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When it comes to grassroots campaigns this election season, you can’t get more grassroots than James “Jake” Seibel’s run for the 35th Middlesex District seat.
In fact, it’s a one man show. No committee. No war chest. Not even a campaign manager. All those signs, flyers and other campaign paraphernalia? Out-of-pocket.
“I am not a politician,” Seibel said, sitting at the Panera on Riverside Avenue on a recent evening. “I’m just someone who genuinely cares about what happens in my community. When I talk about accountability and transparency, that’s who I am in a nutshell.
“If I don’t know something, I will tell you I don’t know, and then I will go find out and tell you,” he continued. “I just want people to stop being so political in their answers. Just tell me the truth and I, in turn, will be honest with you.”
Seibel, who is the Republican challenging State Rep. Paul Donato, is a newcomer to Medford. He’s lived in the city about a year, having moved into a house on Fulton Street with his wife, Natalie, and their Burmese mountain dog, Dennis.
In fact, it was Dennis who got the couple to Medford. Sort of.
“We were living in Charlestown and we needed some more room, living with a Burmese mountain dog,” Seibel said. “A buddy of mine is from Medford and we looked here. Something popped up and we went for it.”
Settling into the city, Seibel was looking for something to do, some way to contribute to his new community. After all, back when he was living in Baltimore, Seibel coached U10 youth hockey and was about to involve himself with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America before moving back to the greater Boston area for a job.
“I’ve always felt a need to do more and to give back,” he said. “I have a great family, people I can look up to, good people who care about their communities. I was looking for some way to get involved.”
He called the Massachusetts GOP.
“They asked me if I wanted to run,” Seibel said, of how he got involved in the 35th race. “I talked with Paul Donato. Even though we agreed on a lot of things and I respect him, he has been there a really long time.”
Donato has occupied the seat since 2001.
In March, Seibel officially threw his name into the race. He said it was tough going, getting the 150 signatures of registered Republicans in the district.
The 35th Middlesex District consists of:
- Malden: Ward 1; Ward 3 – Precincts 1A and 3; Ward 7 – Precincts 1 and 3A
- Medford: Ward 1; Ward 2; Ward 3 – Precinct 1; Ward 6 – Precinct 2A; Ward 7 – Precinct 2; and Ward 8 – Precinct 1
“There’s not a lot of Republicans out there,” Seibel said. “But I did it! I got approved in June.”
Then he got married in August. Seibel said it’s only since September that he’s been hitting the pavement, knocking on doors and talking to the district’s constituents.
After all, neither he nor Donato had a challenger in their respective parties for the September primary.
But now it’s pedal to the metal.
Seibel said transparency and accountability are the linchpin of his campaign. And he points to the ongoing battle between State Auditor Diana DiZoglio and the legislature as a prime example of what’s wrong with state government.
In 2024, about 72% of Massachusetts voters approved Question 1, which allowed the state auditor to audit the legislature. Since then, House and Senate leaders have fought the measure, with the House this June passing a bill that would limit an audit to “administrative functions” and setting specific records requests.
“If we all voted to have an audit of the Legislature, we all deserve that audit,” Seibel said. “I advise that everyone looks up their state representatives and ask how they voted on the recent measure and why.”
Donato voted yes on House bill H5469, the bill to limit the scope of the audit.
Seibel said he’d also target the cost of energy and high taxes, if elected.
“When I’m walking around, people always tell me they can’t afford their energy bills,” he said. “Older people tell me they can’t afford to live in their houses because their property taxes are going up.”
He said he’s looked at Medford’s tax rates and seen the actual rates going down but assessments going up.
“I respect all the people in Medford who have lived here their whole lives and who still want to be here but can’t afford to live in their homes,” Seibel said. “I could blame the administration that’s in office, but somehow other states [keep taxes low]. But we live in one of the most expensive states in the country.”
Seibel said that’s why his focus is on affordability, accountability, and transparency. He added he wants to see real change.
“If I’m elected, I want to go to the state and try to make a difference,” he said. “If you like how things are going in Medford, then you have a guy for that. If you want something different, you have the opportunity to vote for that in the general election.”
It’s the first time in 16 years Donato is facing an opponent in the November general election, Seibel said, although he’s faced several challengers in primaries.
Seibel said he’s called Donato and asked him to go on Medford Happenings with John Petrella, not to debate, but just to talk.
“I thought we should talk about Medford and what things look like,” Seibel said. “He told me I should go on the show but he wouldn’t be joining me.”
But not in a mean or crass or condescending way, Seibel added.
“Actually, he told me that if I do win, he would gladly give me his advice and counsel and that if he won, he would still like me to be involved,” Seibel said.
That sort of cooperation among parties is something that appeals to Seibel in a country that finds itself divided.
“If I could do anything in politics, I would do something that shows how much I care about this country, this state and this community I live in,” he said. “I once heard someone say that there’s no right or wrong in politics, just trade-offs. Today, you’re either good or evil. and we need to get away from that."
“We need more people who are in the middle,” Seibel continued. “Most Americans, I think, sit in the middle. Just because I’m running as a Republican, I hope people don’t write me off. I don’t think it matters if you’re a Democrat or Republican, just that you care about your community. And I do.”
