Vote Medford 2005

Q11: My Accomplishments & Leadership

If you are currently on the Medford City Council, what accomplishment gives you the most pride?     

Please mention something that you championed and led to success, not just something that you simply voted for or against.

If you are not currently on the council, why are you running and why do you think residents should vote for you rather than re-elect a current councilor?

Burke: Q11 - My Accomplishments & Leadership

There are several initiatives that I have championed during my tenure on the city council such as

• Spearheading a public debate on the "Small Restaurant Initiative" allowing for Beer and Wine licenses in our less than 99 (250 when we enacted the legislation) seat restaurants
• Championed the rehabilitation of Victory Park near Medford High School
• As early as July 2001, addressed the need for a vision plan
• As early as November 2000, addressed concerns at Medford High School including the community school entrance.
• Made the revamping of the outdated sign ordinance a priority when elected to the City Council.
• Please visit http://www.councillorburke.com.  And click on press releases to see publications on these topics.

Camuso: Q11 - My Accomplishments & Leadership

One of the most important functions of a City Councilor is reviewing the Budget. Each item in the Budget must be carefully reviewed so that we can allocate resources in the most efficient and effective way. When resources are tight, it is critical to ensure that our tax dollars are well spent and that the important priorities of citizens are addressed fairly and comprehensively. My experience on the School Committee and council provides me with a unique insight into the budget and enables me to make recommendations that can make a difference to the quality of life in our community and preserve essential services. Recently, I proposed a resolution to make "Senior citizen safety zones" to protect the senior citizens in our community. This idea is a low cost approach to adding an extra dimension of safety for our seniors. There are many practical ideas that can be implemented without major cost to the city and I look for these approaches to supplement a well-researched budget allocation process.

Carr: Q11 - My Accomplishments & Leadership

I am proud to have been the first City Councilor to call for the revitalization of Medford Square, which I first did as a candidate back in 1999. I am happy to see that a Master Plan is now in place and new development will be underway in the next year or so. I am also proud to have led the charge to change the antiquated liquor laws in Medford, which led directly to a number of new and expanded existing restaurants in the city. This helps everyone - more businesses for our Squares, more choices for our residents, more life in our city. The final thing I would mention as one of my major accomplishments on the City Council is the Re-Use of the existing schools. Over the past four years, as Council Representative on the School Re-Use Committee, I have overseen the rehabilitation of the existing school buildings or sites as new housing. This process affected every neighborhood in Medford and I made sure that the character and desires of each neighborhood drove the decision about what to do with each old school. In addition, Medford used the proceeds for the school buildings to successfully pay for $120 million of new schools without raising taxes. As a retired educator, I treat the job of City Councilor as the full-time job it is, attending as many meetings as possible to keep ahead of issues in Medford.

I would like to thank the fine Medford citizens who put together this list of candidate questions on very short notice. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the people of Medford for the last four years as a City Councilor. Thank You.

Dello Russo: Q11 - My Accomplishments & Leadership

I come from a unique position. While I am part of a long established family which has conducted a business here for over 50 years, we were not always "established". My grandfather was a first generation North Ender who with his brother brought a business here, from Boston, to serve the people of this community. I am proud of my family's business and political heritage and am proud to carry on that tradition of public service in the City of Medford. Each day I meet families from every neighborhood and am aware of the needs and concerns of a diverse community. I will bring to the council sensitivity and the ability to work with those from various cultural, economic and philosophical backgrounds, long established and newcomer alike. I lived away from Medford for twelve years, returning in 2002 to an evolving city. This is the community I choose to live in and I know that my fresh perspective will serve the citizens of Medford well.

Doherty: Q11 - My Accomplishments & Leadership

Although I am not presently serving as councilor, I served four terms as a councilor, from 1986 through 1993. Consequently, I will answer the first part of the question.

In the early to mid-1980's, the City of Medford was in trouble, fiscally and functionally. Our roads and our parks were in disrepair and our commercial areas were dilapidated and too often, just plain dirty. The Depositor's Trust bank robbery and the police exam scam broke open. Medford's reputation was sullied and, eventually, some police officers went to prison. It was a particularly difficult and demoralizing time for the large majority of police officers who were honest, hardworking and deserving of our respect.

At the same time high-rise condos were being built at a dramatic rate throughout the city, by way of variances from the board of appeals. These buildings adversely affected neighborhoods because of insufficient planning as to parking, traffic and infrastructure concerns. During my first year on the City Council, (1986), I proposed an emergency moratorium on future condominium projects, until we could implement necessary zoning changes to protect the neighborhoods.. Although the public supported the condo moratorium, the City Council did not.

In the face of these problems, I supported a citizen's group trying to place a binding referendum on the ballot, in the hope that we could change our form of government from Plan E, city manager, to Plan A, strong mayor. I was a principal in the final campaign for Plan "A". The ballot question was a success, resulting in a significant change in our structure of government. In 1988, we welcomed a new strong mayor to the helm of the city's government. The new mayor "opened" the doors to city hall, and the city has been moving forward ever since.

Lungo: Q11 - My Accomplishments & Leadership

An accomplishment would not be an accomplishment without a majority of the votes from the Medford city council as a whole. With that being said, I have been at the forefront on a number of issues. The first being the New Department of Public Works Director's position, that I feel was not needed. I was first to bring the issue up and announce that I thought it was improper spending on the administrations behalf. This city needs so many things, such as more Police, fire, and DPW workers, better park maintenance, pencils and pens for our students, another fire engine at the Wellington Development, ETC. ETC. Whenever these issues are brought up, the administration uses the excuse that there is no money, but hiring someone for 87k proves there is money out there. It is just being spent how a selected few want it to be spent. Bringing the issue to the table led to the City Council vote to eliminate the position.

I have also worked extremely hard to get a Girls Hockey Team up at Medford High School. Sports are so important to our youth's lives. When children are denied equal opportunities, you can count of me to speak up for them. It is unfair that our youth population is underrepresented and has no voice just because they are not old enough to vote. They matter as much as any other person in this City.

So many girls were interested in playing hockey for Medford High School that it was unfair for them to be denied that opportunity. After the Girls, parents and I, raise the 15k that is needed for the team, the girls will be wearing the Blue and White and calling themselves Medford Mustangs. The fight was worth it, and it makes me happier than anyone could imagine knowing that they will be skating in the winter. These types of issues are why I ran for office and why I want to continue to be in office. I strive to make people happy and am lucky to have had the opportunity to do it for four years. The people believed in me twice and I hope they will believe in me again. I am only just beginning, there are a lot of things I want to keep fighting for and I hope I get that chance to do so.

Maher: Q11 - My Accomplishments & Leadership

No response received.

Maiocco: Q11 - My Accomplishments & Leadership

As a member of the City Council, I co-wrote the special zoning act that made possible the desirable multi-million dollar Station Landing development now under construction near the MBTA station at Wellington Circle. As a longtime advocate of developing that site, I am proud of my role in helping to make the development a reality. Station Landing will include condominiums, rental apartments, retail shops, restaurants and a full-service hotel, including function rooms, that Medford sorely needs. It will give the city's tax base a substantial boost, create new jobs, provide more needed housing and increase property values. The substantial new tax dollars for the city will help to alleviate the tax burden on homeowners.

Marks: Q11 - My Accomplishments & Leadership

I am proud of my many accomplishments but the two that come to mind are the implementation of additional senior swim hours at the AmeriSuite Hotel which was truly a public private partnership. Also Tufts University agreed to make an in lieu of tax payment to the city for over one million dollars which will be allocated back to the schools and public safety.