Lorraine Wheeler

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Lorraine Wheeler

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

September 14, 2021

Education

Bachelor's

Boston University, 1980

Law

Suffolk University, 2003

Other

Boston University, 1998

Personal

Birthplace

Boston, Mass.

Religion

Christian

Profession

Attorney

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

Lorraine Wheeler ran for election to the Boston City Council to represent District 7 in Massachusetts. She lost in the primary on September 14, 2021.

Wheeler completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Lorraine Wheeler was born in Boston, Massachusetts. She earned a bachelor's degree from Boston University in 1980 and a J.D. from Suffolk University in 2003. Wheeler's career experience includes working as an attorney.

Elections

2021

See also: City elections in Boston, Massachusetts (2021)

General election

General election for Boston City Council District 7

Tania Anderson defeated Roy Owens in the general election for Boston City Council District 7 on November 2, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Tania Anderson (Nonpartisan)	73.0	7,062
		Roy Owens (Nonpartisan)	26.5	2,562
		Other/Write-in votes	0.5	45

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 9,669
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Boston City Council District 7

The following candidates ran in the primary for Boston City Council District 7 on September 14, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Tania Anderson (Nonpartisan)	26.7	2,038
✔		Roy Owens (Nonpartisan)	17.0	1,300
		Angelina Camacho (Nonpartisan)	16.6	1,263
	Submit photo	Brandy Brooks (Nonpartisan)	9.8	747
		Lorraine Wheeler (Nonpartisan)	9.2	703
	Submit photo	Santiago Rivera (Nonpartisan)	7.5	570
	Submit photo	Marisa Luse (Nonpartisan)	7.2	552
		Joao DePina (Nonpartisan)	5.4	410
		Other/Write-in votes	0.6	43

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 7,626
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2021

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Lorraine Wheeler completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Wheeler's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Lorraine is a lawyer, community advocate and leader. She attended Boston University & Suffolk Law School. She has a graduate degree in Urban Affairs and Planning. For the last 10 years she has worked tirelessly in Roxbury to assist her neighbors with issues confronting a majority Black community facing displacement. She serves on the boards of youth organizations as well as community development organizations. An award for community engagement was named in her honor by the Boys and Girls Club of Roxbury. Mayor Walsh appointed Lorraine to the Roxbury Strategic Master Plan Oversight Commission. Lorraine worked for over twenty years in the nonprofit sector in public health. Lorraine is married and the mother of a son and step-daughter.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Lack of affordable housing creates a cost burden in District 7 and across Boston.
• Public Health solutions are lacking for a host of problems impacting residents.
• Economic disparity, unemployment and too few opportunities are issues.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am interested in alleviating the high burden of housing cost. There are many ways to help families that are struggling; these include rent control, other subsidies, land trusts, etc. Identifying long term solutions is important to me.

I am interested in the transition from high school to the workforce. We have to do more to reach students eligible to enroll in college classes in high school. The program builds confidence in kids from low income families who do not believe a college degree is an achievable goal.

Providing opportunities that give voice to District 7 residents. That is the experience I bring to the race for District 7 from being one of the founders of a neighborhood association.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

People are strongly impacted by municipal government. When it works well, it can improve their lives, When it doesn’t , people lose hope and give up on civic involvement.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Most recently I have been watching Stacy Abrams and admire her. She is qualified and really understands the issues with Georgia politics from working in the state house. After running for Governor, she had national notoriety and might have been part of the Biden cabinet. Instead she worked tirelessly to do the job of registering new voters in George. George was a key state in electing President Biden. I admire her for remaining in Georgia when she could of sought a national position.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

honesty

Integrity
Focus
Legal training

Transparency

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To review and vote on the budget for the City of Boston. To hold hearings to obtain information about city services and planned initiatives. To listen to residents and facilitate bringing the right people together to ameliorate issues of the greatest concern to residents. Also to work on new initiatives and form action committees whether they are related to open space, public art, city owned property, the function of city departments, or quality of life.

What legacy would you like to leave?

To have improved the lives of constituents in District 7 .

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

When Martin Luther King was assassinated, I was too young to understand the importance of the event. While little happened on the street where we lived, we could hear the police and fire trucks close by. The next day the stores in our neighborhood were burned out. Most of those businesses never reopened. As an adult I understand that to many Americans of all races, after Dr. King was killed the era of civil rights activism effectively transitioned.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I worked in a dry cleaners near Berklee college while I was in high school. I spent a lot of time talking to customers and learning about their neighborhood. I met performers like Earth, Wind and Fire and Jeffrey Osborn. I met Reggie Jackson. Everybody needs clean clothes. I closed the business in the evening and balanced the cash tally. I learned that I was scrupulously honest. Once when the store was robbed. I had already taken the cash out of the register and hid it in the shop. The next day I brought the money back to the store and turned it into the owner even though no one would have known.

What is your favorite book? Why?

There are so many good books. I read a lot about community development . Right now I am reading “Race for Profit”, by Keranga-Yamahtta Taylor about how banks undermined Black homeownership. My favorite book is probably, “To Kill A Mockingbird” because it’s a court room drama and the lawyer does right by his client even in the face of public ridicule. I first read the book as a preteen but still think it’s a well written and enjoyable story today,

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

I’d like to be Cookie from Empire , Season 1 when the story line was fresh, she has a great wardrobe, the attitude of a CEO and a beautiful family, what more does anyone need.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Bruno Mars Uptown Funk got stuck in my head. I kept trying to figure out what songs from the 80’s it sounded like.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

My father and my grandfather were both killed in a robbery at my grandfather’s home. To lose two people in your family in a single act of violence is shocking and hard to move on from. As a result, I have developed a resilience and focus . These qualities are good preparation for a political position.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Although people calm city councilors for their problems with basic issues like fireworks, pot holes or rodents. The City Council is legislative.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

No. I believe it’s more beneficial for people to have the training and experience that would allow them to make a difference in the lives of constituents.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

A law degree, urban planning, understanding of the planning function in the City of Boston and the zoning code.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Why did the teddy bear say no to dessert?

He was stuffed

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Candidate

Boston City Council District 7

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