Election Profile: Jack Connolly For For Councilor-At-Large

SOMERVILLE, MA — Voters will select four councilors-at-large from a pool of eight candidates in Somerville's municipal election Nov. 5. Jack Connolly, 68, previously served as Alderman-at-Large – now Councilor-at-Large – from 2007-2017 and is seeking the position again.

Connolly lives in Somerville with his wife, Gail. They have three daughters and a "wonderful" dog named Scout. He has been an independent insurance agent for more than 30 years.

Connolly holds a bachelors degree in political science from Boston College and a masters degree in education from Tufts University. In addition to serving as an Alderman-at-Large, Connolly was the Ward 6 Alderman from 1984-2005.

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The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The lack of communication with City Hall and the residents of Somerville. If elected I will make sure that I not just another body in a seat in City Hall. I will make sure that I am and remain a neighborhood ambassador. I will do so by focusing on what the community needs, working with and for all of the residents of the 7 Wards to overcome obstacles, I will actually listen to what they have to say, and VOTE according to what is best for them and their community, not just for what makes the City Council happy.

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

I have 3 decades of experience and an elected official at the Ward and Citywide Level. While working with others I planned the development and the arrival of the Red, Orange, and Green T-line into the City. I have also been responsible for major Assessing and Licensing reform. A lot of residents of Somerville are voicing their concerns and frustration, with little or no response from City Hall. If elected I will work with the City Council with you, and for you to address problems that together we can actually fix for you and do it now; Not just have meetings to make plans or draft proposals for much later in the future

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

There hasn’t been a zoning revision done in the past 2 years, there isn’t a Pilot done with Tufts University or Harvard University, and there has been little progress in Union Square with the overall redevelopment.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

Other issues that define my campaign platform are:
Keeping Somerville Safe- keeping Police, Fire, and Emergency Responders at their maximum efficiency and supporting fair City Labor Union agreements, as well as fair compensation and respect for non-union City staffers.

Fixing Davis Square Now- Somerville is a City with an annual budget with over a quarter of a BILLION dollars, yet City officials can’t find $750k to FIX the distressed, and decaying Davis Square? (See www.DavisNow.org for more information about what is needed) We really need to start fixing and maintaining our Streets, Roads, and Bike Lanes. I will work with each Councilor to prioritize the repairs most needed of our neglected streets and roadways.

Zeroing In On Zoning- Getting the long-overdue Citywide Zoning update Done, and updating the Building Permit/Inspection process which is currently painfully slow. Building permits should not take months to be issued.

Housing- Adding more housing of all types; Somerville needs to get Union Square residents and master developer united with the development plans for Four Hundred housing units (20% currently, but hopefully more affordable) underway and ready for the Green Line Station.

Supporting Home and Property Owners- Standing up for Somerville homeowners and taxpayers property rights by working with S.P.O.C. (Somerville Property Owners Coalition) for fair condo and cooperative housing options, especially for one to four-unit homes and apartments.

Human Services- Improving City liaison and support services for non-profit providers for Domestic Violence Prevention (Respond), The Somerville Homeless Coalition, mental health and substance abuse/treatment programs, especially for Veterans.

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

A lot of us recall how dozens of residents and small business owners planned and brought the Red Line to Davis Square, how the City united with our then Congressman and Assembly Sq. developers to build the Orange Line T stop. Thanks to a united effort Citywide, we are now getting ready for the Green Line station to open throughout the City. Don’t forget that Friends in Support of the Somerville Theatre were able to save that treasured landmark, the Davis Sq. Task Force re-shaped the Square, and civic-minded community members engineered the planning and build-out of Assembly Square. It took a lot of energy, time, and most importantly community cooperation, from many people to accomplish these feats. I am pleased and remain proud to have been a part of it, but we can’t continue these accomplishments or make tremendous changes to Somerville without us working together once more, especially on major issues like housing.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

“If you don’t take care of yourself, how are you going to take care of the world?” -Coach Rocky Carzo

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

Experience matters. In order to be progressive, you must achieve progress in the first place. Working with others, I have been part of a lot of progress so far in Somerville, and I am ready with your support, to do it again.