The following is a list of the questions that we are asking city council candidates.

• Contact information questions

  • Maggie McKee

  • 📱: (617) 669-1832

  • 📧: maggieforquincy@gmail.com

  • 🌐: maggieforquincy.com

• What is your political party?

  • Democrat

• What race are you running for?

  • Ward 5 councilor

• Why are you running for office?

  • I believe we need leaders who will actively engage with residents and then advocate for the issues that really matter to them. I've been doing just that for years, helping to start the Quincy Tree Alliance, Quincy Votes!, and A Just Quincy after hearing from neighbors about the need to protect and expand the city's tree canopy, foster civic engagement, and make local government more accountable and transparent. Our community -- and our democracy -- are stronger when more people participate, and I will work to create a city government that is of, by, and for the people.

• Do you or does anyone in your family work for the City of Quincy in any capacity? (Please consider first cousins and closer relationships only.) (yes / no)

  • No

• Do you or does anyone in your family own or work at a company that does business with the City of Quincy? (yes / no)

  • No

• Having personal ties to the city does not disqualify a candidate for office by any means. But voters may be concerned that if you answered yes to either of the previous two questions, you may not be willing to speak out on their behalf if doing so might jeopardize your or your family members' relationships with the city. What would you say to those voters?

  • n/a

• If elected, would you go out into the community to hold town-hall-type meetings at least once every quarter? (yes / no)

  • Yes

• If elected, will you create an online newsletter or blog to keep your constituents informed?

  • Yes

• If elected, will you take advantage of the city's translation services for your newsletter and town halls?

  • Yes

• If elected, will you sponsor or co-sponsor an ordinance to create a regular opportunity for public comment before council meetings? (yes / no)

  • Yes

• If elected, would you work to repeal the mayor's 79% raise? (yes / no)

  • Yes

• If elected, would you work to repeal the council's 50% raise? (yes / no)

  • Yes

• If elected, would you work to repeal the annual raises for the mayor and councilors that the council voted through -- without public comment -- this spring? (yes / no)

  • Yes

• If elected, would you work to establish a fair system for councilor and mayoral raises going forward, seeking input from residents and using data from similar government types in Massachusetts? (yes / no)

  • Yes

• If elected, would you take classes from the Massachusetts Municipal Association on good governance and open meeting/public records laws? (yes / no)

  • Yes

• Are you active in any community groups? If so, which ones and why?

  • I served on the board of Quincy Climate Action Network, led a city task force on composting, and helped start the Quincy Tree Alliance, Quincy Votes! and A Just Quincy.

• If you'd like to add any comments about any of your answers, please do so here.

  • In reading through the council's own rules, I discovered that councilors wouldn't need to write an ordinance to allow for regular public hearings. The council is supposed to hold one every month, per council rule 25 (https://www.maggieforquincy.com/blog/councilrules). I would push for this rule to be followed. I would also sponsor an ordinance requiring councilors to reveal any conflicts of interest -- such as donations, relationships, or contracts -- involving any proposal before them, and to recuse themselves if necessary.