VOTE FOR CLARENCE RICHARDSON ON NOVEMBER 7, 2017!
About Clarence
When I first moved to Waltham about nine years ago, my wife, Anna and I were excited to find a vibrant and diverse community where it feels like everyone is welcome. We rented an apartment on Alder Street on the south side for years. By 2014, we had saved up enough money to buy our first home at 45 Bright Street where we live today. We quickly saw that so many people and organizations work incredibly hard to make Waltham a great place to live and it inspired us to do the same. I became involved with the Waltham Historical Commission, the Community Day Center, and Waltham Partnership for Youth, while Anna joined the board of the Waltham Land Trust. Serving as Chair of the Historical Commission provided me with an incredible perspective on both the history of our community and the way City government operates. While it was a tough decision to step down from the Commission to run for office, I know I can achieve even more for Waltham as a City Councilor and I hope to earn one of your six votes for City Councilor At-Large on November 7, 2017!
Clarence on the Issues Facing Our City
If you have questions or concerns about an issue in Waltham please email me at Clarence4Council.com. Here is how I think our government should handle some of the most critical challenges facing our City. I will be updating this section throughout the campaign so stay tuned for more!
The Fernald Property
Clarence's Five-Point Plan
One of the biggest issues facing our community is how to handle the almost 200 acres and more than 75 buildings that were formerly the Fernald Developmental Center. The Fernald property has incredible potential sitting unrealized, despite community needs that could be met through its reuse.
Click here for more on how I would like to see the City handle Fernald.
A Healthier City for Everyone
Green Space, Food Access, Our Environment, and More
As someone who struggled with childhood obesity, I know there is a lot that our City can do to help its residents get and stay healthy. First, we must ensure everyone in Waltham has access to healthy nutritious food, and safe open green space for exercise and recreation. This 
was me as a teenager. I grew up in a community that did not promote health and wellness, and it showed. Childhood obesity costs Americans $120 billion per year. As your City Councilor I want to make sure everyone in our community has the information and tools they need to be healthy.
Communication
More than just 3-1-1
Communication is an integral part of any relationship, including the relationship between our City government and its residents. We live in the City of industry and innovation, but are behind the times when it comes to communication. The City’s website and systems for communicating with residents on everything from upcoming events to how to report dangerous conditions or request City services should reflect the technological advances Waltham is known for. Adopting 311 is a key part of modernizing Waltham and will make our community safer. Click here to learn more.
Waltham High School
Public education is incredibly important to me. It is the reason I have a great career as a lawyer when neither of my parents received even an undergraduate degree. That would not have happened without the support of a lot of people along the way, including some incredible public school teachers and family friends. I want every child in Waltham to receive a high quality public education that meets his or her needs, aptitudes, and interests, because I know how much it has meant in my life.
Click here for more about my position on meeting the need for a new High School.
Supporting Waltham's Seniors & People with Disabilities
When I was fourteen, my father had a severe stroke that left him totally disabled until he died in 2015. My mom became his primary caregiver overnight. When someone in your family suddenly loses their mobility and ability to communicate, you realize quickly how important it is to live in a community that is accessible and provides essential services and support to seniors and people with disabilities. As a teenage boy, I didn’t think much about any of that until I had to. But after my dad’s stroke, if I had a soccer game or a school event or anything else a parent would usually come to, if it wasn’t accessible my dad could not be there. Even just a broken elevator could mean turning around and going home.
As Waltham continues to grow and change, I want to make sure our City’s government has families like mine in mind. As a City, the choices we make will often determine whether or not families with an elderly or disabled family member can fully participate in our community.
Click here for more on how we can support Waltham's seniors and people with disabilities.
Creating More Affordable Housing
The development of more affordable housing is a win-win for everyone in our community. By investing in affordable housing, Waltham can ensure that families are not displaced by rapidly rising rents and property values, while existing homeowners can continue to see growth of their investment in their property. The best way for Waltham to take control of its own future is also to produce enough affordable housing to comply with MGL 40B. If Waltham can make just ten percent of its housing stock affordable, then Waltham, not the state, can control its own development.
Click here for more on how we can create more affordable housing in Waltham.