new contract ensures full funding for BevCAM's operations. The work of BevCAM has included broadcasting sporting events, school concerts, and remote meetings throughout the ongoing pandemic, which has been crucial to maintaining our interconnectedness and sense of community during these trying times. This accomplishment shows my ability to effectively work within the bureaucracy of city government and to lead a committee to a favorable resolution on behalf of the city as a whole.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

"Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly." This was just one of many John F. Kennedy quotes that my Dad would mention from his favorite president when I was growing up.

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

I’m running because Beverly needs dedicated, results-oriented elected officials who understand government, know how to get things done, and will advocate for the long-term needs of the city’s residents. My experience, passion for effective local government, and love for our city will allow me to hit the ground running on day one to ensure that Beverly’s city government meets our needs during these challenging times.