Tarik Lucas
2021 Candidate for Councilor at Large, Ward 2
Campaign Website: https://www.teamtarik.org
Biographical statementI grew up in Brookline and graduated from Brookline High School. In 2004 I earned a Bachelors degree from Springfield College in Business Management. I have been employed at Harvard University Press as a Royalty Specialist since 2008. I am also a soccer and basketball referee.
Questions and Answers
Question 1: What in your background prepares you to be effective in the political office you are seeking?
Before I was elected to the Newton City Council, I served as a Newtonville Area Councilor for 2 years, including 1 year as the vice-president of the Newtonville Area Council. I was also an appointed member of the Newtonville Historic District Commission from 2018-2021. Prior to that, I worked on the No on Charter campaign in 2017, which preserved local representation in Newton in the form of Ward Councilors.
Question 2: If you're elected, what will be your first priority? Why? How will you address your priority?
As a soccer referee, I have traveled around the greater Boston Area over the past 2 decades and I have seen many athletic facilities. Newton’s athletic fields and parks are not in great shape. I would like to work with our Park, Recreation, and Culture Department, plus the many Friends of groups in Newton to help get our parks back where they need to be. Newton needs a better plan to manage our playing fields, so that our children have ample time to enjoy sports and recreation in a safe environment.
Question 3: Please explain what diversity, equity, and inclusion mean to you. Why these are important to Newton?
To me diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) means that every person, regardless of their race, religion, gender, sex, or national origin is treated with respect. DEI also means that regardless of one’s political views, that person should also feel welcome and have a seat at the table. These are important to me, because when I first ran for office in 2019, people thought when I was canvassing, I was running for City Council in Boston. I didn’t get mad, I just thought that we have more work to do.