Who's best qualified for Somerville Mayor or City Councilor?

What's the most important qualification for Mayor or City Councilor??

Our Revolution Somerville has endorsed Will Mbah for mayor in the first open mayoral race in 18 years! We also have a chance to add six more strong progressives like Matt McLaughlin, JT Scott, Ben Ewen-Campen and Jesse Clingan on our City Council. This is a potentially transformational moment for our city! Yet, over and over again I'm hearing questions concerning the qualification of the ORS endorsed candidates.

Without a doubt, most of the other candidates are sincerely dedicated to the betterment of our city. And many have extensive experience in government or a history of involvement in community affairs. All probably consider themselves "progressive" too. But like so many of the well-meaning elected officials of the past, none of them if individually elected will be capable of taking on the landlords, real estate developers, bankers, and corporate special interests who have enormous power in Somerville.

Despite a supposedly "progressive" mayor and majority "progressive" members of the city council, the community that's rapidly emerging in Somerville is definitely not the community that most residents want. Less diversity. Less affordable housing, less neighborhood stability. More traffic. More low wage, no benefit jobs. More luxury condos.

Our city council has made some important strides. Yet we are still settling for the same deal cutting and one-sided compromises on urban development, jobs, and housing.

Think about what Federal Reality Investment Trust got away with in Assembly Square. Or, despite great efforts by Union United and the Union Sq. Neighborhood Council, what US2 is doing in Union Square. And the plans for Boynton Yards are more of the same! Meanwhile, the huge bonanza for speculators and investors all along the Green Line extension is continuing unbated. Skyrocketing rents are forcing a record number of longtime residents out.

This brings us to the question of the best or most important qualifications for Mayor or City Counselor. Is it "urban mechanics"? Public policy genius? A great vison for the city? We've had capable elected officials with all of the above talents (and more) for a long time with results that are falling far short of what's needed.

The qualification that's missing is more elected officials -- especially a mayor -- who see themselves as part of a larger movement to challenge the city's entrenched power elite. That's the most important qualification if we are going to meet the challenge of this moment in Somerville.

If we truly want better outcomes, we need to elect people who are committed to being accountable to a grassroots movement that will take on Federal Reality, US2, the big landlords, our largest employers (Tufts, Partners), and greedy real estate speculators. That is why I support Our Revolution Somerville and the ORS slate! These young and energetic people have the key qualification: a commitment to building grassroots political power. Because only by building this movement do we have any hope of ensuring a Somerville that works for everyone; not just the rich and the powerful.

Please cast your votes for Will Mbah, JT Scott, Ben Ewen-Campen, Tessa Orbach Bridge, Becca Miller, Willie Burnley Jr., Charlotte Kelly, Eve Seitchik, and Sara Dion!