On March 24, Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne officially announced her reelection bid. She is seeking a third term since her initial election in 2021, facing declared challengers including Somerville City Councilors at-Large Jake Wilson and Willie Burnley Jr., as well as Somerville resident Jason Mackey.
Ballantyne marked her tenure by her achievements in housing and fiscal reform, including the creation of the Early Acquisition Fund, which facilitated the development of 16 income-restricted housing units, and her distribution of rental subsidies, which helped 29 families secure permanent housing. Her fiscal reforms also earned Somerville its first-ever AAA bond rating, lowering the city’s borrowing costs, which the city has maintained for three years.
“I’ll focus on continuing the momentum and the progress that I built in my first three years,” Ballantyne said. “My leadership is making Somerville more affordable and equitable.”
Ballantyne believes that the continuity she would bring to the position if reelected makes her a strong candidate, particularly given current political uncertainty.
“I feel strongly that we can’t afford to elect an inexperienced person,” Ballantyne stated. “There’s too much at stake … especially as the Constitution and our shared values are being attacked.”
If reelected, Ballantyne said she would be committed to ensuring that all residents can actively participate in policy-making processes.
“When we’re developing policy for major decisions, I always work to organize task forces and working groups and community forums with neighborhood discussion as the platform for dialogue and collaboration. I truly believe that progress can only be achieved … when those who are most effective have a seat at the table to help develop the policies that will affect them,” Ballantyne said.
Ballantyne promises to keep hosting City Hall Community Meetings and has made them more accessible in every ward by offering them in different languages.
Jason Mackey, a Somerville resident and newcomer to local politics, argues that Somerville’s leadership is in need of change.
“We need someone from the outside who can come in and provide a fresh perspective on all the problems we’re dealing with,” Mackey said. “Right now, all the problems are because of these folks in charge [at] the moment … they failed to act.”
He cited the Winter Hill School — declared structurally unsound in 2023 and still unoccupied — as an example of the current administration’s failure to solve problems.
“It’s stuck in committee or stuck in feasibility studies, and we’re not expecting to have anything done until 2031 or 2032,” Mackey said. “That’s too long. We can go faster.”
Mackey believes he can eliminate what he identifies as inefficiencies within Somerville’s current administration and drive change at a faster pace.
“I’m not a legislator,” Mackey stated. “I know how to get things done … I can make tough decisions, and that’s ultimately what we need — a mayor that is capable and willing to execute as chief executive and get things done.”
Councilor at-Large Jake Wilson also identifies executive management as one of his strengths — a quality he believes rivals that of the current mayor.
“This is an executive position, so voters are going to be looking for someone with good leadership and management skills and experience,” Wilson said. “For that reason, our campaign’s current view is that I’m the only viable challenger in this race.”
Aware of constituent concerns, Wilson promises not only to be focused on the housing crisis and challenges posed by the federal administration but also to prioritize transparency if elected.
“As a mayor, I would be accessible and available to my bosses — the public out in the community. I’ll continue to be out there. I hold regular office hours. I would keep doing that as mayor,” Wilson said. “The mayor’s office door will always be open, in contrast to the current situation where people encounter a locked mayor’s office door and are told they need an appointment.”
All three candidates emphasized their commitment to improving road safety — a key concern for constituents. Wilson acknowledged that residents remain concerned about traffic enforcement, as well as the enforcement of regulations to address issues impacting residents’ quality of life.
“I hear pleas from the community for enforcement of our traffic laws, of our parking regulations, of ordinances around snow and ice removal on the sidewalks, of the contributing factors to rodent issues,” he explained.
Councilor at-Large Willie Burnley Jr. did not respond to a request for an interview but previously shared with the Daily his priorities, which include improving street safety, expanding tenant rights and advocating for social justice.
