Medford Mayor Stephanie M. Burke Running For Re-Election

MEDFORD, MA — Mayor Stephanie M. Burke formally announced her re-election bid over the weekend. Burke, seeking a third term as mayor, was first elected in November 2015 after 15 years as a city councilor.

In announcing her run, Burke touted her record over the past year, which included increasing the meals tax by 40 percent; bringing an Amazon office to the city, which is expected to create 200 new jobs; leading the search for a new superintendent, Dr. Marice Edouard-Vincent; starting construction on a new police station and appointing a new police chief, Jack Buckley; hiring 35 new police officers and firefighters; coming to an agreement with the firefighters' union on a new four-year contract; converting streetlights to LED; securing funding for a new public library; improving the recreation department; initiating the Senior Work-Off Abatement Program; and receiving the second consecutive bond rating increase to AA+, which allows the city to borrow at a lower rate.

She also pointed to her time as a city councilor, during which she helped change the city's liquor laws, spearheaded the Project Labor Agreement and building of new schools and wrote zoning to revamp Medford's sign ordinance and the mixed-use zone in Wellington, according to a prepared press release.

"Our city is sound, sturdy, and stable – but our work is not done," Burke said in a statement. "We must continue to attract high quality businesses to our community. We must further our investments in our schools and infrastructure, including recreation. We must ensure that our Police Headquarters and Public Library designs are completed on time and on budget. In addition, we will be announcing plans for architectural services to address a new Fire Department Headquarters in the next month."

Election Day in Medford is Nov. 5.