City Government
Somerville City Council
About the Council
Somerville fits more than 80,000 people into four square miles, which means almost every big fight here is about space: a new bike lane, a six-story building, a rezoned square. The City Council is where those fights get settled. It has eleven members: seven elected by ward, one from each neighborhood district, and four elected at large by the whole city. Councilors serve two-year terms, so voters weigh in on every seat every two years. The Council is where a daily problem becomes city policy: a flooded street, a stalled development, the tax rate on your family’s home.
- Sets policy and law by passing ordinances and resolutions.
- Controls the budget by approving or cutting what the Mayor proposes, and by setting the tax rate.
- Checks the Mayor by confirming major appointments and overriding vetoes with a two-thirds vote.
Council Members
Four councilors are elected at large by every Somerville voter. The other seven each represent a single ward. The Council chooses one of its members as President to run its meetings: right now that is Lance L. Davis of Ward 6, with Will Mbah of the at-large seats serving as Vice President.
Jon Link
Wilfred N. (Will) Mbah
Kristen Strezo
Ben Wheeler
Matthew McLaughlin
Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) Scott
Ben Ewen-Campen
Jesse Clingan
Naima Sait
Lance L. Davis
Emily Hardt
Direct lines and emails for each councilor are on the city’s City Council directory at somervillema.gov. The Council office can be reached at 617-625-6600.
Meetings & How to Participate
- When: the second and fourth Thursdays at 7 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 93 Highland Avenue.
- Agendas & minutes: posted in advance on the city website at somervillema.gov.
- Public comment: residents may speak on agenda items. Check the agenda for the sign-up procedure.
- Watch: meetings are streamed online through the city website.
What this seat decides
Your Town or City Council
A local ordinance, the city or town budget, or a problem in your own ward or district. The real testimony happens at committee hearings rather than at the full council meeting.
Public hearings and meetings are where residents shape city decisions.
MassCivics last checked this page on October 7, 2026.
Sources
- City records: City of Somerville, City Council, as of October 2026.
- City records: City of Somerville, City Council meeting calendar (Legistar), as of October 2026.
- City records: City of Somerville, Councilor Emily Hardt, as of October 2026.