Robert Logan: Waltham Patch Mayor Elections Q&A

This is second in a series I will publish on Waltham Patch, so we can better know our candidates and what they stand for. These interviews and observations do not reflect my personal political views. This series is meant to introduce candidates to constituents in an easy-going, positive way. I will not ask questions comparing candidates, nor will I provide my personal political opinions

My series will include individual articles with a candidate's interview. Then, when each interview has been published, I will post an article containing all the interviews.

If you are a Waltham political candidate and would like to request an interview, please feel welcome to contact me. The Patch reporter is also doing a separate series.

Throughout the past several months I have had the opportunity to meet and speak with Robert Logan, incumbent Councillor Ward 9. I had previously been acquainted with him via his involvement with the Boy Scouts in Waltham. Following is an interview.

JL: Where are you from? How long have you lived in Waltham?

Robert Logan: I was born and raised in Waltham and have lived here all my life.

JL: Tell us a little about yourself.

Robert Logan: I am married, and my wife Paula and I have four children (all now adults): Robert, Mary, Ross, and Patricia. I graduated from Waltham High School, earned a B.A. in Political Science from UMass/Boston, and a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) from Northeastern University. I am Assistant Director of Elderly and Disability Assistance the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance.

JL: What is one of your favourite Waltham memories?

Robert Logan: Riding in the back of a National Guard truck from the Waltham Armory, in front of Dot Slamin Hill and the Waltham American Legion Band, in the Grover Cronin Easter Parade.

JL: Do you have any hobbies.

Robert Logan: I enjoy camping, backpacking, canoeing, and fishing.

JL: What has been your previous involvement been in Waltham politics?

Robert Logan: Incumbent Ward 9 City Councillor and Past President of Waltham City Council.

JL: Do you consider yourself a politician?

Robert Logan: Yes. Anyone who puts their name on the ballot to run for office is by definition a politician. Anyone who runs for office and says they aren’t one, is even more of a politician.

JL: When and why did you consider running for office?

Robert Logan: I decided to run for Waltham City Council shortly after I earned my MPA from Northeastern University. I wanted to use my education in government to give back to the community that has been home to my family for over 125 years.

JL: How does Waltham inspire you?

Robert Logan: What inspires me the most about Waltham is the generosity of the people and their constant willingness to helps others. Our community support many local organizations like Opportunities for Inclusion (formerly GWARC), Middlesex Human Service Agency, the Waltham Community Day Center, and More Than Words, whose sole mission is to help people. Moreover, whenever an individual or family in Waltham has a crisis our community is quick to rally around them, set up a fund, make donations, and do whatever is needed to help them through it. That’s what I think about when I think about Waltham.

JL: Do you have a particular leadership style?

Robert Logan: Collaborative. As one member of a body of 15, the most important skill is to know how to count. Specifically, how to count to eight (or ten in some cases). If you want to get anything accomplished, you need to get the votes. That requires building relationships and working with other Councillors to reach a consensus on issues. I have a proven track record of leadership in getting substantive proposals passed by the City Council, due to my collaborative approach.

JL: Is there anything about local politics that you find particularly challenging?

Robert Logan: That fact that local government is so constrained by various laws at the state level. For example, why do we have to go to the State Legislature to get an increase in the number of restaurant liquor licenses allowed in Waltham? Why should some state representative from Ashburnham get to vote on how many restaurants in Waltham can have a liquor license? Shouldn’t that be a local decision?

JL: In your profession, do you have to travel? How much of your time do you spend away from home for work or vacation?

Robert Logan: I do not have to travel for work at all. Moreover, I use more than half of my allotted vacation and personal time each year to attend meetings and events in Waltham as a City Councillor.

JL: Is there a main message in your campaign that you would like voters to know?

Robert Logan: I want voters to know that I have a proven ability to get things done. I have been the leader on most of the substantive legislation that has been passed by the City Council in recent years. I led the way on increasing the Residential Exemption from 20% to 35%, providing homeowners (including condo owners) over $1,000 annually in real estate tax relief. I wrote the amendment to the Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance that increased the affordable housing set-aside required of developers by 50% (from 10% to 15%), targeted the additional units to lower income families, and requires developers to keep them affordable in perpetuity. I wrote various amendments to the Zoning Code that directly resulted in a number of new businesses opening on Moody Street. These are just a few examples of how I have led the way and achieved real results.

JL: What would you do to create pride in our community?

Robert Logan: I think anything that we can do to promote inclusivity will foster pride in our community. If people feel that they are part of the community, they will take pride in it. For my part, I try to communicate that I represent all the people, whether their family has lived in Waltham for generations or they just arrived, and regardless of their background. We are all Walthamites!

JL: What do you think is Waltham’s biggest challenge right now, and how would you address it?

Robert Logan: The lack of affordable housing. Every day I hear a story about someone who grew up in Waltham but can’t afford to live here. That is not right. That is why I championed increasing the Inclusionary Zoning requirement from 10% to 15%, and support using funds available in the Community Preservation Act (CPA) and Affordable Housing Trust accounts to create more affordable housing for local residents.

JL: What are some of the things you would focus on?

Robert Logan: I will continue to focus on improving our Downtown, local environmental initiatives, increasing the availability of affordable housing, and improving our neighborhood playgrounds – especially McDonald Playground (Newton Street at Cutter Street) and Thompson Playground (Charles Street).

JL: How would you preserve the integrity of Waltham’s history while leading the city forward?

Robert Logan: I supported the passage of the City’s Demolition Delay Ordinance for historic properties and sponsored the amendment to extend it from 6 months to a full year. I also support using Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds to preserve historic properties.

JL: How important are local museums such as The Telephone Museum on Moody Street and The Waltham Museum on Lexington Street to our culture?

Robert Logan: Cultural intuitions, including museums, are an important part of the fabric of any community and a key indicator of the quality of life. Waltham is rich in history, the arts, and culture. The Telephone Museum and the Waltham Museum are great examples of that.

JL: What would you do to encourage Science Technology Engineering Math Art and Science (STEAM) in Waltham’s youth?

Robert Logan: STEAM is an important part of the curriculum throughout our public school system and a critical element of the highly acclaimed educational plan for our new high school. As a City Councillor, I will continue to support the Waltham School Committee, the Waltham Public Schools, and all of our students and teachers by providing them with the resources they need.

JL: Do you see politics as a career?

Robert Logan: No. Waltham City Council is the only office I have ever run for and I have no intention to run for higher office.

JL: Do any former or current Waltham residents inspire you?

Robert Logan: The youth of our City inspire me and give me hope for the future. We often invite groups of youth (e.g. Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, The Lollibots, the Waltham Trailblazers, and various championship sports teams) to attend City Council meetings to give presentations or to honor them on their achievements. I am always impressed by how intelligent, knowledgeable, dedicated, and polite these fine young people are. They are the leaders of tomorrow.

JL: Have you learned anything about Waltham during your campaign?

Robert Logan: Not that I can think of, but I’ve met a lot of new people.

JL: Imagine a future after you have served.

Robert Logan: How would Waltham be changed? We would be more technologically advanced. We would have free public Wi-Fi in all of our public buildings and in our Downtown, a mobile app such as “BOS:311” or “311Somerville” to allow residents to easily report problems and receive updates over their mobile phones, and a true financial transparency program like “CTHRU” (Comm of Mass) that would allow residents to look at city spending by payment by vendor.

For more information about Robert Logan and his campaign for Ward 9 City Council, you may visit Facebook and Twitter:

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Logan4Ward9/

Twitter: @Logan4Ward9