Woburn City Council President Mike Concannon to Run for Mayor

Written by: Dan Shalin — Patch Staff

WOBURN, MA — Touting a "track record of solid and successful leadership," Woburn City Council President Mike Concannon announced last week that he plans to run for Woburn mayor this fall.

Concannon, who has served as a councilor at large on the Woburn City Council for 10 years and president for the last two, can officially begin pulling nomination papers on May 1. The election, for a two-year term, is scheduled for Nov. 7.

Last month, longtime Mayor Scott Galvin announced that he will seek an eighth term this fall. Omar Mohuddin, a 19-year-old first-year college student, also has announced his intention to run.

Now, Concannon said "it is time" for him to join the race.

"It is time for me, both personally and professionally, to step up to offer to lead our community," Concannon said. "I believe that my cumulative personal and professional life experiences, as well as my 10 years on the City Council, serving as president the past two years, have prepared me to take the next step. I also believe that it is time for our city to move forward and for us to foster a more collaborative approach to city government."

A lifelong resident of Woburn, Concannon spent 26 years as a Massachusetts State Police major, served as a professor at UMass Lowell for 10 years and is currently a licensed attorney and a safety and compliance professional in the private sector.

Concannon is a father of five and said he's been an active parent in local schools and sports. He is a longtime member and past president of the Woburn Host Lions Club, where he helped to establish Lions Park at Horn Pond.

In a letter announcing his entry into the race, Concannon asked residents for their support based on his track record on the City Council and the experience and knowledge he has gained while serving on that legislative body.

"When I first ran for public office, I pledged to use my life experiences to bring a positive, respectful and cooperative approach to addressing the issues facing our city … so that we could keep our city affordable, desirable, and safe," Concannon wrote. "I am gratified and thankful for your previous support and I believe, and I hope that you agree that I've done what I said I would do. Therefore, I ask for your support once again as I try to bring that same professional approach to serving as your next mayor."

While on the City Council, Concannon has served as the chairman of the Finance Committee, the liaison to the School Committee and as a member of the Ordinance Committee, Public Safety and License Committee, Personnel Committee, Audits and Accounts Committee, and Traffic Commission.

"I am keenly aware of the important issues facing our city and I have developed strong relationships with our city's department heads, administrators and employees," Concannon wrote.

Concannon said that during his time in city politics, he's always been guided by certain core beliefs.

"I believe in public service as a calling and in the spirit of the citizen representative, and not the career politician. I also believe in being extremely careful with the people's money, and never forgetting that it is, in fact, the people's money," Concannon said.

Concannon continued: "I believe in maintaining a low tax burden and a high level of city services, in fostering a strong sense of a welcoming community, in the undeniable value of education, in ensuring the safety of all of Woburn's citizens, in a balanced approach to development, and in a respectful and supportive approach to leading our city's workforce and conducting the people's business."

In his campaign announcement, Concannon drew a distinction between managers and leaders.

"It has been said that 'managers manage things, while leaders lead people,'" he wrote. "The position of mayor is all about leading people. I believe that simply managing to the bottom line is not enough. Leadership is what is needed for our city at this time, and I believe strongly that I have demonstrated a track record of solid and successful leadership."