Candidate Profile: John Connolly

For Somerville Patch's 2013 election guide, we asked all candidates running for office in Somerville the same three questions, and we posted their answers without editing them. Here are the responses from John Connolly:

Question: What are the two most important issues facing Somerville right now, and what would you do on the Board of Aldermen to address those issues?
 
First,  preserving the Public Safety. We have to be ready for all man made (including terrorism) and natural disasters. A trained and prepared Police, Fire, and Department of Public Works is essential. Preserving the Public safety, and all that entails, is the primary reason why Government exists. That is, and always will be my priority in any capacity yas an Alderman. making sure that budget appropriations and maintaining compliance with all federal and state public safety mandates is a routine part of my and my BOA colleagues  duties.

Second  Managing the Zoning, re-development, and new development of the City, especially around the  Green Line station areas. Will work with BOA colleagues and the City administration  to insure that all Zoning and development issues are, heard in a public and transparent way to insure maximum community involvement at all stages of the processes, and implement changes in the best interest of the City. I can offer over two decades experience in the Davis square redevelopment after the T stop opened as an example of how to lead and engage the community of business owners and residents alike in transforming a neighborhood.

Question: Tell us about your background.

I am pleased to offer my qualifications as a lifelong resident,  husband, father of three daughters (all products of the Somerville school system), award winning insurance agency  business-owner in Davis Square, member of the Chamber of Commerce, and  over two decades of elected service to the Board of Aldermen as a Ward Alderman (ward six, comprising Davis, Ball, Porter, and Powderhouse Square neighborhoods) and an Alderman at Large, representing all citizens City-wide.

I am pleased to offer leadership skills that have given my colleagues on the BOA confidence  to elect me President and Vice President of the Board on multiple occasions over my career, and have had the pleasure to work with elected Mayors' Brune, Capuano, Kelly-Gay, and Curtatone in managing the fiscal affairs ( annual budget @ $160 million ) of the City year in and year out.

Question: Why should Somerville residents vote for you?

It is my strong desire, as I offer time and time again to anyone who is willing to listen, that resident voters should consider my background of accomplishments, my leadership abilities, my genuine love of the City, and my willingness to reach out and solve problems large and small (with the help of an enlightened community, City administration, and  other elected officials), as a major factor in their decision to cast one of their four votes for my candidacy as an Alderman at Large. I have done the job to the best of my ability, and will continue to offer my time, skills, and energy to make Somerville an even better place to live, work, play, and raise a family. 

I can be reached at my day-time office phone at 617-625-0781, my email address: aldermanconnolly@gmail.com, on Facebook and Twitter, and at my website: ALDERMANJACKCONNOLLLY.COM