Which Boston mayoral candidate do you align with most? Take our quiz
After landing the top two spots in the Sept. 14 preliminary election, City Councilors Annissa Essaibi George and Michelle Wu will now compete in the Nov. 2 general election to become Boston’s next mayor.
While their views on several issues seem similar, the candidates come from diverse backgrounds and bring different perspectives. The Globe asked each of them to respond to a list of questions on an array of policy topics. Want to see who you agree with the most? Take the quiz to meet your match.
↘ Question 1 of 22:
Imagine the city has just received an unexpected financial windfall. The funding can only be directed to a single policy area. What would you want the mayor to do with the money?
Candidates who agree with you:
Essaibi George: The pandemic has shined a bright light on the disparities that exist across the City of Boston. As Mayor, I would use this funding to invest in equity programs across a broad spectrum of issues, including housing, education, healthcare and transportation to truly rebuild a better, more just Boston for all.
↘ Question 2 of 22:
If one of these officials were to endorse a candidate for mayor, whose support would mean more to you?
Candidates who agree with you:
Essaibi George: I have personal relationships with both Congresswoman Pressley and Secretary Walsh and would appreciate the opportunity to explain to residents why I would value both of their endorsements.
↘ Question 3 of 22:
Do you think the mayor should mandate more affordable housing contributions from developers, beyond what the city already requires?
Candidates who agree with you:
↘ Question 4 of 22:
If Massachusetts were to once again allow cities to enact rent control, should the mayor do so in Boston? Read more about this topic.
Candidates who agree with you:
Wu: Boston’s housing crisis, exacerbated by an unreliable transportation system, continues to destabilize communities, deepen racial inequities, and threaten economic vitality. My housing agenda calls for increasing housing supply through leveraging federal relief funds, city-owned land, zoning reform, and local resources. At the same time, we must stabilize residents and communities. Rent control or stabilization does not generate more housing, but these policy tools can be deployed through a targeted and intentional approach, in conjunction with a larger housing strategy, to provide emergency relief for the displacement crisis.
↘ Question 5 of 22:
Should the city allow Amazon to build a distribution center at Widett Circle, a high-profile piece of real estate in an industrial area between South Boston and the Southeast Expressway? Read more about this topic.
Candidates who agree with you:
↘ Question 6 of 22:
Once considered for an Olympic stadium and then a mixed-use site that would serve as a gateway to the city, Widett Circle is now under consideration for an Amazon distribution center. What plan would you like to see for the 20-acre site? Read more about this topic.
Candidates who agree with you:
Wu: It is a rare opportunity in Boston for a large parcel of land to include substantial public sector ownership. Before committing to specific uses, the redevelopment of Widett Circle should integrate a plan across city, state, and private ownership in the context of our regional housing and economic development needs, climate resiliency, and the highest and best use of public land.
↘ Question 7 of 22:
Do you think the city should rebuild the Long Island Bridge, which was abruptly closed in 2014 because it was deemed unsafe, to develop a recovery campus on the island in Boston Harbor? Read more about this topic.
Candidates who agree with you:
Wu: Regarding the Long Island Bridge, I’m focused on solutions we will deliver in the four-year term I’m seeking. Rather than continue deflecting responsibility through waiting for years of litigation and costly construction of a major infrastructure project in an ever more climate-volatile open ocean, we should redirect those resources to retrofitting and building supportive housing on city-owned property, create a real plan for ferry access to the island, and invest in access to treatment through community health centers and regional coordination.
↘ Question 8 of 22:
Many of the concerns of residents in the area of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard are based on the concentration of so many addiction treatment providers in one area. Do you support relocating programs to other neighborhoods? Read more about this topic.
Amid calls for policing reform and reducing police overtime spending, what strategy would you like the next mayor to take?
Candidates who agree with you:
Essaibi George: To decrease our police budget and actually cut down on paying our police officers overtime, we have to hire more officers. We can be both safe and just—these things are not mutually exclusive—and as Mayor, I will push for critical reforms in the Police Department to ensure Boston consistently lives up to its recognition as a leader in community policing.
Would you support the creation of additional charter schools in Boston?
Candidates who agree with you:
↘ Question 16 of 22:
Do you think the mayor should replace the current schools superintendent, given the high rate of turnover in that position in recent years? Read more about this topic.
Candidates who agree with you:
↘ Question 17 of 22:
At what age would you support fully funded, universal preschool?
Candidates who agree with you:
↘ Question 18 of 22:
Should school committee members be elected by the public or appointed by the mayor?
Candidates who agree with you:
↘ Question 19 of 22:
Should Madison Park, the city’s only technical school, become autonomous or remain part of the Boston Public Schools system? Read more about this topic.
Candidates who agree with you:
↘ Question 20 of 22:
Would you support an effort to amend the city charter, which establishes a strong mayor form of government, to give the City Council more authority in the city budget decisions?
Candidates who agree with you:
↘ Question 21 of 22:
Should the mayor keep or eliminate the Boston Planning & Development Agency, the agency that referees development in the city, but has been criticized for having too much power? Read more about this topic.
Candidates who agree with you:
Essaibi George: As Mayor, I intend to create a planning office separate from the Boston Planning & Development Agency.
Wu: We should establish a separate planning agency to undertake citywide planning and update our zoning code to match community needs for affordability, climate resiliency, and transportation access.
Here are the candidates in order of who you matched with the most. You can see how they answered each question by scrolling up to the question or clicking on a policy topic. Toggle your answers and see how the matching order changes.
0% match
Best Match (Tied)0 out of 0 questions
Michelle Wu
Boston City Councilor
The first woman of color to serve as council president, City Councilor Wu is pledging to tackle the widening gap between the city’s rich and poor.
0% match
Best Match (Tied)0 out of 0 questions
Annissa Essaibi George
Boston City Councilor
The at-large city councilor known for her advocacy around mental health and homelessness, is promising a more centrist approach to issues like police reform, compared to her rivals.
The Globe presented the survey to all the major candidates in late June, and responses were returned by early July. Each candidate was afforded limited space to elaborate on any of the questions to add context. Those responses were edited for space.
