Candidate brings young perspective
Derek Hawkins
Issue date: 10/22/07 Section: News
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Matt Geary, like any of his peers at UMass-Boston, misses the occasional class. His professors, however, have learned to be forgiving: This fall, Geary is running for one of four at-large seats on Boston's City Council.
At 22 years old, Geary is the youngest person in the nine-candidate field, as well as the only student. The next youngest candidate, Marty Hogan, is 28.
For Geary, the age difference is an asset.
"Being young gives me a very unique perspective and helps me," he said. "Young people, especially students, are criticized for not being involved, so when people see a 22-year-old, they're usually prepared to hear something different."
Geary's youth isn't the only characteristic that separates him from his opponents. He's also the first person to run for City Council as a member of Socialist Alternative, a national nonprofit organization that promotes democratic socialism.
Last spring, after several months of deliberations, Boston's two chapters of Socialist Alternative selected Geary to enter the race on the organization's behalf. In May, he collected the 500 signatures required to enter the race and has been campaigning alongside candidates more than twice his age ever since.
"I think I'm going to surprise a lot of people, including the incumbents," Geary said. "As tough as it's been, it has only motivated me to burn the candle at both ends."
Geary's campaign has not been without setbacks. He's running on a budget of less than $4,000 in a field where some candidates' financial figures rank in the hundreds of thousands.
"The biggest obstacle we've faced has been a lack of resources," said Jesse Lessinger, Geary's campaign manager.
Geary said the campaign has also had its highlights, one of which came with a July 2 article in the Boston Globe.
According to, the article a quirk in Boston's electoral law would require the city to hold a preliminary election for City Council in September, to narrow the field by a single candidate. The primary, it said, would cost the city as much as $750,000.
At 22 years old, Geary is the youngest person in the nine-candidate field, as well as the only student. The next youngest candidate, Marty Hogan, is 28.
For Geary, the age difference is an asset.
"Being young gives me a very unique perspective and helps me," he said. "Young people, especially students, are criticized for not being involved, so when people see a 22-year-old, they're usually prepared to hear something different."
Geary's youth isn't the only characteristic that separates him from his opponents. He's also the first person to run for City Council as a member of Socialist Alternative, a national nonprofit organization that promotes democratic socialism.
Last spring, after several months of deliberations, Boston's two chapters of Socialist Alternative selected Geary to enter the race on the organization's behalf. In May, he collected the 500 signatures required to enter the race and has been campaigning alongside candidates more than twice his age ever since.
"I think I'm going to surprise a lot of people, including the incumbents," Geary said. "As tough as it's been, it has only motivated me to burn the candle at both ends."
Geary's campaign has not been without setbacks. He's running on a budget of less than $4,000 in a field where some candidates' financial figures rank in the hundreds of thousands.
"The biggest obstacle we've faced has been a lack of resources," said Jesse Lessinger, Geary's campaign manager.
Geary said the campaign has also had its highlights, one of which came with a July 2 article in the Boston Globe.
According to, the article a quirk in Boston's electoral law would require the city to hold a preliminary election for City Council in September, to narrow the field by a single candidate. The primary, it said, would cost the city as much as $750,000.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
RedNate
posted 11/05/07 @ 6:43 PM EST
Vote Socialist '07 tomorrow!
Tuesday Nov 6
here's where you find you're polling station:
http://www.cityofboston.gov/elections/voter/
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