The Ward 7 Democratic Committee isn’t endorsing a candidate for the Somerville City Council’s open Ward 7 seat after a vote failed to produce the 60 percent majority required by group bylaws.
The committee voted after hosting candidates Michael Murray, Wilbert Pineda and Emily Hardt for a Zoom forum on June 18. Each seeks the seat held by councilor Judy Pineda Neufeld, who has announced she will step down Monday.
Thirty-five elected members of the committee cast votes through an online ballot. Pineda and Hardt each got 45.7 percent of the vote, while Murray got 2.9.
“While Ward 7 Dems stopped short of endorsing in the Ward 7 councilor race, it’s clear which two candidates are favored to advance from the preliminary election Sept. 16,” said the committee’s Ward 7 chair, Justin Klekota, in an email. Klekota is himself running for councilor at large.
Pineda and Hardt were included in the email with comments welcoming the news. “I am grateful to the Ward 7 Democratic Committee members for their votes of confidence in me. From my conversations with Ward 7 voters, I know that people want leaders who will stand up for our values, community and quality of life. I can’t wait to put my experience as an educator, nonprofit leader and union organizer to work to get results for the residents of Somerville and Ward 7,” Hardt said.
“Ward 7 is ready. The next generation is stepping up. I’m fired up, grateful and just getting started. Every voice matters. Let’s continue building this future together,” Pineda said.
Murray’s focus in the race is developing a fenced-in parcel called The Pit that’s been empty since a 2011 fire, and it was a topic he addressed during the forum. “It may have been awkward of me to bring up that the owner of The Pit, Binoj Pradhan, is a member of the Ward 7 Democratic Committee hosting the candidate forum, and that Mr. Pradhan has been a major donor to Somerville elected officials who are also on the committee,” Murray said. “The whole thing is a little too cozy for productivity and contributes to why we’ve had a dirt pit in Teele Square for 13 years and counting.”
All three candidates remain on the ballot for the Sept. 16 primary, which will narrow the race to two candidates. The committee has offered to host a debate for these candidates before the general election Nov. 4.
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