Hey, I'm
Scott Istvan
Candidate for Somerville City Councilor At-Large
Who is Scott?
I'm Scott (he/him) - I am an East Somerville resident running for one of the four At-Large seats on Somerville's City Council in the November 2025 election.
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In my day-to-day life, I am a guy in his mid-30s who writes software, produces improv shows, rides bikes, and slings cocktails.
But more importantly, I am someone who is passionate about my communities and the city I live in. Whether it’s visiting a craft fair or appreciating new bioswales on my walk, I enjoy finding the little things that make our home a uniquely enjoyable place to be.
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Thanks for stopping by and I look forward to meeting you on the campaign trail!
Get Involved
Excited to help build an even better Somerville? Join in!
Vision for Somerville
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No More Pits & Empty Stores
Somerville has no end of projects that seem to stall out with no progress for years. From things like the infamous Teele Square Pit to the Winter Hill Star Market (or East End Grill, or the former Boulter Plywood, or the old Circuit City, or the Ball Square gravel pit, or…), we have a lot of wasted space that isn’t being put to good use. We’ve seen some wonderful examples of community engagement to turn some spaces around - whether it’s the city-supported engagement of Culture House to set up shops and a beer garden in Gilman Square, or the community driven creation of Elfland on an empty site in Union, our community is full of creative individuals and small businesses that want to engage with these spaces and make our city feel welcoming and alive. The city should be encouraging active reuse of these temporary spaces rather than dragging its heels and debating on the exact perfect use of the space. Let the community lead what the community needs. On the flip side, we need to remove barriers that cause these sites to remain empty for so long - this means supporting our city’s planning, permitting, and inspection staff by getting them the resources they need to do their jobs more efficiently and effectively. There is no reason we should have a permitting or inspection backlog.
Unlocking Sustainable Transportation
I am a huge supporter of Somerville’s safe streets planning and ongoing implementation. I believe streets should be safe and oriented around the needs of people and public transportation. However, there are still barriers to walking, biking, and transit that need to be addressed. Accessibility needs to be at the forefront of any street design. My dream for Somerville is sidewalks that are wide enough that people using strollers, wheel chairs, shopping carts, etc. can easily get where they need to go even on trash day. All transit stops should have seating available - for people who cannot stand for extended periods, or people who need to rest while carrying heavy groceries. As a person who often gets around by bike, I think it’s the most enjoyable way to get around this city. However, even as we expand safe bike infrastructure, there are still barriers to adoption. People who live up multiple flights of stairs may not be able or willing to carry a bike up and down. Not all destinations have secure bicycle parking facilities - and that includes residential areas.
Housing, Housing, Housing!
Somerville is a great city; it’s no wonder people want to live here. Unfortunately, it’s not cheap to do so. This is personal for me - while I am fortunate enough to own a home here in Somerville (which I share with roommates because it’s still expensive!) - many of my friends have been priced out. Affordable housing minimums are a great start, but we need to take bigger swings and make more incentives. This includes upzoning in major corridors across the city, but also may include things like tax incentives for landlords charging below market rent, further city investment into its own housing programs, and assistance programs for people working in careers in the service industry, arts, education, healthcare, etc. who are valuable to the city thriving.
Why I'm Running
My decision to run for office is not born out of political aspirations or an axe to grind against the way things are. I am just a (mostly) normal guy who loves his adopted home city of 16+ years who thinks more every day folks should get involved in local politics. Somerville does many things very well, but can absolutely do some things even better. Two particular experiences color my run for office.
First, as an undergrad at Tufts, I lived on Packard Ave and had to cross Powder House Boulevard many times a day. At that time, there was no traffic calming nor stop signs on Powder House, and it was always harrowing to cross. While I was living there, a person was struck in a hit and run at that intersection. Thankfully, the city has since embraced a safe streets plan and is making great strides in that direction, but there is still much to be done. As a person who now mostly gets around via walking, bike, and transit, there is more we can do to make our streets not just “safe” but actively more enjoyable and less stressful for all users.
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The second is my brief stint running a small business in the city. I must commend city staff’s friendliness and availability to respond to questions, and the existence of organizations like East Somerville Main Streets who provide great resources to local businesses. Every Somerville resident who aspires to open a business should have access to these wonderful resources. However, I also saw things that were barriers to transforming and growing that business. Licensing and permitting requirements that were outside of the reach of a small sole proprietorship with limited capital. Bureaucratic processes that took up time but didn’t add value. Small, locally owned businesses are part of what makes the city feel like a vibrant place to be; we should be doing what we can to foster more businesses by and for the community.
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