Framingham Councilors Steiner, Stewart-Morales Running In 2021

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Two more Framingham Councilors confirmed their 2021 plans over the Memorial Day weekend: District 2 Councilor Cesar Stewart-Morales and Vice Chair and District 3 Councilor Adam Steiner will both run for reelection.

Steiner and Stewart-Morales are the third and fourth Councilors to announce 2021 plans before June 1, the date when incumbents and challengers can start gathering signatures to get on the ballot this year. District 8 City Councilor John Stefanini announced his reelection bid on Wednesday, and District 7 Councilor Margareth Shepard said earlier in May she won't seek reelection.

Steiner, 47, was first elected in 2017 in Framingham's first City Council election. After winning a second term in 2019, he was elected Vice Chair of the Council and took over the powerful Council Finance Subcommittee. That committee over the past two years has overseen the annual budget process, and this winter was occupied with finding a fix for a deficit in the water and sewer funds.

In his campaign announcement, Steiner — who works as the technology director for Maynard Public Schools — highlighted his opposition to cuts to the schools budget, that he pushed for Council meetings to be broadcast on Facebook and his support of adopting the Community Preservation Act (CPA).

"The first years of the city of Framingham have not been without their challenges, but I continue to feel passionate that our city government can produce results for the people of Framingham," he said.

Steiner's reelection announcement included support from District 3 residents like 1854 Cycling owner Brandale Randolph, Hoops and Homework founder Herb Chasen and former selectman Cesar Monzon.

"Adam is one of the people currently on our City Council whom I trust to continue to push this city toward a brighter future for us all," Randolph said in the statement.

Stewart-Morales, 39, was first elected in 2019 and became the Council's first openly gay member. He is also a member of the Finance Subcommittee, and is the chair of the Environment and Sustainability Subcommittee, which was key to putting the CPA measure on the ballot in 2020.

Stewart-Morales, a certified public accountant, served as a Town Meeting member before Framingham became a city. He won his District 2 seat in 2019 in a race against Ricky Finlay, who was recently appointed as the District 2 School Committee Member after the death of Karen Dempsey.

"As I have done continuously during this first term, I remain deeply committed to making sure my constituents’ voices are heard at the City Council. I humbly ask for your continued support and for your vote once again this fall," he said in a statement.

The Framingham City Clerk will begin allowing candidates — incumbents and challengers — to pick up filing papers beginning June 1 with a July 29 deadline to turn in signatures to get on the ballot. The mayor, all School Committee members and all Council seats except At-Large are up for election in 2021.