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A FUTURE  FOR ALL OF GLOUCESTER

Your Voice Matters in Gloucester. Barnaby will offer a pragmatic, realistic, rational voice to the council

for all of Gloucester.

Join Barnaby Prendergast in advocating for a better Gloucester. Your involvement can spark change and improve our community for everyone.

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Contact me:  barnaby.prendergast@gmail.com

As a longtime Gloucester resident and father, I'm running for City Council because our community deserves pragmatic leadership that puts results over ideology.

 

My background brings something of a unique perspective to local government. After studying law at the University of Westminster, working in technology London and union leadership for the International Planned Parenthood Federation, I came to Gloucester in 2006 when my wife (we are now separated) was offered a position in Boston.

 

We chose to make Gloucester our permanent home because of its strong community spirit and maritime heritage. All my life I have had family in Massachusetts (distant cousins came to Cape Ann in 1638); my first-cousins-once-removed were born just a few hundred feet from Stage Fort Park and now attend Gloucester public Schools.

 

For nearly two decades, I've been deeply invested in this community.

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I've volunteered in our schools as both a classroom parent-aide and librarian, worked as a sternman on local fishing vessels, recently served the city on its Clean Commission, and raised my daughter here—she's a proud graduate of East Gloucester Elementary school.

 

I was in the very fortunate position of being able to volunteer as a stay-at-home Dad; and as someone who had that role I am acutely aware of the importance both of parenting and parental contribution to our children’s education.

 

Even when work temporarily took us to Florida, we knew Gloucester was home and returned as soon as possible.

 

My professional experience in union negotiation taught me that effective representation means listening to all voices, even those you disagree with.

 

Everyone deserves to be heard in the decision-making process.

 

Having managed global IT operations for an international organization and negotiated complex commercial agreements in multiple countries, I have insight on both the technical challenges of governance and management, and the importance of building consensus among parties with different interests.

 

Housing is one of our most critical challenges, affecting everything from our economy to our schools.

 

Prices are too high, inventory is too low and there is a huge gap in availability for anything between Affordable Housing and properties costing close to a million dollars (and even the existing Affordable Housing is often not affordable enough).

 

I've been advocating for practical housing solutions for years because I know that addressing this crisis requires careful work within existing legal and budgetary constraints—or working through proper channels to change those constraints.

 

I believe in pragmatic, honest and transparent governance.

 

Water systems, sidewalks, and public safety don't care about political ideology—we need practical, viable solutions to issues, and forward-looking planning to prepare for future challenges.

 

As an At-Large councilor, I would represent every resident of Gloucester equally, whether supporter or not, housed or unhoused, young or old, Gloucester native or newcomer.

 

Gloucester deserves leadership that combines broad experience from a range of situations, is passionate about the wellbeing of all of its residents, is pragmatic about what we are able to achieve with available resources and with genuine commitment to our community.

 

'm not here to make promises that can't be kept, but I will try my best to serve the people of Gloucester honestly and well.

 

That's what I'm offering.

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