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Will Mbah Receives Several Major Endorsements Ahead of Election Day

Incumbent Somerville City Council Vice President Will Mbah, who topped the At-Large ticket in September’s preliminary election, is excited to announce several major endorsements ahead of Election Day.

This week, the campaign proudly announced endorsements from the Sierra Club and 314 Action Fund. These latest endorsements join a long list of labor, environmental, and social advocacy groups backing Will. These include, UAW Region 9A, Greater Boston Labor Council, New American Leaders Action Fund, and Somerville YIMBY. He’s also endorsed by SEIU Massachusetts State Council Executive Director Harris Gruman.

Will is proud to have strong support from many state and local elected officials. This week, he was endorsed by State Representative Mike Connolly who said in a statement, “Will consistently stands up for our shared values, affordable housing, climate action, and social justice. He’s not afraid to challenge the status quo to get results for working families.”

Will also has the backing of Ward 3 City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen and Ward 5 Councilor Naima Sait, as well as several former elected officials. These include former Councilor Mark Neidergang and his wife, prominent parent educator and activist Mayra Axner, former State Representative Denise Provost, and former Councilor Courtney O’Keefe. He’s also backed by Democratic State Committee member Tracey Pratt, Ward 3 Democratic Committee Chair Mike Grunko, and veteran George McLean.

Community activists supporting Will include: Alex Anderson, Kate Auspitz, José Alemán, Zoi Andalcio, Kate Byrne, Christine Carlino, Ruth Faris, Katelin Firth, Reebee Garofalo, Kat Johnston, Michael Kanter, Todd Kaplan, Henry Parker, Alex Pirie, Phil Reavis, Trecia Reavis, Alessandra Seiter, Kim Sheridan, Allison Stieber, Dan Wise, and many other business owners, parents, and community advocates.

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The Holly Simione Campaign for City Council At Large is having a fundraiser at Casey’s Restaurant and Bar on Wednesday, October 22nd, from 6PM-8PM. All are welcome to attend and join current and former elected officials to support Holly as the campaign heads into the final month. Any donation is acceptable, with free hors d’oeuvres and cash bar. Casey’s is located at 173 Broadway in East Somerville. For more information, visit www.hollyforsomerville.com.

Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus PAC Endorses Elizabeth Eldridge for Ward 2 Somerville School Committee

The Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus Political Action Committee (MWPC PAC) has officially endorsed Elizabeth Eldridge for Ward 2 Somerville School Committee, citing her leadership, community engagement, and dedication to equitable education.

“The MWPC PAC is proud to endorse Elizabeth Eldridge for Ward 2 Somerville School Committee,” said Shannon Montanez, Chair of the MWPC PAC Board of Directors. “Eldridge is a strong leader who embodies her community’s core values. She is the Chair of the Somerville Special Education Parent Advisory Council, and volunteers with various community organizations. Eldridge is determined to improve the education system and student outcomes
within Somerville. She is dedicated to an equitable and transparent Somerville for all. A vote for Elizabeth Eldridge is a vote for a better Somerville community.”

Somerville Public Schools’ own Equity Policy states: “Equity demands intensive focus and attention to eliminate all gaps in student achievement.” Yet district data tells a different story.

More than half of Somerville students are not meeting grade-level expectations, and for historically marginalized students, the rates are far worse- in some cases, 90 percent or more are falling behind. State assessment results, district progress monitoring, and persistent achievement gaps all point to the same reality: the promise of equity is not being met.

“It’s time to make this commitment a reality,” Eldridge said. “Our students need action, we can’t keep accepting widening gaps as inevitable. We need leadership that will make closing them a top priority.”

The Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus is a nonpartisan organization committed to increasing the number of women elected to public office and appointed to public policy positions. MWPC seeks to civically engage women of all ages in the political process and offers programs, tools, and support they need to succeed in the political arena.

“I’m honored to have the endorsement of the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus,” said Eldridge. “Their commitment to empowering women in leadership and advancing equity aligns deeply with my vision for Somerville’s schools. I’m running to ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive, every educator has the resources they need to succeed, and every family and community member’s voice is heard and valued.”

Elizabeth Eldridge is a longtime Somerville resident and mother of two children that struggled to learn to read and write. As Chair of the Somerville Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SSEPAC), she has been a tireless advocate for educational equity, transparency, high expectations for our students and schools and improved student outcomes.

The MWPC operates as a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization with three arms: its 501(c)(4) advocacy organization, its 501(c)(3) Education Fund, and its PAC, a 527 organization that provides direct support to endorsed candidates. Women currently hold fewer than one-third of municipal offices in Massachusetts- a disparity the MWPC works tirelessly to address.

The Ward 2 Somerville School Committee election will be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Polls will be open from 7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M.

Polling locations are as follows:
● Precincts 1 and 1A: Police Station, 220 Washington Street
● Precincts 2 through 4: Albert F. Argenziano School, 290 Washington Street
Early voting will take place at City Hall, 93 Highland Ave, Somerville on:
● Tuesday, October 28, 2025, from 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
● Wednesday, October 29, 2025, from 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
● Thursday, October 30, 2025, from 8:30 A.M. to 7:30 P.M.
For more information on Elizabeth Eldridge’s campaign, visit www.LizForSomerville.com.

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Campaign Rally for Mayor Katjana by Committee to Elect Katjana Ballantne

Come show your support for Mayor Katjana at our Political Campaign Rally – let’s rally together for proven leadership!

Let’s get energized for the final push to Election Day! Join us Wednesday in Union Square. Email manager@katjana.org

Wednesday, September 10 · 5:30 – 7:30pm

Sally O’Brien’s

335 Somerville Avenue Somerville, MA 02143

Campaign Rally for Mayor Katjana! Registration, Wed, Sep 10, 2025 at 5:30 PM | Eventbrite

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Scott Istvan to Host Comedy Show Fundraiser on August 30

Scott Istvan, candidate for Somerville City Council At-Large, will be hosting a comedy show fundraiser at Union Comedy in Union Square on Saturday, August 30 at 6:00 PM. Featuring a diverse team of all-star Boston-area improvisers, the event will be a night of stand-up and improv with plenty of laughs as well as an opportunity to learn about Scott’s vision for the city.

“Organizing comedy shows is how I connected with my community for over a decade, and I’m excited to share that with the larger Somerville community through this event” says Istvan. “I’m excited to bring together performers from different theaters across the greater Boston area, and to showcase a local Somerville arts organization.”

The event will be held at Union comedy, located at 593 Somerville Ave. Doors will open at 5:45 with the show starting at 6:00. Tickets are $20 and can be found by going to scottistvan.com/comedy – proceeds from the show will go to support Scott’s campaign. Performers will include Emily Holland (Union Comedy), Sophia Yael Koevary (Comedysportz at the Rozzie Square Theater), Kristen Aldrich (Comedysportz at the Rozzie Square Theater), Whitney Hawkins (The Nova Comedy Collective), Laura Gray (Improvised History), Kate Hardly (Kismet Improv), Lauren Chapman (Dirty D***ney at Laugh Boston) in a mixer team showcasing talents from across the area. David Fouhy and Geoffrey Peloton will be performing their show “It’s a Living!” which celebrates undesirable or “dirty” jobs in a fitting labor day tribute. Plus, there will be stand-up comedy from theater teacher and actor Britt Mitchell.

Scott Istvan is a software engineer, comedian and former small-business owner who is deeply passionate about making Somerville more affordable and an even better place to live. His policy focus is on housing, transit accessibility, and transforming the empty storefronts and pits across the city with small businesses and community spaces. To learn more about the campaign, check out www.scottistvan.com

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Somerville for Palestine Endorses Willie Burnley, Jr. for Mayor of Somerville

Somerville for Palestine (S4P) is proud to announce that our membership has voted overwhelmingly to endorse at-large City Councilor Willie Burnley, Jr. for Mayor of Somerville in the 2025 mayoral elections. Councilor Burnley has demonstrated his commitment to Palestinian liberation, protecting people in Somerville who are speaking out against Israel’s genocide in Gaza, and amplifying Palestinian voices locally and abroad. He is the only candidate who supports Somerville’s Palestinian Solidarity ballot measure and has committed, once elected Mayor, to move Somerville tax dollars out of companies that profit from Israel’s genocide and apartheid in Palestine. In a political climate where speaking up for Palestine is met with repression and police violence, Councilor Burnley supports alternatives to police such as unarmed emergency responders. As someone who is personally impacted by unaffordable housing, racism, and growing state repression in Somerville, Councilor Burnley understands that all struggles for justice and freedom are intertwined. He has a proven track record of getting things done, having passed more than thirteen laws while on the City Council, and saving small businesses thousands of dollars through suspending inequitable fees.

“Somerville can count on Councilor Burnley to take meaningful local action for Palestine. We are excited to get to work making him our next Mayor!” said Lucy Tumavicus, member of Somerville for Palestine’s leadership team.

The endorsement of Councilor Burnley follows a lengthy consideration process from Somerville for Palestine, which included a written questionnaire and invitation to a live Q&A forum for each candidate. While Councilor Burnley was the only candidate to answer the questionnaire, S4P members met with Councilor Burnley and Councilor Wilson on July 15 and 22, respectively. S4P members heard candidates’ stances on Palestine and the Palestinian Solidarity ballot question – for which S4P members have spent all summer gathering thousands of voter signatures – as well as issues related to the role of police, protecting immigrants like Tufts student Rümeysa Öztürk, and protecting student’s rights to free speech in schools. Councilor Burnley was the only candidate to publicly support the Palestinian Solidarity ballot question and commit to work towards ending Somerville’s complicity in Israel’s genocide and apartheid in Palestine. “When we use our tax dollars to fund war abroad, we aren’t just being complicit and doing something immoral, we are making ourselves less safe…The entire apparatus that creates the conditions for apartheid and genocide must be dismantled, and that starts here in Somerville,” said Councilor Burnley.

Candidates also responded to questions from members of Somerville for Palestine’s Jewish Caucus about the conflation of anti-Jewish hate and criticism of Israel’s genocide in Palestine. Burnley called this conflation “extremely dangerous” and stated, “When we say speaking out against a genocide is antisemitism, we do a huge disservice — not only to the folks who have fought for freedom and dignity for all people who are Jewish — but also for people who said ‘Never again.’ “

Somerville for Palestine had arranged to meet with Mayor Ballantyne on July 29. Days before the event, the Mayor demanded unnecessary and disrespectful conditions which S4P couldn’t accept: police presence in the room, no visible S4P signage, and no using photos or videos from the event. To address the Mayor’s safety concerns, S4P offered for her to join the forum virtually. Rather than accept the accommodation, Mayor Ballantyne canceled her attendance. “One and a half years into Israel’s live-streamed genocide in Gaza, as we witness the forced starvation of 2 million Palestinians, it is clear that Mayor Ballantyne is not interested in working to stop it. Rather than share her plan to address anti-Palestinian hate and repression here in Somerville, she refuses to meet her constituents without police protection, perpetuating the racist and Islamophobic stereotypes about Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims that we are a danger, rather than constituents that deserve protection and a voice.” said Sara Halawa, a muslim Somerville resident and mother to Palestinian American children.

Over the past year and a half, Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim community members in Somerville have been subject to identity-based hate speech and violence. This has included verbal and physical harassment, threats of rape and agression to SPS students and teachers, targeted graffiti and stickers with violent messages such as “F*** Gaza” and “F**** Palestine Sand N***ers” . Many of these incidents have been reported to the City’s Racial and Social Justice Department, with little to no response. The candidates were asked what measures they would take as Mayor to address these hate incidents. Councilor Burnley committed to publicly condemning anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, and anti-Muslim hate as Mayor, hosting a public educational event about these forms of hate within six months of taking office, and celebrating Palestinian and Arab culture as part of our community’s cultural diversity.

Finally, candidates were asked for their thoughts on the nonbinding ballot question initiative launched by Somerville for Palestine calling on the City of Somerville to end current and future city business with companies complicit in the apartheid, genocide, and illegal occupation of Palestine. If passed, implementation of this question would require action by the future Mayor. Burnley, one of only two City Councilors to have voted in favor of adding the question to the November ballot, stated that he would vote yes and implement the question thoughtfully and in phases if it were passed. Both Jake Wilson and Mayor Ballantyne made clear that they neither wanted to nor would take action on the ballot question if passed.

Somerville for Palestine appreciates the participation of the candidates in the endorsement process and looks forward to making Willie Burnley Jr. the next Mayor of Somerville. Follow @SomervilleforPalestine on Instagram for more further updates on the mayoral race and the ballot initiative between now and Election Day!

Somerville for Palestine is an inclusive local, community-led group who formed in response to Israel’s US funded genocide against the Palestinian people and we are united in our steadfast advocacy for Palestinian liberation. Our coalition members represent a diversity of faiths, races, ages, gender identities, abilities and cultural heritage, all standing in explicit solidarity with Palestinians in their struggle for freedom, self-determination, and full human and civil rights from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea. https://linktr.ee/somervilleforpalestine

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Holly Simione, Somerville City Council At Large Candidate Receives Endorsement of the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus (MWPC) PAC

Family Advocate and Counselor Seeks to Be a Voice on the Council for Those Not Heard

Holly Simione, Human Service worker and Chairperson of the Somerville Commission for Persons with Disabilities Commission (SCPD) today announced the endorsement of the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus (MWPC) PAC. The nonpartisan organization, whose primary function is to increase the number of pro-choice women elected or appointed to public office, supports qualified pro-choice women candidates running for municipal, legislative, and statewide offices via the endorsement process.

The MWPC, in making the endorsement, said “the MWPC PAC is proud to endorse Holly Simione for Somerville City Councilor At Large. Simione is a strong leader who embodies her community’s core values and has been deeply committed to serving the Somerville community. In her roles as Chairperson for the Somerville Commission for Persons with Disabilities and Chair of the Ward 4 Somerville Democratic Committee, she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advocating for those in her community. We applaud her continued dedication to creating more equitable, accessible, and representative Somerville and are eager to support her through this election cycle. A vote for Holly Simione is a vote for a dedicated leader who will uplift everyone in Somerville,” said Shannon Montanez, Chair of the MWPC PAC Board of Directors.

“I am honored to receive the endorsement of the MWPC PAC and am committed to fighting for my community and the causes that matter most to women in our Commonwealth,” said Simione.

The Somerville City Council is comprised of 11 seats, with seven (7) District Councilors and four (4) At Large Councilors. As there are 12 candidates running At Large, for the four (4) At Large seats, there will be a Preliminary Election on September 16, 2025.

For more information on her campaign, or to get involved, call her at (617) 684-5672, or email her at hollyforsomerville@gmail.com.

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