L to R: Newly re-elected City Council President Lance Davis, and Vice President Wilfred Mbah.

By Jordan Pagkalinawan

Ahead of the November 25 meeting, the Somerville City Council Caucus elected the city council president and vice president for 2026. Councilor Lance Davis, who was elected on July 10 after Councilor Judy Pineda Neufeld’s resignation, was selected to retain his position after a nomination by Councilor Matthew McLaughlin. Likewise, Councilor Wilfred Mbah, though absent from Tuesday’s caucus meeting, was re-elected as vice president for 2026, following a nomination by Davis. Both nonbinding votes passed with ten councilors in favor.

Davis, representing Ward 6, has served on the City Council since 2015, championing various civic issues, including housing stability, public education, and public space investment. Among the recent projects he’s supported are the renovation of the West Branch Library, upkeep of Seven Hills Park, and new crosswalks and sidewalks in Davis Square. A graduate of Syracuse University’s Newhouse School and Boston College Law School, Davis has passed several ordinances to protect civil rights and ensure housing affordability. In addition to his role as city council president, he has been a member of six local committees, including the Land Use Committee, Legislative Matters Committee, and Open Space, Environment, and Energy Committee.

Mbah, a councilor since 2017 and Councilor At-Large since last January, has fought for housing equality, racial equity, and environmental justice in Somerville, among other issues. Born and raised in Cameroon and graduating from the University of Buea, he moved to the U.S. after attending Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. In his time as a city councilor, Mbah has used his position to advocate for the city’s marginalized communities, including helping lead the creation of the Office of Housing and Stability in 2021, alongside Davis. Mbah has also served on four committees, including the Finance Committee, Legislative Matters Committee, and Equity, Gender, Families, Seniors, and Vulnerable Populations Committee.

Davis’ and Mbah’s new two-year terms begin on January 5, 2026.