Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

February 24, 2013

Kristen von Hoffmann announces candidacy for Cambridge City Council

Filed under: 2013 Election,Cambridge — Tags: , — Robert Winters @ 2:34 pm

Feb 24, 2013 – Kristen von Hoffmann announces candidacy for Cambridge City Council

Kristen von HoffmannCambridge resident Kristen von Hoffmann has formally announced her candidacy for Cambridge City Council.

Von Hoffmann, who currently works as the Sustainability Manager for the Cambridge Public Schools, plans on bringing her experience in sustainable practices, financial savings, and education to the municipal government.

Kristen previously taught 5th grade for several years in the area and also founded a local 501(c)(3) non-profit, Greenfox Schools, Inc., that has taught environmental science and math curriculums in Cambridge Public Schools. She was hired in 2010 as the first Sustainability Manager for the Cambridge Public School District. Notably, while she has served as Sustainability Manager, initiatives launched by her office saved the school district $300,000 in under two years.

In regards to her campaign, she states, "I look forward to spending this year listening to the residents of Cambridge, engaging in conversations that explore our values, and using our skills and experience together to improve the well-being of our city."

Janie Katz-Christy, Director of the Green Streets Initiative and a local Cambridge parent says, "I’ve known Kristen for many years now, as a colleague and friend, and have been impressed with her effectiveness, intelligence, and ability to collaborate. I am confident she will be a force for the best interests and overall well-being of the City of Cambridge."

Election Day is on Tuesday, November 5th. For more information about Kristen and her campaign, please visit www.kristenforcambridge.com or email info@kristenforcambridge.com.

Kristen’s Candidate Page can be found at http://vote.cambridgecivic.com/vonhoffmann.htm.
All of the announced and prospective candidates can be found on the 2013 Cambridge Candidate Pages.

8 Comments

  1. Don’t know this one at all. On her website she claims that low income housing is on the decline in Cambridge. She must mean areas outside of Area IV, Cambridge Port, North Cambridge, East Cambridge, and other parts of Central Square. I’d love to see the basis for such a claim. Given all these new candidates I’m a curious to see how they will distinguish themselves. I like her track record of saving money as opposed to spending it, which most councilors seem to only know how to do. Where does Hoffman stand on development? K2C2? Substance abuse issues plaguing both Harvard and Central Square? Is she another “occupy” candidate? I don’t think I could stomach another. I think I’m going to need some popcorn for this election cycle.

    Comment by Patrick Barrett — February 24, 2013 @ 5:48 pm

  2. Ms. von Hoffman has, I believe, been on the anti-development bandwagon and has spoken at several public meetings in opposition to the All-Asia block redevelopment. Her rhetoric, if I recall, tends to be more toward the “build only low-income housing in and around Central Square” end of the spectrum. That’s unfortunate.

    Comment by Robert Winters — February 24, 2013 @ 7:03 pm

  3. Terrific. There is another candidate I can’t vote for. When do I get someone rational, knowledgeable, and balanced?

    Comment by Patrick Barrett — February 24, 2013 @ 7:37 pm

  4. What I don’t understand is why so many of the new candidates (and at least one recent incumbent) are competing for the same voters – as if the only people who will vote this November live in Washington Elms, Newtowne Court and elsewhere in and around Area 4. There will likely be in the vicinity of 16,000 people voting this November, more or less, and most of them care little about the issues the new candidates are focusing on. Maybe that will change between now and November. I certainly hope so.

    The way things are heading now, I can see perhaps 5 or 6 out of the apparent 20 candidates all fighting over what might be enough to elect one councillor. That’s usually a good recipe for incumbent reelection since they’re the ones with the greater name recognition.

    The new candidate who will attract my attention will be the one who welcomes residents of all income levels – and not just the ones lining up for subsidized housing.

    Comment by Robert Winters — February 24, 2013 @ 8:17 pm

  5. I was hoping you wouldn’t point that out, I don’t think they’ve realized that yet. On another note I read through the city solicitor’s legal analysis of the Forest City zoning change, and was pleased to see that it read like my Land Use class I’m currently in. I can see my legal education dollars are being well spent.

    Is there a reason, beyond apathy, why so few in Cambridge vote?

    Comment by Patrick Barrett — February 24, 2013 @ 8:21 pm

  6. I’m starting to think that this is the wrong year to be on the sidelines for this race…

    Comment by Joseph Aiello — February 25, 2013 @ 1:09 pm

  7. If you’ve any rational sense about you, you’re needed.

    Comment by patrick barrett — February 27, 2013 @ 4:51 pm

  8. Hello Patrick, Robert, and Joe,

    Thank you for your dialogue above, and for raising such important points. Kristen is both innovative and pragmatic in her approach to municipal policy. I am confident in her ability to implement solutions for the City that will consider both sides of any issue and that will benefit residents and businesses alike. She has proven herself time and time again in her work prior to now. As a manager for the school district, Kristen has saved over $300,000 and has facilitated numerous projects and initiatives that have streamlined, organized, and achieved specific goals. Kristen is happy to articulate her policy initiatives to you further in person.

    Please feel free to e-mail me at mike@kristenforcambridge.com if you would like to set up a time to meet with Kristen to discuss these issues further.

    Thank You!
    Mike Fox

    Comment by Mike Fox — March 5, 2013 @ 4:44 pm

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