From the Luis Vasquez campaign, July 5: City Council candidate Luis Vasquez is having a campaign launch from 9 p.m. to midnight Sunday at the Midwest Grill, 1124 Cambridge St. The campaign promises free appetizers and buffet, a cash bar and live music by R&B artist Mike Wyche.

Vasquez, a blogger for the Cambridge Chronicle, declared his candidacy Feb. 1. In a statement on his Facebook page, he says:

I am not a professional politician, nor am I a self-professed know-it-all. As our youth enjoy to say, “I keeps it real.” … This is a one-shot deal for me. The odds are apparently stacked against me, from what I am told, but nothing can take away from the experiences of making new friends in the community, standing up for what I believe in and working with others to find solutions that best fit the overall population. A win in November? Well, that’s only icing on the cake and a valuable demonstration of confidence from voters.

Bottom line to me, the Council and the best city on earth can benefit tremendously from a youthful (and native might I add) Cantabrigian’s perspective … This is a pivotal time for us to choose which path to create for a better Cambridge. Let’s work together to uphold the culture of diversity, inclusiveness and innovation that our city has rightfully earned.