Knock, knock, knocking on Cambridge doors

What’s it like to campaign for office in Cambridge this year? While mingling at Cambridge Day’s Meet the City Council candidates event on Saturday October 18, I posed this question to every campaigner who had a few minutes to share.

For first-time candidate Zion Sherin it’s all about the shoes. And the orthotics. Sherin quit his job to campaign, figuring the best shot he had to win was to get in front of people. He goes out knocking on doors from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and so far has worn out one pair of sneakers and purchased orthotics to ease his aching feet. On the plus side, “I get in 26,000 steps some days,” he said.

“That was one day, Zion,” said his campaign manager, Michelle Song, noting 10,000 to 20,000 steps is more typical. Sherin took the pushback in stride.

Dana Bullister, meanwhile, said she had to replace her campaign necklace, which has a QR code leading to her campaign site, because the original QR code became unreadable. Bullister said she has found campaigning enjoyable. “I had a preconceived notion that people were like how they are online, and it’s been way better than I thought it would be.”

She’s not the only one who has been pleasantly surprised by the electorate. “People are much more polite than our Internet age will give off, even if they don’t agree with you,” said Ned Melanson, a public defender during the day (though currently on strike). “People like to talk!”

Campaign-life balance is a challenge

Stanisav Rivkin, who decided to run back in April because of frustration with the City Council’s response to actions of the Trump Administration, said “I’m shocked by how much agreement there is about issues. Like, people will say they want public financing (for housing) but then say “it will never pass.” He said he’s also found that many people say they feel disconnected from the political process. Rivkin works full-time as an administrator at Harvard and said that balancing work and campaigning is difficult.

The demands of campaigning have been eye-opening for first-time candidate Elizabeth Bisio –  “you have to be everywhere all at once,” she said, noting that since the start of October she’s had an event every single day.

But Bisio, who runs a small business and is pregnant (due in February), says she now feels much more connected to the community. She notes campaigning means she has for the first time met many of her neighbors in Cambridge Crossing, which she jokingly calls “West Charlestown.” She said “I would never have met (people in the neighborhood)” if not for her run for office. “That community is mostly high-rises so upzoning is not an issue at all. Bike lanes are their issue.”

This year’s election “features a much higher percentage of candidates who are serious about taking office.” Marc McGovern, Cambridge vice mayor

Two second-time candidates have found things markedly different this time around. Peter Hsu said when he ran in 2021 he knew he wasn’t going to win. “I learned that I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t even know what I didn’t know.” This time around he feels like he is running a credible campaign, built on his belief in public health. Campaigning seriously has meant the loss of a lot of family time for Hsu, a physician at Beth Israel. Last month he had to sacrifice a vacation break with his wife and sons.

Ayah Al-Zubi, who finished 10^th last time, one place away from holding office, said this campaign has been different because she has a much larger cadre of volunteers. She’s had to learn how to run a team and manage conflict. “It’s been chaotic but fun,” she said.

Though she’s 24 (along with Sherin the youngest office seekers), she says people she talks with don’t bring up her age. “I think people are looking for fresh energy in politics.”

The young people running for office have surprised and inspired Louise Venden, a write-in candidate. “A lot of young people are idealists!” she said. “but wanting everything for everybody isn’t a solution.”

Is change in the air?

The incumbents at the event were quicker to leave on a day that featured a No Kings rally in Boston, a school-related opening, Head of the Charles, and good weather for door-knocking. But several replied to email requests for their campaign impressions. Councillor Cathie Zusy said “the most surprising to me is that I have no sense for who will ultimately be elected. I think that change is in the air, but won’t know until Nov. 4th!”

Marc McGovern, Cambridge’s vice mayor, also noted “an anti-incumbent fever. Especially on the school committee.” He says he thinks this year’s election “features a much higher percentage of candidates who are serious about taking office” than in many past elections.

That anti-incumbent sense is also something Councillor Patty Nolan has seen. She said some of the vitriol and polarization that is a facet of national politics “seems to me to have filtered down to the local level.”

Jivan Sobrinho-wheeler and Sumbul Siddiqui attended the forum but did not respond to an email request for comment.

This story was updated to clarify that Elizabeth Bisio does live in Cambridge Crossing but had met few of her neighbors until she ran for office.

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