Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne addressed the attendees of the mid-term ceremonies, highlighting her past accomplishments and her vision of the city’s future.

By Fernando Cervantes Jr.

With the arrival of the new year, various changes to the Somerville City Council came to fruition during the mid-term addresses and election ceremonies held at the City Council Chamber in City Hall on January 3.

During the event, city council members elected a new President and Vice-President while members of the School Committee also held elections for their leadership positions. Out of the 11 members of the City Council, 10 were present with the only absence coming from Councilor At-Large Willie Burnley Jr.

Once a quorum was established as enough members of the City Council were present, elections for City Council President were held. Only one person was nominated for the position with Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen from Ward 3, who was unanimously elected. Ewen-Campen previously served as a City Council Vice-President before this election.

Additionally, a new City Council Vice-President was elected with Councilor Judy Pineda-Newfeld from Ward 7 being unanimously elected.

During the event, the School Committee also elected their leaders, Andre Green of Ward 4 as the School Committee Chair and Ilana Krepchin of Ward 2 as School Committee Vice-Chair.

Following the elections, both School Committee Chair Green and City Councilor President Ewen Campen gave speeches following their election.

“This year will see this body not only select new leadership for the district. We will also tackle issues of enrollment, of school assignments, we will develop building plans that ensure that every Somerville student can learn in well maintained; modern educational spaces,” Green said.

City Council President Ewen-Campen talked about the continuing affordability crisis in the city and its impacts on Somerville.

“We have a crisis here, a displacement crisis and an affordability crisis that is existential and it is continuing to push out people who have made Somerville the amazing place that it is,” Ewen-Campen said. “The political will that we have here in Somerville is the best thing we have going and we need to use it.”

Finally, Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne delivered her mid-term address after a year on the job, having been initially inaugurated in 2022.

“When I think back to a year ago and the progress we have made, I’m really proud of what we have accomplished and again I want to thank every City Councilor, our delegation and all the workers in this room and across the city for helping me steer this city towards a vision of progress for all,” Ballantyne said.