Jack Connolly, 2011 Alderman Questionnaire Responses

1. What political or community activism accomplishments are you most proud of during your last term in office (or the last two years if you have not previously served)?

A. Having been elected as BOA President for 2010.

B. Serving as the only BOA member on the Police Chief Hiring Process for the now-serving Chief Tom Pasquarello.

C. Serving as a member of the Somerville School Committee participating in the re-organization of the Choice program at the Healey School.

2. What are your top three agenda priorities and how will you take action on these priorities if elected?

A. Preserving the Public Safety. Maintain vigilance of policies and procedures of Police, Fire, and DPW management policies and procedures as a member of the BOA Finance Committee, recommending finance or policy changes as necessary.

B. Maintaining Public School Education pre K- 12
Working closely with School Committee, will support sound policy and curriculum changes as needed.

C. Strong advocacy for the building of the Assembly Sq. development and the Orange line station headhouses at the site, as well as working to bring the Green Line stations into Somerville without further delays.

3. What are your ideas about ways to work to keep Somerville affordable for families of all income levels?

Work to elect like-minded public officials at the local, state, and national level sensitive to the strains of our local economy, especially with regard to housing. I will continue to support public housing programs for our low-income and senior populations.

4. Do you support ordinances to promote local jobs for local residents and if so please describe how you would go about supporting these kinds of efforts.

Happy to support local jobs for local folks; Glad to stand and work with state and local officials, union and non-union labor organizations to craft legal means to allow for job creation. Let’s concentrate on getting the jobs here.

5. Do you support plans to have a Wal-mart open in Assembly Square? Why or why not?

Absolutely support the creation of the grocery store at the old circuit city location. Would urge strong reporting and enforcement of all labor laws in the Commonwealth, should there be questions of unfair labor practices.

6. Why are you the progressive choice in your race?

I have clearly advocated for and achieved with the cooperation of citizens’ and officials alike, true progress in many aspects of City life. including Public Safety, Health and Recreation, Planning, Zoning, and Licensing, in my experiences as an elected Ward and At Large Alderman here in Somerville.

7. Which progressive candidates have you supported in the last five years?

I am a card-carrying life-time Democrat; I have supported President Obama, U.S. Senator John Kerry, Governor Deval Patrick, and Congressman Michael Capuano, State Rep. Denise Provost and the rest of the delegation to the state house.

8. What is your stance on the Green line extension through Somerville?

Absolutely support the planning and building of the Green Line Extensionas rapidly as possible; The extension of the Green Line is essential to the future economic well-being of the City; As a citizen and later a public official, I experienced the planning, construction, and post-opening progress of the Red Line here in Davis Square, and am certain the Green Line stations will enhance Somerville as one of the best cities’ in the country to live, work, and play.

9. What else should we know about your candidacy?

A review of my tenure as an elected official will show that through the years, I have been fortunate to be part of progressive and forward-thinking ideas, policies’ and procedures, and general improvements to the quality of life in our community. I live and work here in the city of my birth, where I have worked to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees, professional Insurance licenses from the state of MA ,and possess a lifetime of public and private sector work experiences, all that have contributed to my decision-making abilities in making complex decisions regarding municipal affairs, all on behalf of the citizens and tax-payers here in the community.

My wife Gail and I have raised three daughters, all products of the Somervlle school system, two of whom have earned their undergraduate degrees from Cornell Univ. and Siena College in New York state , and my youngest daughter is entering her junior year at Emeson College here in Boston.

In order to maintain the energy needed for long days and nights in private and public sector service, I am a devoted physical fitness practitioner, having run competitively since college days, in races (hundreds) from 1mile to the marathon ( i have finished 18 of 21 entered). Within the past five years, I began studying Shotokan Karate, and have earned a second-degree Black Belt. I work out routinely, almost every day year-round.

Lastly, I would enjoy being selected by your organization as a candidate worthy of endorsement, but what truly matters is the honor of the endorsement of the citizen voters.of our fair city. I am humbled to have earned their collective trust many times over the years; I would like to think that in some way, big or small, I have made a difference in the quality of life living, working, and playing, here in the great city of Somerville.