Jake Wilson set to become Somerville mayor
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Wilson thanks supporters at his East Somerville election night gathering. Photo: Mike Deehan/Axios.
Jake Wilson was set to defeat fellow City Councilor Willie Burnley Jr. on Tuesday to be elected Somerville's next mayor, according to unofficial results.
Why it matters: Wilson connected with voters who called for big changes to how Somerville City Hall operates after two terms under incumbent Mayor Katjana Ballantyne.
- Voters already ousted Ballantyne in September's preliminary election.
- Wilson warned supporters of budgetary troubles he'll have to deal with.
Between the lines: The returns show Somervillians preferred the management experience offered by Wilson over the more transformational progressive politics of Burnley.
State of play: Burnley called to concede the race to Wilson after polls closed, according to the Wilson campaign.
- Wilson won 42% of the vote in the September three-way race.
Zoom in: Wilson campaigned on his years spent on the council and his executive experience from leading Somerville Youth Soccer.
- He promised accessible leadership after criticizing Ballantyne's communication style.
- He pledged Thursday evening office hours at City Hall.
What they're saying: "There are some budgetary concerns here ahead of us. There's a storm coming on the budget front," Wilson told the crowd at his election night gathering at La Brasa after thanking his supporters.
- Wilson's platform emphasized housing affordability through first-time homebuyer programs and advocacy for bringing back rent control.
The big picture: Wilson and Burnley ran progressive campaigns suited for this left-leaning city of 80,000.
- The pair agreed on a lot, like bike infrastructure and supportive services for drug users over a law enforcement crackdown on vagrancy.
What's next: Wilson takes office next year, inheriting challenges from Ballantyne.
- Those include a homelessness problem in Davis Square, pressure over development projects and the housing affordability crisis that grips the region.