In Two Forums, Framingham Council Candidates Talk Ideas For City

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Framingham will get two new City Councilors after the Nov. 2 election with four candidates vying for the open District 5 and District 7 seats.

The League of Women Voters of Framingham and Patch hosted the candidates this week across two forums, where they discussed topics ranging from bike lanes to drivers licenses for undocumented people and budgets.

In District 5, Noval Alexander — who also ran for D5 in 2019 — and Cheryl Gordon are competing for the seat being vacated by Councilor Robert Case. During their forum on Saturday, the two candidates named traffic and road construction as among the biggest quality-of-life issues in the north-of-downtown district.

When asked about non-motorized infrastructure — items like bike lanes and trails — the candidates were more cautious. Gordon said the entire city should be looked at for non-motorized upgrades, but also said infrastructure like bike lanes should only go in areas that are safe for that type of use. Alexander also said the city should proceed with caution on expanding non-motorized infrastructure.

"I'm not sure if we should embark on a citywide program like Boston and Brookline that have share-bike programs; I'm definitely open to that idea," Alexander said.

The two candidates had a disagreement over municipal spending during the forum. Alexander said there is sometimes waste in government spending, but also believes government needs to invest in worthwhile programs.

Gordon brought up an example about school buses that were purchased for a bus shortage, but were being used as storage space because the district couldn't use them for students. Alexander was on the School Committee when that purchase was made.

Alexander refuted Gordon's example during the forum. When asked about the buses, Framingham Public Schools CFO Lincoln Lynch said the buses can't be used for fixed-route service to school, but are used for field trips and sports.

"They are not being used as storage areas," Lynch said.

Watch the District 5 debate here:

In District 7, candidates Magda Janus and Leora Mallach are competing for the seat being vacated by Councilor Margareth Shepard. The two candidates met Wednesday night to discuss a wide range of issues.

The first question focused on improving the quality of life in District 7. Mallach said the city needs to manage growth and traffic better. Janus favored adding more police patrols to increase safety in the downtown area.

The candidates were also asked about their support for drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants. Both candidates supported the idea, although Janus said she had heard police were not in favor of it.

"As long as they can pass the same test as everybody else, they should be able to have the licenses," Janus said.

They were also asked how life in Framingham could be made easier for new arrivals — District 7 has a high number of immigrants compared to other parts of the city. Janus suggested Framingham should help immigrants learn about local culture and customs. Mallach said expanded translation services would be beneficial.

The candidates were also asked about the expansion of non-motorized infrastructure. Janus said she supports bike lanes, but questioned how useful they are during winter months. Mallach said the city should definitely expand non-motorized options, both to connect Framingham to other communities, and to give residents a way to get to office parks without having to drive.

Watch the District 7 debate here: