Gewirtz focuses on constituents
By George P. Hassett

   Rebekah Gewirtz is thinking about potholes.
   The founder of the Progressive Democrats of Somerville (PDS) began her political career holding  Democratic leaders to the principals of the party‚Äôs platform, but as the new Ward 6 alderman, Gewirtz is focusing on tasks far less grandiose.
  ‚ÄúConstituent services are critically important to me. I want to hit the ground running and be able to work effectively for ward 6 residents right away,‚Äù she said.

  Gewirtz said she has already addressed one local streetscape issue, since being innaugurated as the new Ward 6 alderman.
  ‚ÄúThere was a streetlight at the corner of Kingston and Thorndike that had been out for two years. A resident brought it to my attention and I worked with the Department of Public Works to get someone out there to repair it,‚Äù she said. ‚ÄúI don‚Äôt look forward to more streetlights being out, but I do look forward to helping people resolve the problems in their neighborhood.‚Äù
   Gewirtz will attend her first Board of Alderman (BOA) meeting Wednesday as representative of Ward 6, after defeating 22 year incumbent John M. Connolly in November. Running on the platform of ‚Äúlocal government can do better,‚Äù she won by a margin of 157 votes.
   Gewirtz was raised in Rhode Island, but has lived in Somerville for six years. For two years she worked as a legislative aide to former Sen. Patricia D. Jehlen and in 2002 served as Somerville coordinator for Robert Reich‚Äôs 2002 Democratic primary run for governor. In 2003, she founded PDS. One of the organization‚Äôs first successes was the Massachusetts scorecard, an online tally of how elected Democrats‚Äô votes compared to the principals set forth in the party‚Äôs platform.
   But during her campaign, Gewirtz focused on everyday issues such as improved mass transit, affordable housing, better schools and local development. She also dismissed labeling the election as an example of ‚Äúold Somerville vs. new Somerville,‚Äù as she stressed ‚Äúinclusion and bringing people together.‚Äù
    The 28 year-old Gewirtz said opening up dialogue between residents and government is an important first step in improving the city‚Äôs local government. She said she has already done so on important issues such as improving snow removal and promoting open space.
    Marty Martinez, who co-founded PDS with Gewirtz, said he is sure she will be an asset to local government in Somerville.
   ‚ÄúMunicipal government serves people‚Äôs immediate needs. When residents in the city need help with a local issue, they call their alderman. When somebody calls Rebekah about a pothole or an issue they have with local development, they are going to find an alderman with an open ear ready to help,‚Äù he said.