Why are you running for Councillor and what particular skills can you bring to the position?
As the current Ward 2 Councillor, I have leveraged my professional and volunteer experience as a communications and change manager, nonprofit leader, and volunteer in Salem to increase clarity and transparency for residents in our public meetings and correlating decisions, while being driven by compassion and a sense of equity and justice. Through hard conversations with leadership and fellow councillors both in Council Chambers and in one-on-one meetings, I have worked to advance our shared goals while also asking questions and challenging plans and positions to ensure every vote I make is well-informed and clear to all constituents. I’m seeking reelection because there is much more progress to be made on important issues in Salem. We are still scratching the surface on ways to address affordable housing and housing insecurity issues in Salem, of green-energy opportunities and ways to make Salem more resilient to the ever-increasing effects of climate change, of pedestrian safety and ongoing investment in traffic flow and our infrastructure, preservation of historic neighborhoods and more. I’m proud of the work we, as a Council have been focusing on, and there remain a number of open and ongoing opportunities and issues I could work to make real progress on with another two years. In the last 19 months, I have brought a collaborative and thoughtful approach to the issues in front of us and we continue to tackle highly-impactful issues that could take years to make progress on. I’d like to stay focused, committed, and in my council seat to continue to work towards a better Salem for all.
Residents are facing housing instability and displacement. Do you have specific plans that would protect renters in the city?
I’m proud to have served on the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board since 2021, first as a resident volunteer, and since as a Councillor appointee. In that time, I have participated in the community development of the Housing Roadmap and worked on potential new ordinances, including a Condo Conversion Ordinance which remains in process. I have collaborated on and supported changes to the Accessory Dwelling Unit regulations to make them a more accessible option for homeowners and renters. We are currently revisiting a potential Inclusionary Zoning change and I would like to further investigate our Short Term Rental Ordinance. My primary goals in supporting these and other activities are to preserve naturally affordable rental units, inform and protect renters on their rights, and increase the number of Affordable units in Salem. This work is ongoing and includes collaboration at the State level with Salem’s other elected representatives. This work takes time and commitment and consistent engagement.
Salem is already seeing the effects of the climate crisis, including flooding during storms and high tides. Focusing on what you would do, what are your top priorities to mitigate the climate crisis?
There are a number initiatives that are available to residents that can assist with mitigating some of the effects of climate change which I have advocated for in the past – including the Greening the Gateway program and
That having been said, I believe we need to be seriously planning for the future – for ways to help protect our built environment from flooding and I believe we, as a City government need to begin helping to inform our residents and landlords on things they may want to consider to help ensure the resiliency of their properties. The City must take a visible and vocal lead on transparently communicating what the future of coastal sea level rise looks like in Salem and to act as a resource to residents. I have serious concerns about what options are within our financial reach for the City and for residents to help protect our built environment from increasing water inundation. The building of berms, pumping systems, and large-scale renovations to current sea walls output pipe infrastructure are costly but important solutions that need a long-term plan. I continue to advocate for this with City leadership. I am heartened by and support the work of Resilient Together which ranges from supporting residents seeking to make their homes more energy efficient and use more green energy to the recent work being done to strategize how to protect The Point and South Salem neighborhoods to setting standards and expectations for ensuring large-scale projects are utilizing green energy. I was proud to support the Municipal Green Building ordinance and look forward to collaborating on and supporting expanding those green building standards to new developments in Salem. Additionally, I commit to supporting financial investment from the City in initiatives large and small including projects that will reinforce our shorelines from erosion and protect our built environment including City resources. I am also committed to ensuring the Offshore Wind staging area is successfully built and brought online and that the arrangement is beneficial to both Salem and the environment.
Salem strives to be a diverse, equitable, and inclusive city. What have you done to lead on these ideals and how will you support work in this area?
I am proud of how diverse, equitable, and inclusive Salem has become over these last few decades and I am proud to be a part of that work. It is important to me that residents of all diverse communities (except those who represent hateful or otherwise exclusionary positions) feel safe and welcome in Salem and I have embraced every opportunity to show my support for these values in Salem. Moreover, personally as a woman and member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I have been proud to represent and advocate for reproductive health and gender affirming care and the protection of those providing these in these dangerous and fraught times in the US, and for the rights and unique concerns of the LGBTQIA+ community in Salem. I am proud to be a part of a Council which broadly supports Salem’s inclusivity in so many ways and is concerned about access and equity of all kinds. We are not perfect, but we strive to advocate for and advance these values in Salem. I have a personal goal to more consciously and consistently share content and materials that are more inclusive of varied physical and cognitive abilities and to ensure that programs and events that I participate in meet those considerations as well, including physical access to spaces and sign language interpreters. Moreover, I am committed to continuing to advocate for more diversity in hiring within our Fire and Police Departments as well as the ongoing work of diversifying our teachers and staff in Salem Public Schools – our excellent services in Salem must also accurately and fairly represent our citizens.
On average, 30% of Salem residents voted in the past municipal elections. Please outline some ideas you have that can enhance voter engagement and elections.
I believe voter turnout is a real issue in Salem. I support the work the City has done over the last 5 years or so to expand access to voting both with early, in-person voting options and mail in ballots which are able to be returned at numerous locations across town. There is always a wealth of information and support for residents through our Elections Office which I’ve shared through my council social media channels and in person with residents. I am engaged and intrigued by the recent conversations in Salem regarding rank choice voting and look forward to those continued conversations with residents to gauge a sense of the desires of Ward 2 residents particularly. We must do whatever is within our power to increase voter turnout in Salem which, as stated in my 2021 responses, should include expanded transportation options on election day which I will continue to advocate for.
Learn more
Campaign Website: www.carolineforsalem.com
Campaign Email: carolineforsalem@gmail.com
Social Media: Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/carolineforsalem/), Instagram (@carolineforsalem)