Boston At-Large City Councilor candidates’ policies explained

By Elena Pejic

Boston University News Service

Eight candidates are currently competing for Boston’s four at-large city councilor seats. The final eight candidates were selected from the original pool of 10 candidates during the Sept. 9 preliminary election. The four winners will be elected to the 13-member City Council on Nov. 4 and begin serving in January.

There are four incumbent candidates and four first-timers running. Here are some of their stances of different policies affecting Boston residents. 

Frank Baker

Baker, a 57 year-old Dorchester resident, was a city councilor in Boston District 3 for 12 years and has 25 years of experience working in the City Hall print shop before serving as a councilor. 

Baker is known to be a more conservative or centrist Democrat. He characterized himself as a “Common Sense Democrat,” citing Teddy Roosevelt and Franklin Delano Roosevelt as major political influences for him. 

He identified his top priority as building more job training programs, specifically with a focus on high-tech manufacturing. He tells the Boston Globe that he wants to implement “maker spaces” for residents to learn new trades in the manufacturing field. He believes these programs will help reduce gun-violence in Boston communities, especially among young people.

On housing, Baker emphasizes the need to listen to residents and be reflective of the current economy when making decisions. He does not support rent stabilization.

Baker says there needs to be more coordination between the Boston Police Department and immigration officials. He also says he supports deportation for indivudals that have committed “egregious” crimes, such as rape or drug distribution, after going through due process.

He supports a hybrid School Committee model for Boston Public Schools, where some of the members are elected while others are not.

Ruthzee Louijeune

Louijeune, a 39-year-old Democrat living in Hyde Park, is currently in her second term as an at-large councilor serving as the City Council President.

Her top priority is housing, as she tells the Dorchester Reporter 2025 Candidate Questionnaire, “The cost of living in Boston is simply too high, and we need both immediate relief and long-term solutions.” 

Some of her ideas are to increase rental voucher programs and support first-generation homeownership grants, to help close the growing racial wealth gap.

She says that a collaborative effort is needed between state investments and the health services community to confront the crisis at Mass and Cass, an intersection in Boston with a high rate of homelessness. She advocates for the reopening of Boston’s Long Island as a dedicated shelter and recovery center.

On immigration, Louijeune supports reaffirming the Trust Act, which states there will be no coordination between the Boston Police Department and ICE on matters of civil immigration enforcement.

Louijeune believes schooling needs to become more equitable, especially for students with disabilities. She advocates for an Elected School Committee but would support a hybrid model as well.

Marvin Mathelier

Mathelier is a 39 year-old Democrat living in Jamaica Plain who has served as an elected member on the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council. He owns a small business and is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Marines Reserves.

Mathelier says his top priority is creating affordable housing. He strives to expand first-time homebuyer programs through taxing developers. He also looks to increase rent stabilization and reform zoning in the city.

He says housing inequalities and the increasing wealth gap are underlying factors in many large issues in this election, such as public schooling. 

If elected, he wants to implement Vocational-Technical Excellence programs in schools, which will prepare students for a variety of high-paying jobs in infrastructure and green energy. He supports an Elected School Committee.

Mathelier advocates for fare-free public transportation and says it is important to take data from all residents and neighborhoods when it comes to infrastructure remodeling.

“Since the data from the report largely reflects activity in higher-income areas, it’s important to recognize its limitations and ensure that underrepresented neighborhoods are not overlooked,” he tells the Dorchester Reporter 2025 Candidate Questionnaire.

He believes a “multifaceted approach,” including healthcare professionals, supportive housing, and community efforts, is needed to combat homelessness at the Mass and Cass intersection.

Julia Mejia

Mejia is a 55 year-old Dorchester resident who currently serves as an at-large city councilor. She considers herself a people-centered Democrat and has experience with community organizing, non-profit work, and broadcast news at MTV.

Strengthening civic engagement and accountability are Mejia’s top priorities, as she will work to ensure Ranked Choice Voting is working effectively.

She also emphasizes the importance of Trans LGBTQIA+ protections in the city, and wants to enforce Boston as a sanctuary city through a new Accountability Council.

On schooling, she supports increased support for English Language Learners and special education students by hiring better equipped teachers and keeping class sizes small. She strongly supports the reinstitution of the Elected School Committee to create a more equitable system for all students. 

“We are concerned about the decision-making surrounding our schools, such as closures, facilities plans or lack thereof, and more, and we will continue to advocate for culturally competent and neighborhood-centered decision-making processes,”she tells the Dorchester Reporter 2025 Candidate Questionnaire.

She strongly supports the Trust Act and says data needs to be shared to local institutions including schools and health centers that are “safe for all.” Mejia also believes governmental systems need to work with non-governmental systems, including community based organizations and non-profits, on issues such as gun violence.

Erin Murphy

Murphy, a 55 year-old Dorchester resident, is a current at-large city councilor and served as a Boston Public School teacher for 24 years. She describes herself as a Democrat focused on finding practical solutions.

She tells the Dorchester Reporter 2025 Candidate Questionnaire her top priority is, “ensuring that every neighborhood and resident in Boston has access to the resources, safety, and opportunities they need to thrive.”

With experience as a teacher, she advocates for reforms in public schooling, especially involving inequalities for students of color. She supports more family involvement in the school system and the reimplementation of an Elected School Committee to increase accountability.

Murphy raises concerns over the current system of installing bike lanes, as she says it is ineffective and results in obsolete lanes being added. She stresses the importance of involving the community in conversations about public transportation to tackle the problems first-hand.

Murphy emphasizes the importance of safe streets, as she supports the expansion of extracurriculars and community centers for young people to reduce gun violence. 

She continues to suggest community-based initiatives to combat Mass and Cass through the implantation of a Community Syringe Redemption Program, to safely dispose of syringes and increase public safety.

Will Onuoha

Onuoha is a 42 year-old Dorchester resident who is politically unenrolled and considers himself to be politically moderate. He currently serves as the Assistant General Counsel and Director of Health and Safety for the Boston Water and Sewer Commission.

His main focus is housing, as a past Commissioner of Housing at the Boston Inspectional Services Department, and advocates for increased inclusionary zoning policies and use of underutilized land. He also supports working with non-profit and community housing organizations to ensure affordability.

“Through aggressive policy solutions and working with stakeholders (not alienating them), we can alleviate the housing crisis and ensure that Bostonians can afford to live in this city we all love,” he states on his website.

Onuoha supports a hybrid School Committee, as he acknowledges the importance of direct input from Boston residents, but believes a fully elected committee will result in the over-politicization of education.

Onuoha has a very detailed plan for public transportation, including policies such as halting the construction of all new bike lanes, traffic enforcement police units, and stopping Uber and Lyft scofflaw drivers.

If elected, he will implement a dedicated bike patrol unit to Mass and Cass and explore the idea of dispatching Mercy ships to provide health services while Long Island is being reopened.

Henry Santana

Santana, a 29 year-old Roxbury resident, identifies as a Democrat. He is currently an at-large city councilor and previously served as first-ever director of Civic Organizing under Mayor Wu.

As the youngest serving councilor, Santana’s focus is on the youth. He strongly supports efforts to increase education and employment for the next generation of residents.

“I am focused on the next generation because our city’s future depends on young people having the opportunities, support, and resources they need to thrive,” he tells the Dorchester Reporter 2025 Candidate Questionnaire.

On education, Santana supports an Elected School Committee and the increase of reforms to Boston Public Schools at the local level. He will implement more hearings on inclusive learning environments through initiatives such as financial literacy and language courses.

He recognizes violence, especially gun violence, is a complex issue that must be solved through community effort. He suggested creating interruption programs with community members that have credibility among residents more susceptible to violence.

Santana supports inclusionary zoning and increasing funding for affordable housing units. He also believes rent control is important, but is not the only solution to the housing crisis.

Alexandra Valdez

Valdez is a 33 year-old Democrat who lives in Hyde Park. She currently serves as the director of the office of Cultural Affairs for the City of Boston.

Valdez’s top priority is education with a focus on bilingual programs and early education. She strives to make Boston education as inclusive as possible through a series of benchmarks and reports to track real progress. She advocates for a Family Advisory Council and a hybrid School Committee to make sure Boston residents have a say in the education of their youth.

In terms of housing, Valdez will invest in affordable and middle-income housing and support rent stabilization policies. She believes implementing strong tenant protections and more affordable housing units will create a balanced system for all residents.

Valdez’s plan for Mass and Cass is to work regionally to solve the homelessness crisis. She aims to provide recovery services and more housing to combat what is not just a social issue in her eyes, but a health one.

She tells the Dorchester Reporter 2025 Candidate Questionnaire, “We must approach the crisis at Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard with a people-first mindset, recognizing that at its core, this is a public health and mental health issue”

She supports unique neighborhood centered solutions on traffic congestion and public transportation.