City Government
Cambridge City Council
Cambridge has no district councillors. All nine members are elected citywide, which means every one of them answers to you, no matter what neighborhood you live in. They are chosen by proportional representation, a ranked ballot Cambridge has used since 1941 and the last city in the country still does. Councillors serve two-year terms and elect one of their own as Mayor to chair the body.
- Sets policy and law by adopting ordinances and resolutions (“policy orders”).
- Controls the purse by adopting the city budget the Manager proposes.
- Hires the executive by appointing and overseeing the City Manager.
Council Members
Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui chairs the Council and Vice Mayor Burhan Azeem serves as her second. Because every seat is citywide, you can contact any of the nine about any issue.
Sumbul Siddiqui
Burhan Azeem
Marc C. McGovern
Patricia M. Nolan
E. Denise Simmons
Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler
Catherine Zusy
Ayah Al-Zubi
Timothy R. Flaherty
Individual councillor emails and direct lines are on the city’s “City Council” directory at cambridgema.gov.
Meetings & How to Participate
- When: most Monday evenings at 5:30 p.m. in the Sullivan Chamber, 2nd floor, City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue.
- Agendas & minutes: posted in advance on the city’s online agenda system at cambridgema.gov.
- Public comment: residents may sign up to speak on agenda items at the start of each meeting.
- Watch: meetings are broadcast on the city’s cable channel and streamed online.
Public hearings and meetings are where residents shape city decisions.