Who Represents You: Local Level
Medford
Medford is divided up into eight wards, each with two districts. Tufts’ on-campus housing is located in 4-1. If you live off campus, you can search your ward and district here.
Mayor
In Medford, the mayor is elected by constituents every two years (in odd-numbered years). A mayor is the highest ranking official in a municipal government (that of a city or town) and is responsible for making executive decisions at the city level.
Brenna Lungo-Koehn (D) — Lungo-Koehn has represented Medford for nearly two decades, since first being elected to city council at the young age of 21. As mayor, Lungo-Koehn is working on increasing collaboration between the Recreation Department and Community Schools, digitizing public records, creating a charter review commission, creating a comprehensive zoning plan, and strengthening relationships between City Hall, residents, and new businesses.
City Council
City council serves at the link between constituents and the municipal government. City council comprises the legislative branch of municipal government; members propose bills and ordinances, handles votes, and passes laws to help govern the city. In Medford, members are elected every two years (odd numbered years). There are seven members on the council.
Richard Caraviello (President)
Adam Knight (VP)
John C. Falco Jr.
Issac "Zac" Bears
Michael J. Marks
George A. Scarpelli
Nicole Morell
School Committee
The Medford school committee oversees the city’s school system, working closely with the Superintendent Dr. Marice Edouard-Vincent. The committee comprises six members, elected every two years (in odd-numbered years) and chaired by Mayor Lungo-Koehn.
What’s Up in Medford?
Medford Public Schools is currently in session in person! Learn more from the reopening task force here.
The city recently released a “social justice roadmap,” laying out proposed goals for “work around equity and inclusion” in City Hall and the community at-large.
Racism was declared a public health crisis in June 2020
In February, the city pledged to be hunger free by 2025
The city recently created resilience hubs to address climate resiliency in Medford. The “Resilient Medford, Resilience Hubs” project is focusing on social connectedness, information access, and resource access.
Somerville
Somerville is divided up into seven wards, each encompassing three districts. The Tufts’ campus is located primarily in 6-3, with several houses in 7-1 and 7-3. If you live off campus, you can search your ward and district here.
Mayor
In Somerville, the mayor is elected by constituents every two years (in odd-numbered years). A mayor is the highest ranking official in a municipal government (that of a city or town) and is responsible for making executive decisions at the city level.
Joseph Curtatone (D) — Now serving his eighth term as Somerville Mayor, Curtatone is now the longest-serving chief executive of Somerville. Curtatone’s focus has included beginning 311, the “one call to City Hall” program for citizens to seek city services, creating a climate change action plan, preserving and expanding park spaces, and developing initiatives for affordable housing.
City Council
City council serves at the link between constituents and the municipal government. City council comprises the legislative branch of municipal government; members propose bills and ordinances, handles votes, and passes laws to help govern the city. In Somerville, members are elected every two years (in odd-numbered years). There are four members serving at large and an additional seven to represent each district.
Matthew McLauglin (Ward 1) — President
Mary Jo Rossetti (At-Large) — VP
Kristen Strezo (At-Large)
Wilfred N Mbah (At-Large)
William A White Jr. (At-Large)
Jefferson Thomas (JT) Scott (Ward 2)
Ben Ewen-Campen (Ward 3)
Jesse Clingan (Ward 4)
Mark Niedergang (Ward 5)
Lance Davis (Ward 6)
Katjana Ballantyne (Ward 7)
School Committee
The school committee oversees the city’s school system, working closely with the Superintendent Mary Skipper. The committee comprises seven members, each representing their respective district, elected every two years (in odd-numbered years); the Mayor and President of City Council are also ex-officio members.
What’s up in Somerville?
Somerville recently moved into phase 3 reopening (reopening businesses), but while the state has moved ahead, Somerville’s phase 3 step 2 remains on hold (reopening performance venues, recreation businesses, and retail fitting rooms)
Somerville Public Schools are back in session with all classes remaining virtual until safe reopening conditions have been met; after, students will be able to choose between fully virtual and phased hybrid learning models. Mayor Curtatone recently expressed support for Governor Baker’s decision to keep schools closed through the end of the academic year.
There is an ongoing effort in Somerville to lower the voting age in local elections to 16.
Last year, Somerville City Council affirmed the federal Green New Deal resolution