Jackie Carvey

Email

jackiecarveyforquincy@gmail.com

Website and/or Social Media Links

Website: https://www.jackiecarveyforquincy.org/

Instagram: @jackiecarveyforquincy

Why do you believe you are the best candidate to represent Quincy residents at this time? 

Quincy’s governing bodies need more diverse representation that accurately reflects its constituency to effectively serve all residents. We have a council with a breadth of experience and not much turnover. I believe the addition of newer voices like mine will elevate the council. My lived experience as a transplant, former educator, renter, woman, and person of color provides a unique combination of fresh and relatable perspectives that will enhance the discourse within the council and will contribute to an increase in civic engagement. I am a skilled and detailed creative problem-solver thanks to my experience as a music educator. Through teaching, I saw firsthand the positive impact of appropriately allocated taxpayer funds. I will take the budgetary responsibilities of this role very seriously and will vote with constituent feedback and measured outcomes in mind. I value direct, clear communication, believe that our residents feel similarly, and will meet people where they are to ensure they feel heard.

What three issues are you most concerned about, and if elected, how will you address them?

There are three areas of growth I would like to address if elected: awareness of constituent resources, a stronger understanding of budgetary measures, and increased face-to-face opportunities with elected officials.

A resident’s first stop should be the city’s website or City Hall to find out about what’s happening in their neighborhood. That starts with your local elected officials providing updated information about city and ward-specific civic groups, committees, and meetings. As Councillor at Large, I will advocate for residents by coordinating with the other councillors and adjacent city offices to work toward updating this information regularly. Our city boasts a wealth of resources to support its residents, and I want more residents to take advantage of them. When people are looking for information and are met with radio silence or additional barriers, it can be very discouraging to keep trying. I will collaborate with our Office of Constituent Services and our Community Liaison to optimize awareness of city resources.

I will employ a solution-focused approach to engaging in discourse with colleagues around legislation and expenditures. Residents must be presented with clear information around the budget to help them understand which line items are decided upon by the Council and which ones are solely under the Mayor’s jurisdiction. Throughout this campaign, I have learned more about how our city government works, and I want to pass this information along to residents so that they feel empowered, not disenfranchised.

I will host monthly coffee talks or “office hours”, rotating wards and meeting times to provide equitable access for residents to meet with me. I will offer alternate times to meet if a resident or group is unable to speak during a public hearing at a council meeting. I will make adjustments to the coffee talk schedule as necessary to optimize participation. In addition to collaborating with our team of council colleagues, I will work to ensure your concerns are heard by the appropriate point person. Lastly, I will offer to co-host project-specific meetings to support Ward Councillors as they help residents access information related to pending zone and/or planning hearings.

If elected, what steps will you take to ensure responsiveness and clear communication between you and the Quincy community?

I will prioritize communication with residents by holding regular office hours, sending out a monthly newsletter, and supporting Ward Councillors by co-hosting meetings when appropriate.

What do you plan to do about Quincy’s $1.6 billion debt? 

While the funds for FY26 have been allocated through June 30 of next year, I will work with my colleagues to address budget issues within the purview of the council. Like many people, I have concerns about the deficit and its impact on Quincy residents, particularly those facing economic challenges exacerbated by our current national inflation rate of 2.7% (as of June 2025). There are many pathways to harm reduction, which could look like reallocation of funds or renegotiating contracts. What is crucial in addressing the deficit throughout this fiscal year is building public trust through transparency, clear communication, and measured, thoughtful decision-making by elected officials.

What do you think is the most important role of being a City Councillor? 

On paper, the role of a councillor is primarily budgetary. Aside from legislative work, I believe the most important job a Councillor can do is to advocate for citizens in this front-facing role by making them feel heard and seen through consistent communication.

What will you do to increase civic participation and voter turnout in Quincy? 

Through increased community engagement and accessibility efforts to make residents more aware of meetings and events, I believe that civic participation will increase. People tend to show up when they believe they’re valued and that their voice matters.

Will you advocate for the City Council to allow the opportunity for public comment at every City Council meeting?

Yes