Medford Councilor Zac Bears Running For Re-Election

MEDFORD, MA — Medford City Councilor Zac Bears is running for re-election in November.

"It has been my honor to serve our community during my first term, especially as we came together to face the COVID-19 pandemic and the worst economic crisis in nearly a century," Bears said in announcing his campaign Wednesday. "Residents, volunteers, and city staff have worked tirelessly to support each other and protect the most vulnerable people in our city."

Bears, a Medford native, was elected to the City Council in 2019 at 25 years old. He has a background in labor and organizing, having served as an economist at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and a digital communications manager for a Boston-based union. He has been the executive director of the nonprofit Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts since January 2017.

Bears stressed the importance of continuing to address the issues laid bare by the pandemic, such as systemic racism, food insecurity and the housing crisis. Read his full campaign announcement below:

"I'm excited to announce that I am running for re-election to the Medford City Council this fall! With your help, I can continue to deliver for residents and work with you to build a Medford that works for all of us.

It has been my honor to serve our community during my first term, especially as we came together to face the COVID-19 pandemic and the worst economic crisis in nearly a century. Residents, volunteers, and city staff have worked tirelessly to support each other and protect the most vulnerable people in our city.

We must persist with the same urgency we’ve seen during this pandemic to address food insecurity, systemic racism, the housing crisis, and the other long-term challenges Medford residents face. It’s going to take real work, planning, and commitment to welcome new residents while making sure that people who want to stay in Medford can stay here.

Medford is at a crossroads. Residents face skyrocketing housing costs, deeply underfunded public schools and city services, and broken-down infrastructure that doesn’t serve the needs of our community.

We need to come together to create the city budget we deserve, continue to grow Medford’s movement for racial justice and transformative change, and enact a long-term plan for housing and development that serves our community, not big property developers.

Over the past two years, we have accomplished so much together, from the first Emergency Rental Assistance Program and Housing Stability Working Group to the long overdue passage of the marijuana zoning ordinance and the ongoing work to make sure our city’s sidewalks are safe and accessible during the winter. I’m especially proud that 87 of the 95 resolutions I proposed this term have passed or are still being worked on in committee.

As we emerge from this pandemic into a new normal, I’m excited to see more neighbors and friends in the Fells, at the Chevalier Theater, and at our great local restaurants. I can’t wait to come together and open our new Medford Public Library this fall!

You can find out more about me and my platform, as well as my upcoming May 28th Re-Election Launch online event, at www.zacbears.com.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve my hometown as your City Councilor. I would be honored to receive one of your seven votes on September 14th for the preliminary election and November 2nd for the general election."