Tuesday For Tomorrow

Growing up in Boston, I was always enamored with Somerville. I went to Boston Latin Academy and later Suffolk University, but Somerville had a hip and eclectic warmth that always attracted me.

I was raised by a single mom who taught me how to make every dollar and every decision count. Somerville deserves that kind of leadership.

I spent most of my professional life in the financial industry, including 13 years as Vice President of Corporate Sales & Marketing for Century Bank. Century was founded in Somerville in 1969 by Marshall Sloane, who also grew up here. I was lucky to consider him a mentor. When he passed in 2019, I gave my notice at the bank. But I carry his influence with me every day:

• How to be a decent and fair business person
• How to help people through real relationships
• And above all: character counts

In 2016, I was thrilled to buy a home in the city. It wasn’t simple. The house needed work: asbestos, major structural repairs and a lot of upgrades. We hired an architect and a contractor and what followed were daily visits to City Hall. I spent a lot of time chasing down permits, trying to understand regulations and untangling red tape.

That’s what inspired me to run for office.

The deeper I got into the process, the more I saw how overwhelming it can be. In the mornings, I’d wait outside city offices for arriving officials who wouldn’t return my calls. There I met many others facing similar obstacles.

It was time-consuming, costly and frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Legislation has changed since I moved here. It will continue to change. Trying to stay on top of evolving regulations can make things even more difficult for folks.

I’m running for Councilor At-Large because I want to help people cut through the clutter. I will make government more transparent and navigable. I’ll ensure that everyday residents, developers and entrepreneurs feel welcomed and not walled off by City Hall.