My First Post - An Introduction

Hi, and welcome to my blog. For my first post I though I should start off by telling you a little bit about myself and why I am running for reelection.

I'm a lifelong resident of Waltham. In fact, five generations of my family have lived within 150 feet of the same intersection going back to the late 1800's. When my wife, Paula, and I got married we bought the family home in which I was raised, and have since raised four children of our own. All of them graduated from Waltham High School, as did generations before them. Waltham and this neighborhood are home. I can't even imagine living elsewhere.

Over the years, my family has been witness to many changes in Waltham. Most of the good, some - not so much. However, it is because of my deep commitment to our community that I work to effect positive change. This deep commitment to our community is one of the reasons why I have served and worked so hard as Ward Councillor, and why I want to continue to serve the residents of Ward 9 and keep working to make Waltham the best it can be. I want to make sure that Waltham continues to be a safe and attractive place to live, work, invest, and raise a family.

After graduating from Waltham High School I attended the University of Massachusetts at Boston, where I earned a B.A. in Political Science. I then went on to earn a Masters in Public Administration (M.P.A.) from Northeastern University. I am currently a Budget Analyst for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. On the City Council I have served as Council President, and am currently Chairman of the Licenses & Franchises Committee. I am also Chairman of the Waltham Ambulance Service Review Committee. Last year I was President of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, the statewide organization representing the interests of 361 cities and towns across the Commonwealth. This year I am serving as 1st Vice President of the Massachusetts Municipal Councillors' Association. I am also a member of the Massachusetts Local Government Advisory Commission. My strong dedication to public service is another reason why I am running for reelection. I know that I have the background, skills, and experience to get the job done, and I feel an obligation to do my part in making Waltham great.

One other thing that motivates me, and makes the job of being a Ward Councillor very rewarding, is simply that I enjoy helping people. I know it sounds corny, but it's true. Ward Councillors in particular receive a lot of constituent calls. Many of these calls are very routine, such as a streetlight that is out, a piece of playground equipment in the neighborhood park that is broken, or trash that didn't get picked-up. Some are more involved, like getting a street made a "one way" or dealing with a "problem house" in the neighborhood. These problems may not seem as important as some of the citywide issues we debate on Monday night TV, but they have a direct effect on the quality of life in the neighborhood and the safety and happiness of the residents. When residents call me they often start the conversation by saying "I'm sorry to bother you about this." Of course, as I tell them, that's what I'm here for. It's my job! Moreover, I am glad to help. There is nothing as rewarding as the heartfelt thanks you get from person when you are able to fix one of these problems or help them in some way. I can't always come up with a solution, but I'll always try, because it matters.

I hope this gives you some insight into my background and why I am running. In future posts I will talk about specific issues affecting Waltham and Ward 9.

E-Mail: Logan4Ward9@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Logan4Ward9

Twitter: @CouncilW9