Bill asks, "are you ready to vote on Tuesday"?

It’s now down to the wire and time for everyone who hasn’t yet made up their mind to do so. In the race for Councillor in Ward 2, there are two candidates who both have a record of community service. Both are dedicated to their families. That, however, is where the similarities end.

When it comes to Public Safety, I served 32 years on the Somerville Fire Department. The first 28 on the front line, the last 4 as a member in the Fire Prevention Bureau. During my time on the department I was awarded the Medal of Valor as well as the Local 76 Meritorious Service Award. In addition, I worked many years as an EMT for a private ambulance company.

In his last piece of campaign literature my opponent lists his public safety experience as finishing the Boston Marathon moments before the bombing and being the Scribe for the Sheriff’s Department SWAT Team. I let you be the judge on who has a deeper understanding on the issue of Public Safety.

Again from his campaign flyer, my opponent says “he hopes to bring the concerns of his neighbors to the City’s attention”. As a councillor for 9 of the last 12 years maybe he should have already been doing that. Maybe he should have been speaking up for the people at the lower end of College Farm Road who have been looking at a construction site that has sat dormant for months. Maybe, he, a sitting councillor, should have been the one dealing with the missing gate at the tot lot at Lazazzaro Park. Maybe, he should have been the one bringing the issue of much needed pedestrian crossing light at Lake and Princeton Streets to the Traffic Commission, rather than me.

Other than hoping to bring the residents’ concerns to the city, my opponent’s self- published newspaper offered nothing else that he would do differently. On the other hand as a columnist for the News Tribune, I wrote about issues and solutions to many problems facing our city. With the exception of my opponent, most people running for the council have used some of the issues that I raised in their campaigns.

Noticeably absent from his paper was that under his watch: the Hardy, Banks and Fitch Schools are all still empty, bakeries, delis and coffee shops are still zoned out of our downtown and the special permit process is still having a devastating effect on our city’s commercial businesses.

To the people of Ward 2, you have a clear choice, more of the same or a councillor representing you who has new ideas, a passion for change and will strive for excellence. For more information about me or my campaign go to www.BillFowler-Ward2.com.