Taylor Won't Seek Reelection in Somerville's Ward 3

Ward 3 Alderman Thomas Taylor, who was first elected to the Somerville Board of Aldermen in 1986, will not seek reelection this fall, according to an announcement sent Monday morning by Taylor.

In his announcement, Taylor, 63, wrote, "Due to health concerns it's time for me to retire."

In recent years Taylor has battled cancer.

Taylor, speaking to Somerville Patch Monday afternoon, said it was a difficult decision to make. He said he'd been thinking about retiring for a few months, and when it came time to pull nomination papers for the 2013 election, he decided it was time to step down.

Radiation treatment has damaged a nerves in his foot and bladder, he said, and he felt it would be difficult to campaign, collect signatures and serve.

Before being elected to the Somerville Board of Aldermen, Taylor served six terms on the Somerville School Committee, he said. With 32 some-odd years in city government, he said, "I think I'm the longest-serving in public service" among the city's current elected officials.

Alerman At-Large Jack Connolly, who came to the Board of Aldermen in 1984, said, "If there's one fault for Tom, it's he's always trying to help people."

Connolly said he and Taylor got to know each other in the 1970s in the Neighborhood Youth Corps, and "both of us just hated ... I'll just say the S-word" referring to the term "Slumerville."

Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone said Taylor "has been the epitome of of a public servant" and "he'll be sorely missed on the Board of Aldermen."

In his announcement—a letter of resignation to constituents—Taylor pointed to a number of accomplishments during his time on the Board, writing, "You have been with me through police department reorganization, shutting down a polluting smelting plant and shutting down a sportswear company with wage and salary violations. We’ve helped the quality of life for families by insisting on a living wage, writing a noise ordinance and championing home owner’s tax exemption. Ward 3 had the first off lease dog park and skate board park."

Taylor's retirement will likely encourage a handful candidates to consider running for the Ward 3 seat on the Board of Aldermen.

Taylor is not endorsing any candidate at the moment, saying he'd like to wait to see who runs.

His retirement further contributes to an election season that could result in a number of new faces on the Board of Aldermen. Recently, long-serving aldermen from wards 1 and 5 stepped down, and there will be contested races in those wards. It's likely there will be a contested race in Ward 7.

The result: At least four of Somerville's seven wards could have new aldermen next term.

"Sometimes it's good to have new blood," Taylor said.

In his retirement letter, Taylor wrote, "I intend to stay concerned and involved," but he hasn't figured out exactly what his post-alderman plans will be. "I'd hate not to use my experience in a productive way," he said. 

Looking back at his time on the Board of Aldermen, he said, "I've enjoyed serving with the people I've served with."