Framingham Candidate Profile: Gloria Pascual For City Council

FRAMINGHAM, MA — District 8 Framingham School Committee member Gloria Pascual is running for a seat on City Council in perhaps the most interesting city race of 2019. The three-way race pits Pascual against a longtime Councilor, and someone who was just endorsed by Gov. Charlie Baker.

Pascual, 40, is competing against incumbent At-Large Councilor George King Jr. and newcomer Janet Leombruno. One of those candidates will win the at-large seat being vacated by Cheryl Tully Stoll.

One event that has loomed over her campaign is Pascual's removal in September from a school subcommittee tasked with negotiating with the union representing Framingham custodians. She was accused of Assistant Superintendent for HR Inna London a "racist," and referring to London and another HR employees as "queen" and "prince." Pascual was also scolded for reaching out directly to custodians over contract negotiations. Pascual called the allegations "anonymous, unfounded, and untruthful" in a statement made on Sept. 10.

But Pascual has plenty of supporters. She has been endorsed by the Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus, a nonpartisan group that supports pro-choice candidates. In a recent endorsement letter, Framingham resident Dr. Esta Montano said the Council needs someone like Pascual in light of recent antisemitic incidents.

As with all candidates in the race, we asked Pascual to answer the Patch candidate questionnaire. You can also read previous Q&As with King and Leombruno.

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

I see Framingham’s diversity as an underutilized asset. As a City Councilor I plan to inspire and recruit more residents to serve on boards and commissions. With my knowledge and first-hand experience working with many segments of the population, I will bring a broader perspective to the Council. I have expertise in business, education, and healthcare, as well as with students, families, seniors, and people with disabilities. As a fluent Spanish speaker and the only At-Large Candidate who lives on the southside of Framingham, I bring critical skills and a broader perspective to the Council which will help all residents feel better represented.

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

One of my opponents is a local republic leader.

One of my opponents is a former town manager who had the chances to fix problems that still exist today.

Both my opponents were on the charter commission overseeing a rushed process which didn't include options for our new government.

I am the only democratic woman running for the At-Large seat!

I serve my community with a passion for doing what's right and giving everyone a voice in their government.

You can trust that I will be a strong communicator — listening, sharing information and being transparent.

I have a different background than my opponents.

I am the only candidate living south of route 9.

I am the only at-large candidate fluent in Spanish

I am the only candidate with a business background in the private sector working in healthcare for the elderly and people with disabilities.

I’m in it for you. I’m in it for Framingham.

I would be honored to represent you on the city council and put my expertise to work for all of Framingham. I would greatly appreciate your support.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community?

Politics gets in the way of progress. That’s been a big problem since we’ve become a city. The council can change that by working better with the administration and mayor – focusing on getting things done. Also, The city council votes on all zoning changes and plays a major role in structuring the zoning. The council should be working on zoning that preserves the character of neighborhoods. I am opposed to the kind of tall dense projects developers are trying to push into residential neighborhoods. We need to slow the residential development down and work within a structured plan and vision for our city. We must create a strategic plan that will outline all our areas of opportunities.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

My platform is bold and ambitious. It’s about you and us, not me. It’s about how to make progress for Framingham.

It addresses Zoning and Housing

The City Council controls the zoning. That’s a big deal. I am committed to preserving the integrity and character of neighborhoods.

It addresses Traffic and Transportation

Working on safety, more parking, betting regional and commuter transportation services

It addresses Municipal Finance and the Budget

As Vice Chair of the School committee I have experience working on the largest part of our municipal budget. I am committed to identifying greater efficiency and preserving quality services.

It addresses Public Safety

Making sure that the right resources are in place to keep our city safe and make improvements. I want to see a proposal and timetable to address police staffing issues.

It addresses Economic Development

We need more outreach outside of Framingham and Massachusetts to stimulate our economic development

It addresses Equity and Inclusion

Use our diversity to enrich our city — it’s an underutilized asset. When all voices are part of the process the outcomes are better overall.

It addresses Economic Development

Working closer with our small business owners and corporate executives to collaborate on economic development.

It addresses the Environment and Climate Change

Let’s be proactive dealing with the changes in the recycling industry and hold polluters responsible for the brown fields they’ve created in our city. For information please see my website at GloriaforFramingham.com

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

I earned a Master’s Degree in Applied Sociology from UMASS Boston and a graduate certificate from Boston University. I served as a member of the Framingham Special Education Advisory Committee helping bilingual families navigate the special education system, and then I became Vice President of the Framingham High School PTO. At the same time I was elected to Town Meeting representing Precinct 18 and served as Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Education.

As a Co-Founder of Framingham Families for Racial Equity in Education (FFREE) I led efforts to raise the achievement of all students while eliminating racial inequities. In 2017 I ran for School Committee and won 62% of the vote to represent District 8. I was elected Vice-Chair of the School Committee. I am the Chair of the Racial Equity Subcommittee and serve on the Student Achievement and Accountability Subcommittee.
I have worked in healthcare for over 15 years now, as an administrator overseeing programs and services delivered by registered nurses and social workers that support the needs of the elderly and people with disabilities across the state.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

"Help others because one day you will need help." My Mother

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

I was born and raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts alongside four siblings in a diverse community with many resources that I was lucky to benefit from. I learned about community service from my mother who has worked at the local food pantry for decades serving residents and families in need.

At the age of nine, my grandmother came to live with us in Cambridge. She spoke only Spanish. Therefore, my responsibility was to take grandma to all her appointments to interpret and translate for her. Her experience helped me understand the value of a community coming together to lift its people up.

I learned to honor the service of our military from my father who served in Vietnam and my grandfather who served in the United States Army in the Korean War.

Since becoming a city, Framingham is still trying to figure out how the new government structure operates, how to work together, and how to prioritize initiatives and deliver quality services while controlling costs and taxes. The answers are pretty clear to me. We need to:
Work collaboratively with our mayor and all our city departments
Focus on doing the work
Include more people in the process
Accept the learning curve of being a new city
Consider different views and creative ideas
Treat everyone with respect
Be accountable and hold others accountable
Framingham I ask for your VOTE on Tuesday November 5th
For City Council At Large

Note: Patch does not edit answers submitted by candidates for grammar, content, or length.