After 4 Elections Cambridge Still Without A Mayor
This post is also available in: Portuguese (Portugal)
Cambridge – As Cambridge still waits for a Mayor to be elected, some of the city’s Portuguese residents’ are calling for a higher civic duty among the Luso Community.
This past week, the City Council held a fourth round of voting in hopes to reach a consensus, but no winner for the mayoral seat was selected.
“In my perspective it is orthodox and outdated,” stated Liberal Baptista, owner of the Piques Travel Agency, in Cambridge, regarding the city’s electoral process. “The system should be corrected or updated.”
In Cambridge, the mayor is not determined by voters, but instead selected by a City Council vote. In order to be elected Mayor, a Councilor needs five votes from his peers.
The electoral process, according to Baptista, should give the voter the right to elect the mayor, rather than having nine City Councilors “behind closed doors” select their preference.
However, according to Councilor Leland Cheung, changing the process in which a Mayor is elected would require a change to the City Charter.
“Ultimately that would be the decision and responsibility of the residents of Cambridge. If a plurality of citizens demanded it, I would support such a change; however, Councilors are elected to serve in the system as it stands,” explained Cheung, in an email sent to O Jornal. “Whether or not to allow the residents of Cambridge to vote for a mayor is not a decision within the scope of the Council’s authority.”
Baptista, who believes that the Portuguese Community is indifferent and allergic to local politics, also emphasized that those registered should vote and carry out their civic duty.
“Only by voting can we contribute to our progress,” stated Baptista, who hopes in the future there will be someone to represent the Portuguese community in the political arena.
O Jornal tried contacting other Portuguese residents, but they declined to comment.
After a full month without electing a mayor, the council has attracted criticism for its inability to self-elect a leader for Cambridge – home to a significant Portuguese Community.
The newest City Councilor Minka vanBeuzekom had a message of frustration.
“I too am frustrated by the lack of a mayor! I wish I had insight to share with you and your readers,” wrote vanBeuzekom.
In the meanwhile, Councilor Cheung responded differently.
“The Council and the city face momentous challenges this term. As such, I believe members are taking due time to carefully consider their options,” explained Cheung. “Frankly, I believe the time we take to reach consensus is a sign of the commitment Councilors have to deliberating and facing the challenges our City faces. The time Councilors take is not a sign that nothing is happening; to the contrary, members are spending hours upon hours in debate behind the scenes.”
In Cambridge, the mayor serves as chair of the City Council and School Committee, appoints city council committees and has the authority to lead the council’s meetings and determines its agenda. The mayor also gets extra staff, extra salary and serves as keynote speaker and ribbon cutter at public events.
The 2012-2013, Cambridge City Councilors are Henrietta Davis, Minka vanBeuzekom, E. Denise Simmons, Timothy J. Toomey, Jr., Marjorie C. Decker, Craig Kelley, David P. Maher, Leland Cheung and Kenneth E. Reeves.
Cheung also emphasized to O Jornal that when the Council is forced to meet an arbitrary deadline by the City Charter he has no doubt it would meet its obligation.
“However, given the freedom, our members choose to spend the time to debate and deliberate on what’s best for the City,” concluded Cheung. “To be clear, this process is not just about the Mayor; this is time that Councilors take to debate, discuss, explore, and conceptualize the major issues facing the Council this term.”
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