Jeff Cohen: Salem City Council Candidate Profile

SALEM, MA — Jeff Cohen is seeking his first term on the Salem City Council representing Ward 5.

The 64-year-old business development manager in the energy efficiency field has a degree in political science from UMass-Amherst.

Cohen told Patch he is hoping to take his experiences and efforts from being part of many Salem city civic groups and become a responsive city councilor who works with a focus on affordable housing and environmental issues.

The citywide election is on Nov. 2.

Campaign website

jeffcohenforsalem.weebly.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am fulfilled by community service, having been Salem's first recycling and trash coordinator and solar coach and currently on the Leadership Council for Salem for All Ages, the Salem State Community Engagement Advisory Board, the Board of Directors of Project Out and the only person in Salem to be a chair of two city boards — the No Place for Hate and Sustainability, Energy & Resiliency Committee.

It's time for others to assume my chair responsibilities and as I'm retiring, believe I can best serve the residents of Ward 5 as a City Councillor, always available and someone all know they can depend on.

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

Housing. As Salem has become such a desirable place to live and our rental stock is diminishing rapidly, we don't have enough rental stock to keep rents affordable as all who work here should be able to live here. I will collaborate with other councilors to pass an inclusionary zoning ordinance that will mandate a sufficient amount and percentage of affordable housing. I'll resubmit the wage theft ordinance and institute tenant protections and condo regulations to minimize gentrification.

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

Some are WHY's (why do something?) and I'm a WHY NOT (why not try?) and I have also demonstrated an ability to build consensus and advocate for all in the ward and city. I've written or helped write ordinances (green building, urban agriculture, short-term rentals, solar and sanctuary).

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

My belief is Salem led and stayed ahead of the curve by having available testing, instituting mask mandates, helped local businesses — especially restaurants — and relied on science and the good work of our Board of Health.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

As one of Salem's leading environmentalists, I have collaborated with SAFE, Salem Sound Coastwatch, Citizen's Climate Lobby North Shore (original member) to make sure Salem is as resilient and sustainable as possible. Regarding diversity and equity, I helped organize support for the non-discrimination ordinance, which now includes gender identity protections. As recycling coordinator, I helped increase our recycling percentage and ratio.

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

As recycling and trash coordinator, I did outreach by canvassing the city multiple times and taught students in Salem schools about solar, recycling and pronouns. As the city and SAFE Solar Coach and North Shore Association of Realtors solar expert (2016), I advised many and helped grow the installations by 60x. It was my concept for the Salem school solar project that has not only resulted in hundreds of thousands of annual savings but $1 million in revenue to the schools over 10 years.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Treat others as they would like to be treated.

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

If elected, I will have office hours 6 days a week, throughout the day, and respond immediately to concerns. Listening to constituents is the focus of my campaign. Whether you vote for me or not, I will be about hearing you and getting results.