Entrepreneur and startup founder Jason Mackey has announced his candidacy for Somerville’s mayoral seat.
Mackey is managing partner of Athenian Capital, a Boston venture fund that backs early-stage startups working in defense and consumer goods. It’s the fourth company he’s started in Massachusetts, preceded by consulting firm CXO HQ, outdoors goods retailer Mack Supply and energy solutions startup Advanergy.
Mackey grew up in Hanover before attending Boston College High School and Northeastern University, from which he graduated in 2011. During his time at Northeastern, Mackey worked at the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities and at Eversource Energy, which he said propelled his interest in entrepreneurship.
“We saw the collapse of our economy right before our eyes, and I witnessed some of my co-workers worried about the future: their colleagues, their wives, their families, their husbands were struggling,” Mackey told Cambridge Day, remembering working at the DPU in 2008. “And I just didn’t like that, and I thought maybe there’s a way to build my own future.”
Mackey positions himself as a pragmatic progressive able to translate community needs into action. As an entrepreneur, Mackey said that he has developed an ability to network, a “can-do attitude” and deep sense of persistence. “I’ve done things big and small throughout my entire career as an entrepreneur, and I want to bring that to city government,” he said.
“My focus is on new ideas, bold vision and decisive leadership – and bringing innovation and transparency to City Hall is the first step in making that focus a reality,” Mackey said. He proposed the creation of an app aimed at facilitating communication between residents and the mayor’s office as one way to do this.
Mackey’s other priorities include ending homelessness, enforcing laws to increase public safety and improving education. “It’s an embarrassment for the wealthiest nation on earth to have anyone go unhoused, which is why I want to make ending homelessness a pillar of my campaign,” he said. “We’ve seen cities like Helsinki and Houston do it. We can do it here.”
Mackey has sought to champion housing and health care as a member of Somerville’s Human Rights Commission, which he joined last year. He he has also been diversity officer for Somerville’s Ward 5. Mackey, who identifies as a Black gay man, says that he wants to keep Somerville a sanctuary city and continue to promote diversity as mayor.
Mackey also ran for state representative in 2022 for the 27th Middlesex District, which covers Somerville west of McGrath Highway. The run was against first-term incumbent Erika Uyterhoeven. Mackey told The Tufts Daily that September that he suspended the campaign as “the sensible thing to do,” and Uyterhoeven went on to win the primary with 86 percent of the vote.
Mackey will face a crowded field that includes current city councilors at-large Jake Wilson and Willie Burnley Jr. as well as incumbent mayor Katjana Ballantyne. Despite his experience as diversity officer and Human Rights Commission member, Mackey considers himself a political outsider. “It’s been a while since we’ve seen an alternative that’s outside the City Council,” Mackey said.
“The City Council is not a, you know, finishing school for mayors. You know, we need to be able to look outside that, and I’m hoping beyond hope that this is something people will consider,” he said.
“I want to talk to every single person in town,” Mackey said. “I’m going to make sure that folks can book time with me on our website, 15-minute phone call, whatever it is, coffee, lunch. I’d love to talk to everyone that has a stake in our city, which is everyone.”
The feature image for this post (but not the image seen above) was added to in a digital retouching process. The far right and left of the frame are not real. The subject was photographed and his image is untouched and real.
A stronger
Please consider making a financial contribution to maintain, expand and improve Cambridge Day.
We are now a 501(c)3 nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible.
Please consider a recurring contribution.
Ahh yes the Venture capitalist/ consultant… such an “outsider”