Hello Medford residents,

I'm Patrick Clerkin. I've lived in South Medford coming up on nine years this September after growing up in North Reading and attending Northeastern for mechanical engineering.

In 2023 I threw my hat in the ring for Medford City Council. As a handyman with a civic inclination, I heard about the local election through a neighbor and jumped in a week before the signature deadline. With only three months to campaign, limited connections and serving as my own manager I was in overdrive to learn as much and meet as many as I could.

I didn't win but I learned an enormous amount about the city which has only been further refined since. In the intervening two years I led a team to address the city's information and communications void which I strongly felt made other issues worse. The result was a self-funded initial release of the Medford Community Network, which I hope will be built upon by others.

If you're wondering where I fall, I'm a centrist whose mind consists of a conservative, progressive and libertarian sitting at a round table negotiating with each other. My mantra is everything in moderation, including moderation.

I have a passion for civics and governance at all levels but believe in keeping boundaries between personal, local, state, federal and global issues. This is not to say that our city exists in a vacuum unaffected by personal or global conflicts such as with technologies, inflation, immigration and energy. Rather, it means that this city's government has a particular jurisdiction and job to do -- represent a unified Medford respectful of both its inheritance and legacy.

My citywide areas of focus will be:

1) The budget and how to optimize a reliable income portfolio

2) Development including zoning changes, coordination with residents and the Mayor's 30-year plan

3) Streets that aren't scarred by potholes and partial reconstruction

4) Advancement of workable plans for the high school and fire station

5) Ensure improved communication of clear information through city- and resident-owned media

Please consider that a vote for me is not just for a bundle of policy positions but moreso for an even-keeled temperament and character which seeks compromise so that Medford's future isn't held hostage to political trench warfare.

This election I return with a new mindset, more experience and 5 additional months to meet you, listen and get my message out. My kickoff fundraiser will be at the Ford Tavern on May 15th at 7 PM. In the meantime and throughout the campaign I'll be raising funds here, through Venmo (@clerkin4medford), checks made out to CTE Patrick Clerkin for Medford and cash given to my campaign treasurer Bruce Patterson.

Your funds will be well spent on mail and canvassing materials, website domain and design, fundraiser venues, manager stipend (if I hire a local manager that isn't me) plus odds and ends such as maps, pins and stickers, office supplies and prints from Staples. All of this will be meticulously tracked and reported.

Now that you have an initial sense of who I am and what I'm doing, please consider donating and sharing this fundraiser with other Medford residents. I'll occasionally post updates here but more frequently you can expect to find updates on my yet-to-be-rebuilt campaign website, Facebook, Instagram and r/MedfordMA on Reddit.

See you soon on the trail.

Gratefully yours,

Patrick