Who I’m Voting For: Marc McGovern
Many folks have asked me who I’m voting for next week and how to think about voting strategy in Cambridge’s unique proportional representation elections.
So I’m doing two things. First, I’m writing a series on who I’m voting for and why, which began yesterday with a profile on why I am voting for Alanna Mallon and which continues below. I’ve also written up a strategic voting guide that describes my thoughts on how to bring about the best overall City Council we can get.
So without further ado, here is why I am proud to be voting for Marc McGovern.
Marc is, uniquely, a clear, reasoned voice of experience and a breath of fresh air all at the same time. Born and raised in Cambridge and a punk rock veteran of The Pit in Harvard Square, one could be forgiven for expecting Marc to be one of those people who wield their families’ connections to the city’s ancient past like a weapon to put newcomers in their place and to put the interests of incumbent homeowners first. But nothing could be further from the truth.
Instead, Marc uses his experience growing up here as a spotlight to focus the council’s attention on blind spots and brighter futures for everyone who lives here. A social worker by training, Marc’s focus on the Council has been on the undeserved and those who live here who haven’t been as fortunate as others yet. Marc was a leader in the long effort to pass the Affordable Housing Overlay, and his credibility as a 5th generation Cantabrigian provided a strong moral example that those of us lucky enough to be established here need to be thinking about those struggling to stay in their housing and those who never get the chance to live here.
I worked closely with Marc on the City Manager’s Public Safety Task Force, designing a proposal to create an unarmed emergency response department to respond to non-criminal, non-violent calls for assistance that would today be fielded by the police. Marc co-chaired the Task Force with Denise Simmons, and used his experience not just as a Councillor but as an experienced social worker to ensure that our work was always grounded in the residents who needed these additional services the most.
But aside from his unique blend of empathy and experience, Marc gets things done. Every organization needs someone who can keep things moving forward. For the Cambridge City Council, Marc is that person. Marc has the specific kind of people skills needed to bring people together around a cause. He works behind the scenes with the City Manager, City staff, and his Council colleagues to make sure that the city is doing more than talking, but that it’s actually getting things done. His leadership skills were evident last term when, as Mayor, he was able to use his parliamentary powers to move the Council forward on critical votes. But it’s even more evident now when it’s clear that Marc doesn’t need formal authority or a gavel to lead, because he can lead from any seat at the table. In debate after debate, Marc is able to say the right thing at the right time to cut through seemingly intractable debates to create consensus and move towards progress.
We need that leadership next term. Marc is often described as pragmatic, but I don’t think that quite captures his talents. He’s effective at moving bold ideas forward in a way that seems matter-of-fact, in a way that seems hard to argue with. That’s not pragmatism, that’s rhetorical skill, and it’s led to some major victories on items like the AHO, the Sullivan Courthouse, police reform, and more.
Marc is a clear eyed, experienced leader with a strong moral compass. Returning him to the Council will be to the entire city’s benefit.
