Councilor Lance Davis

Read the complete text of Councilor Davis's 2026 Inauguration Speech below. 

2026 Inauguration Speech

Good evening, everyone.

Before I begin, I should offer a small disclosure.

My kids told me, in no uncertain terms, that if this speech goes one second over ten minutes, they are going to throw tomatoes at me.

And I noticed that they stopped at Neighborhood Produce on the way here so, for everyone’s safety, let’s get on with it!

Thank you all for being here tonight… friends, neighbors, city staff, and members of the Somerville community.

Thank you to our interpreters for the evening, our wonderful performers, our state delegation, Governor Healy and Phil Eng, my colleagues on the City Council and the School Committee, and of course, Mayor Wilson.

I am deeply honored to stand before you as President of the Somerville City Council.

This role is both a privilege and a responsibility, and I take it on with gratitude for the work of my predecessors, the support and expectations of my colleagues, and optimism for what lies ahead.

I got a sneak peak at the Mayor’s speech that you’ll hear in a few moments and I can tell you that, in addition to being very well written, it is chock full of policy issues, and I agree with every one of them.

So, rather than providing my own recitation, I’m going to stick to some more wonky things that might not seem as exciting, but I assure you are equally important in our ability to serve you, the people of Somerville. And I promise I’ll keep it short!

So, tonight, I will highlight three things.

First, the new era we are entering as a city under our newly adopted City Charter and a new administration. 

Second, how the City Council is strengthening and streamlining the way it does its work.

And third, our continued commitment to addressing the immense challenges facing our community.

Today, we are truly at the beginning of a new chapter in Somerville’s history.

This fall, Somerville voters made an important and historic decision by passing a new City Charter.

That vote was not just about updating a woefully outdated document. It was about affirming our shared values as a city. It reflects a belief that government should be transparent, accountable, and structured to serve the public effectively.

Our new Charter brings into better balance the powers of the legislative and executive branches.

It clarifies roles, strengthens oversight, and modernizes the framework through which decisions are made.

These changes matter because good policy depends on good systems.

At the same time, we are welcoming a new administration under Mayor Wilson.

I am excited about the opportunity this presents and not only because, for what I have to assume is the first time in Somerville’s history, both the Mayor and City Council President were born in Minnesota. So if you notice your city leaders suddenly acting extremely polite, deeply practical, and unwilling to brag about anything, now you’ll understand why. But don’t worry, the reception tonight will feature more than just hotdish.

Mayor Wilson, looks like you were right that you and I would be the only ones who got that joke!

I am incredibly excited to work with Mayor Wilson. Not only because he is a good friend but because we’re going to reset how the City Council and the Mayor’s office work together.

Under the new Charter and with a new administration, we have a real opportunity to reinvent that relationship. We are committed to building a partnership defined by open communication, mutual respect, and collaboration.

That doesn’t mean there won’t be disagreement… there will be and there should be. Healthy debate is essential to democracy and a strong City Council must be independent, thoughtful, and willing to ask hard questions. 

But it does mean that we approach our work with a shared understanding that we are all here for the same reason: to serve the people of Somerville.

Together, we anticipate an unprecedented level of cooperation and coordination. We will share information earlier, engage more often, and work collaboratively to move ideas from vision to implementation.

Our goal is simple: a city government that works better, works smarter, and works for everyone.

Second, (and here’s where we get into the really dull process stuff that I absolutely love…) the City Council is taking concrete steps to improve how we do our own work.

In December, the Council voted to consolidate our committees, an important and deliberate decision. We now have ten standing committees, each with a clearer scope and purpose.

This change may sound procedural, but its impact is very real. It will make committee meetings easier to schedule and easier for the public to follow.

It will allow issues to be discussed promptly, rather than waiting weeks or even months for a committee to convene. And it will help ensure that legislation moves through the process in a more timely and transparent manner.

Equally important, this consolidation reduces the burden on city staff. Our council and administration staff members are essential partners in the work of the City Council. By streamlining committee structures, we are being better stewards of their time and expertise, allowing them to focus on delivering services and supporting thoughtful policymaking.

Streamlining our operations is about respect: respect for residents who want action, respect for Councilors who want meaningful deliberation, and respect for staff who make the work of this city possible.

Third, and most critically, we will continue to confront the immense challenges facing our city, not the least of which is housing affordability.

Somerville’s success as a city has brought energy, opportunity, and growth, but it has also brought rising housing costs that threaten the diversity that defines our community.

If we want Somerville to remain a place where families can stay, and artists can thrive; where workers can live near their jobs, and where seniors can age in place, we must act.

The City Council will continue its work developing options to upzone areas of the city to allow more housing to be built, particularly around T stations and transit corridors.

Thoughtful, transit-oriented development allows us to add housing while reducing car dependency, supporting climate goals, and strengthening our commercial squares.

At the same time, we will work closely with the Administration to incentivize the construction of affordable housing.

That means using a full range of tools including financing mechanisms, zoning strategies, and policy innovations, to achieve even higher percentages of affordable units than the already required 20%.

This work is complex. There are no easy solutions, and no single policy will solve the problem. But complexity is not an excuse for inaction.

We are committed to being persistent, creative, and collaborative… because housing affordability is not just a policy issue, it is a moral one… It is about whether Somerville remains a city for everyone.

In closing, I want to express my sincere gratitude:

To my fellow Councilors, thank you for your partnership and dedication.

To Mayor Wilson, I look forward to working closely together.

To our city staff, thank you for the professionalism and commitment that keep this city running every day.

And to the residents of Somerville, thank you… for your engagement, your advocacy, and your belief in this community.

Somerville has always been a city that embraces change while holding fast to its values.

I am optimistic about what we can accomplish together in this new era, and proud to play a small part in it.

And with that, I believe I am still safely under ten minutes. Which means the tomatoes are still very much out there. So to the next speakers: you’ve been warned.

Thank you all very much.