Belle Steadman: Salem City Council Candidate Profile

Salem MA

31 October, 2021

3:06 PM

Description

SALEM, MA — Belle Steadman is seeking her first term on the Salem City Council representing Ward 1. The 61-year-old mother and clinical laboratory scientist for 40 years has a bachelor's degree in medical technology and laboratory science, and is board certified by the American Society of Clinical Pathology. Steadman told Patch she running for the City Council to give Ward 1 a bigger voice in city decisions, protect more green spaces and reduce population density where possible. The citywide election is on Nov. 2. Campaign website Belle Steadman For Salem Why are you seeking elective office? I am seeking elective office to work for the Ward 1 residents. I am running to represent the neglected, the underrepresented and those who feel that they do not have a voice in the city government. I will bring back the much-needed transparent and timely communication between the city government and the residents. I am a total embodiment of Ward 1 residents' frustrations and aspirations having lived here for 20 years. If elected, I will make sure that the focus of my representation is the Ward 1 residents and their quality of life. The single most pressing issue facing our city is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it. The single most pressing issue facing our ward , for me, is densification which directly impacts our quality of life. Densification brings the challenges we are facing today like increase burden on our first responders and our antiquated infrastructure, increased trash/sewage, increased carbon footprint, increased pollution, increased need for affordable housing and parking spaces. To address densification is to understand its occurrence, and to work on it in various scales. It has to be duly monitored and regulated so that overcrowding, which can be detrimental to our quality of life and resiliency is avoided. If elected, I will push for adaptation of policies to better identify and administer appropriate routes to smart developments and also to push policies to defend the rights of existing communities to maintain low density and policies to protect our green spaces. What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? The critical differences between me and the other candidate are (a) I am beholden to no one, (b) I am running to work for the residents not the mayor, (c) I have a better understanding of the needs of the residents, especially when it comes to cultural differences and diversity and because my opponent stopped listening to the residents long time ago, and (d) I am an independent thinker and will decide solely and primarily on what's best for the Ward 1 residents. If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency) The current councilor lacks transparency and timely communication with his constituents. He also stopped listening to them a long time ago. There were various issues and complaints that were brought up to me while campaigning that he failed to address for years. If elected, I will make these various issues priorities to fix as they've been neglected for years. How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently? As a frontline worker during this pandemic in my role as a clinical lab scientist, I think that our local officials are doing a great job responding to the challenges brought forth by COVID19. The only thing I would have done differently would be to be more aggressive in our outreach to educate the people about the virus, the vaccines and the prevention of it by staging medical outposts with experts all thru out our communities. Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform. The other issues that define my campaign is the residents' lack of representation in the city government; failure of the incumbent to address issues that were brought to his attention; and the lack of transparency and timely communication. What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? The accomplishments in my past that I would cite as evidence that I can handle the job is my 40 years of experience as a board-certified clinical laboratory scientist in which collaboration has a special meaning. My everyday routine at work allows me to collaborate with other health professionals to solve health issues. Helping doctors research for the right tests for their patients and troubleshoot challenges that arise along the way, I have become a strong leader who instills teamwork, positive attitude, acceptance of gender and cultural differences, and camaraderie not only with peers in the laboratory but in the entire hospital setting. I have also served as one of the Salem Garden Club president leading a 100-plus membership, going over budgets and plans for community service. I am also currently serving as the corresponding secretary of the Salem Willows Neighborhood Association responsible for proper communication between the leadership and the members. If elected I will use these experiences to be a strong advocate and representative for the Ward 1 residents at city hall. The best advice ever shared with me was: The best advise ever shared with me was my dad's advice, which is what I follow almost daily. "Advocate for others, not because you want something in return, but because it makes you a better person." What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions? I would like the residents to know that my passion to help residents comes with leadership and teamwork skills acquired through the years of teaching medical students, collaborating with medical professionals; attending leadership seminars and running an effective department. I would also like to mention that I come from a law enforcement family and is married to a retired police officer so I strongly back the blue, the firefighters and all other first responders. I have utmost respect for them and am ever thankful for their service. I am thankful for their gift of civility to our society and city.