Crowley Running for Medford City Council

Medford resident and business leader Mark Crowley recently announced his candidacy for Medford City Council. 

“We have an incredible opportunity for a fresh start in Medford. We need to start addressing the issues that affect each of us and our families every day. But, we can’t keep electing the same people and somehow expect different results,” said Crowley.

Emphasizing his campaign theme of “Let’s build a better Medford,” Crowley stated that his key issues are fiscal responsibility, economic revitalization, parking enforcement, and charter change.

“It’s time for new leadership and forward-looking vision. I’m running for City Council to bring a disciplined, business-minded approach to running our city.”

A graduate of M.I.T., Crowley has spent his career in business, helping companies grow, create jobs, and balance budgets.  He currently works as the Director of Finance for Constant Contact, a local software company that helps small businesses and non-profits.  In this role, he manages a $200 million budget for an organization with over 1,000 employees.

“At home and at work, we watch every penny. In Medford, property taxes continue to increase year after year, but where are they going?” explained Crowley.

“The city has a $140 million budget, yet we have a decaying police station, poorly maintained parks, roads and sidewalks in terrible condition, and an underfunded library,” he added. “I am not convinced we’re spending the taxpayers’ money in the best places or in the most productive manner. We can do better.”

When he ran for City Council in 2013, Crowley also pushed for a stronger connection between small businesses, the Medford residents who support them, and the city administration.

“In recent years, we we’ve lost many long time businesses and institutions, while communities like Somerville and Melrose have flourished,” he said. “We need to create a business-friendly environment to support existing owners, and an economic development planner that actively promotes our city and attracts new shops and restaurants,”

“Successful businesses provide vibrancy to the community, but also reduce the tax burden on our residents, especially our seniors on fixed incomes.”

Crowley has also been critical of the city’s parking enforcement program. “We need real enforcement that deters long term, out-of-town commuters parking on our streets, and doesn’t seek to generate revenue on the backs of residents trying to support small businesses in our squares.”

“Parking should be free for the first few hours. Those that stay longer should be fined. In the near term, the technology of our parking vendor can easily support this. Longer term, we need to explore alternatives to the current contract we have with Republic.”

Crowley also highlighted that key to driving the needed changes in City Hall is healthy debate and collaboration between the City Council and Mayor, citing his support for reviewing the city’s charter.

A graduate of the M.I.T. Sloan School of Management, where he earned his MBA, Crowley also received a degree in Economics from Brandeis University.  He and his wife Suanna, who serves as President of the Friends of the Medford Family Network, have been married for 17 years.  They have two daughters, ages 3 and 10.

In the months ahead, Crowley plans to go door-to-door across the City to share his vision for Medford.  For more information, visit www.CrowleyForMedford.com.

– Submitted by Mark Crowley