Voters looking for clarity on where the District 7 candidates stand on issues may go to the polls on Nov. 4 with a few unanswered questions.
Asked during an Oct. 15 forum whether he would support the MBTA’s proposed extension of the 22 and 28 buses from Ruggles Street station into the Longwood Medical Area, Said “Coach” Ahmed said the installation of dedicated bus lanes has created more congestion in the community and that buses, therefore, should be free.
“We are supposed to have free buses for our community,” he said.
In response to the same question, Rev. Miniard Culpepper recounted how he prevented the MBTA from moving a bus stop away from the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, where he serves as pastor, by threatening protests.
“If we don’t stand up and demand what we want, we’ll get what they think we should have,” he said.
Ahmed and Culpepper emerged the victors in a field of 11 candidates during the Sept. 9 preliminary and will face each other on the Nov. 4 ballot. Each received just over 15 percent of the vote, meaning neither was the first choice of 70 percent of the preliminary voters. Both are now fighting to shore up support as preliminary balloting gets underway this weekend at ten early voting sites across the city.
During last week’s forum, sponsored by a coalition of Roxbury and South End neighborhood groups, the candidates at times displayed limited knowledge of local affairs.
Neither Culpepper nor Ahmed could identify Kairos Shen, the city’s planning chief. Asked what the city’s Streets and Squares initiative is, Ahmed again came up empty. Culpepper gave a somewhat convoluted description of the city’s process for re-zoning commercial districts to allow for larger residential building heights.
“Squares and streets is a plan that they’ve been looking at the different streets,” he offered. “The streets are become[ing] part of the square for the development about to take place for the city in the future.”
Said Reginald Jackson, a volunteer who served as a fact-checker for the forum: “It doesn’t sound like it’s even close to what the description is.”
At times during the nearly two-hour-long event, the candidates appeared to struggle in answering questions. At other times, they appeared to dodge questions, giving general answers when asked for specifics.
Asked how he would approach advocating for the community around White Stadium as it braces for potential impacts on traffic and parking on pro soccer game days, Ahmed deflected, speaking instead about his experiences running track there. He said he would keep the community abreast of changes at the site.
“People don’t have enough information,” he said. “People are scared of gentrification. I want to make sure the community is aware of everything that is happening.”
Culpepper said he would fight to make sure White Stadium continues to be open to Boston Public School student athletes, citing Northeastern University’s takeover of the public Carter Playground in Lower Roxbury.
“I as a city councillor would never let that happen again,” he said.
Both candidates spoke out against the city’s plans to install center-running bus lanes on Blue Hill Avenue.
Asked what they would do to support Madison Park Technical Vocational High School, both said they would advocate for more resources.
“We need an institution that our young people can benefit from and make $60,000 to $70,000,” said Ahmed.
Culpepper suggested the governor should allocate school building funds going to suburban districts to the renovation of the Madison Park building complex.
Louis Elisa, chair of the Garrison Trotter Neighborhood Association, said he was underwhelmed with the Ahmed and Culpepper’s responses.
“The candidates appeared to be excited about being the next representative of the community in City Hall, but they didn’t seem knowledgeable about what the position entails,” he said.
The candidate forum, one of two held last week, was sponsored by The South End Forum, the Garrison Trotter Neighborhood Association, Warren Gardens, Roxbury Path Forward, Mount Pleasant & Vine Civic Association and the Boston Jobs Coalition. The other forum, held last Thursday, was sponsored by Roxbury Main Streets, the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, the Roxbury Cultural District, and The American City Coalition.
Campaign Matters
Culpepper has received a lion’s share of the endorsements since the Sept. 9 preliminary election, including support from former preliminary rivals Said Abdikarim and Samuel Hurtado as well as from state Sen. Lydia Edwards, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden, former US Rep. Joseph Kennedy Jr., the Boston Teachers Union and the Boston Globe.
The Culpepper campaign got another boost this week when US Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) endorsed his bid, calling the candidate “my friend” who has “spent his life showing up for his community — with compassion in his heart, conviction in his voice, and courage in his actions.”
“He embodies the bold leadership District 7 deserves: rooted in justice, grounded in faith, and driven by love for the people he serves. I’m proud to endorse his campaign for Boston City Council and confident that Reverend Culpepper will be a powerful champion for all of District 7.”
Culpepper also won the endorsement of Rep. China Tyler this week.
Ahmed hit a snag when he announced an endorsement from former Reggie Lewis Track director Keith McDermott but posted a photo to his Twitter account with several other prominent Bostonians and wrote, “Honored to have the support of key community leaders in District 7.” After angry responses from several of those appearing in the photograph, Ahmed removed the post.
During the preliminary balloting, Culpepper showed a commanding lead in Ward 12, which sits entirely within Roxbury, garnering 540 votes to Ahmed’s 310. But Ahmed outperformed Culpepper in the South End/Lower Roxbury-based Ward 9, with 388 votes — more than twice the 181 votes Culpepper received.
Political consultant Anthony Collins said that beyond door-knocking, the Nov. 4 results could hinge on personal relationships, including those with the other nine candidates from the preliminary, whose support could be key.
“What it’s going to take to win in that race is whoever’s made the least enemies,” he said.
Mail-in ballots have already been sent to Boston voters who requested them. In-person early voting begins Sat., Oct. 25 at ten locations, including the BCYF Shelburne Community Center, 2730 Washington St., Roxbury.
See boston.gov for a full list of locations and times. Polls will be open from 7 a.m.- 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4 at all city polling stations.
