James Willis works as a consultant/paralegal and retail clerk. James lives in the Point neighborhood with his son, a Salem Public Schools second grader.
James is a cum laude graduate of UMass Amherst, with a degree in Political Science.
While at UMASS, he interned for US Senator John F. Kerry and was a member of three honor societies. James moved to Salem to continue his education at Suffolk University Law School, where he received a Juris Doctorate degree. In 2006, James became a licensed attorney and worked as a sole practitioner. Unfortunately, James voluntarily agreed to a temporary suspension of his law license following a 2010 arrest. All criminal charges against him were dismissed completely in 2017 following an appeal. James has refrained from all use of drugs and alcohol since 2012 and has offered his advice and assistance to others facing problems with substance abuse.
James currently serves as chair of the Salem Democratic City Committee and is a member of the Point Neighborhood Association. He was an executive board member of the Salem Council on Aging for five years and was a member of the Working Group tasked to update the City’s Open Space & Recreation Plan and produce a Recreation Facilities Needs Assessment & Master Plan in 2015. James has also served on various nonprofit boards, including North Shore Community Health, Inc. and the Friends of the Salem Council on Aging, and is a member of the Carlton School PTO.
Why are you running for Councilor and what particular skills can you bring to the position?
I am running for the City Council to provide a voice for all of the residents and businesses of Ward One. We all deserve responsive and dedicated public servants who are willing to devote their time to serving the public. Our city has been a wonderful home to my family and I would be honored to serve Salem and its people as a city councillor.
Through my years of volunteer service, ranging from nonprofit boards to city boards to neighborhood associations, I have gained vast experience in working towards consensus and cooperating with all sorts of colleagues and stakeholders to solve complex problems. In my professional and political career, I have worked with diverse populations to identify issues and provide solutions. My political and legal experience and education also provide a unique background in comparison to the current members of the City Council. In my decades of serving the public, I have learned that casting blame and making excuses accomplishes nothing- people expect and deserve results. I have the skills, knowledge, and experience to deliver those results.
What are some of your proposed solutions towards resolving the housing crisis in Salem?
The housing crisis facing Salem is not unique and no municipality in the country has found a foolproof solution. Unless Massachusetts enters a recession, the growth of our population and the continued influx of highly educated, highly paid professionals will continue to exert pressure on our housing market and price out many of our residents. It is likely that many of our current residents will not be able to afford to rent or buy in Salem. It is misleading and irresponsible for a councilor or candidate to suggest otherwise. That does not mean we should stop trying to help our residents remain in our city.
While market forces are too strong to control and excessive government intervention is problematic, there are two ways to mitigate the ongoing crisis. First, if the ordinance is drafted correctly, I favor inclusionary zoning measures. We can add affordable units across the city through such a change to our local zoning. Second, we can expand upon programs designed to assist first-time homebuyers. Through CDBG funds, the City of Salem has funded certain programs designed to help people purchase homes. Whether steering buyers toward beneficial loan programs or providing down payment assistance, we should increase our efforts to increase home ownership.
How do you see Salem impacted by the climate crisis and what new initiatives would you take to lead Salem's resiliency efforts?
All of Ward One is within a mile of Salem Harbor and the climate crisis has caused damage to each section of the Ward. Whether the flooding on Derby Street, the water damage to Shetland Park, or the breaching of the sea walls in the Willows, our neighborhoods have seen increased storm damage in recent years. If elected, I would take seriously my duty as an elected official to lobby our state house delegation for additional funding and for key environmental initiatives, including but not limited to carbon fee legislation.
The City of Salem, as a participant in the Commonwealth’s MVP (Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness) Program, should continue to seek funding through the Coastal Resilience Grant Program. If the city will not bond to do so, we will need state funds to improve our sea walls near Derby Street and in the Willows. In upcoming years, we will have additional opportunities to investigate how to preserve our coasts. The Ward One councillor serves as a member of the Salem Port Authority and will have important input into how we manage our waterfront. This is a key role as the city should be revising its Harbor Plan shortly. The Harbor Plan has not been revised in several years and during this process we have a unique opportunity to evaluate and potentially reconsider how we take care of our water resources in and around Salem Harbor.
Please outline some ideas you have that can enhance civic engagement at the city level.
A chief goal of mine is to work with all of my colleagues and stakeholders as we move forward- There should be no “sides”, just elected officials doing what is best for the city we hope to represent. All too often, I have heard the complaint that Salem’s government does not speak for its residents. This is the same problem reflected in our national politics, and it is my hope that the corrosive environment of our national political landscape does not trickle down to us here in Salem. I aim to maintain transparency and openness in my communications with the public. I will seek constituent input/feedback to listen and learn to allow citizens and businesses meaningful opportunities to weigh in on policy. I believe that an involved electorate needs to feel that its opinions are heard and considered.
There are three changes that could help enhance civic engagement and encourage an involved and informed electorate. First, volunteer childcare could be arranged during meetings in order to allow for additional participation by parents. Second, SATV should be invited to additional meetings to record, as often as their schedule and funding allows. Further, the city should work to increase online access to SATV recordings of meetings. Third, as a councillor I will work to improve outreach to neighborhood associations. Ward councillors in particular should strive to keep in touch with their constituents and keep them apprised of what happens in City Hall.