Salem Candidate Profile: Meg Riccardi For City Council

SALEM, MA — Salem will have several contested races in this fall's election, including a 11-way race for four at-large seats on City Council. The preliminary election on Sept. 17 will thin the field of at-large city councilor candidates to eight and the field of school committee candidates to six. Salem Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Meg Riccardi, 40, is one of three candidates running for the Ward 6 City Council seat. Incumbent Beth Gerard is not running for reelection. Riccardi is a software administrator at Sophos, a cybersecurity company. She and her husband Paul have a seven-year-old daughter.

Are you running for office in Salem? Contact Dave Copeland at dave.copeland@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Salem Patch.

Previously on Patch: Salem Election 2019: Here's Who's Running

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Housing in Salem needs to be accessible and sustainable for all who live and work here and for all levels of financial ability. This includes those just starting in the workforce, our service workers, seniors on a fixed income - and we need to find solutions for all. Salem is also historical and home to many properties and neighborhoods that we need to preserve and protect. Not a simple problem, and there are not simple solutions.

When people hear “affordable housing” they often think of low-income, government funding housing, but the solutions are much broader and complex. There needs to be many tools utilized to help alleviate this crisis, many of which I support in moving forward with including the Zoning Ordinance relative to Municipal and Religious Reuse Special Permit, which will allow a path forward for many buildings in the city that currently have none. I support the amendment to the current Accessory Dwelling Unit zoning, with a few edits, such as keeping homeowner occupancy for the length of the ADU service. And while not fully drafted yet, I support the idea of inclusionary zoning, which will require private development to include affordable units.

I also support researching additional solutions, such as a condo conversion ordinance. The face of many neighborhoods are changing as rental units are being removed from the market and converted to condo units, and the rental housing stock becomes more strained. My work with the Non-Profit Rebuilding Together highlights this. Our work helps homeowners stay in their homes by making critical repairs needed. Creative programs like this should be considered.

But most importantly, we need to continue these conversations aggressively and get moving on solutions.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am a new face to Salem Politics, but I have involved myself not only as a Neighborhood Information Advisory Council representative, but also by attending meetings and doing research to inform my opinions on the issues facing us today. I have not previously held a position in politics, but I have been active in community conversations for many years.

As a Salem resident for over 20 years, and a North Salem homeowner since 2007, I am proud to say that my husband and I chose Salem and Salem did not choose us.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

Salem is tackling many important and urgent issues: housing and affordability, schools, climate change, traffic and transportation to name a few. We need a strong city council willing to work smart, work hard, and work together.

I have walked every street in Ward 6 this summer to introduce myself to residents. It has been a great avenue to learn about the issues that directly impact the residents, such as maintenance to our infrastructure: sidewalks, streets and trees; speeding, traffic and parking; and park maintenance. If Ward 6 chooses to elect me as the next ward councillor, I promise to continue to listen to Ward 6 residents and the issues they want to see solved beyond the election.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have demonstrated that I am an organizer who is not afraid to speak up for others, which is shown in my willingness and determination to bring North Salem together with face to face neighborhood meetings and email newsletters. My volunteer and non-profit work displays my desire to serve my community and help others with empathy and conviction.

My diverse professional background has prepared me for many situations. My proven ability to communicate effectively with everyone from the CEO, to the individual worker, to customers at my table, is paramount to my successes. I am able to explain a problem, or a solution, to different groups and different audiences while being conscious of knowledge and time.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

When I was nervous about starting my first job out of college my older brother, Wayne, shared with me a tidbit that I still think of when I am challenged with something new, “it doesn’t matter if you know the answer immediately, just don't be afraid to admit that and find the person that does.”

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

My positions will be shaped by the residents of the ward and the city of Salem, whether you have lived here since birth or just moved in. I would like the voters of Ward 6 to know that I am ready to work hard and put in the effort needed to understand the issues and concerns of the Ward, and the city as a whole.

I have been busy introducing myself this summer to all residents and would be honored to continue the conversation as your next Ward Councillor.

Previously Published Salem Candidate Profiles:

Candidates for reelection are marked with an asterisk (*).

City Council, At Large

Domingo J. Dominguez *

Alice Merkl

Maribel Steadman

City Council, Ward 4

Timothy Flynn *