Councilor At-Large Will Mbah Announces Run For Somerville Mayor

SOMERVILLE, MA — City Councilor At-Large Will Mbah announced his candidacy for mayor of Somerville Friday. Mbah, first elected in 2017, is in his second term on the Council.

In an announcement video Friday morning, Mbah said his campaign would take "the great promise and progressive ideals that Somerville expresses - a belief in black lives, a belief in being a sanctuary city, of affordability, a commitment to education, the arts and artists, of a Green New Deal for Somerville, a commitment to our seniors, a support of our local businesses, and a belief in having a safe and thriving community for all- and then ask the hard questions about how we are living up to these values for all in the community."

Citing his temporary displacement from Somerville due to rising rents after he first moved to the city, Mbah emphasized the importance of acting on housing affordability. He spoke about the pressing environmental issues facing the city, which have been a key focus of his work on the City Council. He also discussed the need for climate justice in Somerville, including clean air for all, especially those living closest to the I-93 corridor.

Mbah, an immigrant from Cameroon, moved to Somerville in 2011. He said he understands firsthand the challenges faced by its immigrant community, which makes up a quarter of the city's population.

As a father raising two young children, Mbah said he is deeply invested in seeing the city of Somerville become the most welcoming, inclusive place it can be. The city Mbah envisions extends opportunities to all of its residents.

Prior to his time on the City Council, Mbah volunteered on the Community Assessment of Freeway Exposure and Health (CAFEH), was involved locally with the Democratic City Committee as the Diversity Chair, was a member of Our Revolution Somerville and was also involved in community organizing in Sweden and Cameroon.

"I am thrilled to support Will as he runs to be our next mayor," longtime resident and disability rights activist Harriotte Hurie Ranvig said in a statement. "Somerville is an amazing community that has strong progressive values ranging from housing to climate to immigrant rights. We deserve a mayor who will fight for those progressive values every day and do so in an open and transparent way that acknowledges the different lived experiences of residents new and old. I’m excited for this next chapter in Somerville’s history. Our city celebrates the raising of the first American flag every year, and I hope we live to see the day when Mayor Mbah is at that ceremony."

To view Mbah's announcement video, visit https://youtu.be/_YlEwmHBR7s.