← Cambridge City Council

Cambridge Former City Councilor

Paul Toner

At-large · 2 terms in this record

Paul F. Toner

A monthly email on how they voted, starting in November.

Council terms

2024–2025 Council2022–2023 Council
Election Day · Tuesday, Nov 3

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Record at a glance · 2024–2025 Council

75 of 78meetings attended (96%) · whole council 96%
783votes cast by name (yes, no or abstain)
25no votes (3% of votes cast) · whole council 2%
22 of 59split votes where Toner was in the minority (37%) · whole council 23%
4abstained
2terms in this record

On split votes, Toner voted the same way as…

How these numbers work
  • Counted from the official minutes, for 2024–2025 Council only. Committee meetings and routine votes (adjourning, approving minutes) are not counted.
  • Attendance counts the meetings where the minutes list Toner as present or absent at the start.
  • Only votes the minutes record member by member are counted. Voice votes and votes given only as a count (for example 6-3 with no names) are not.
  • Percentages are shown only when there are at least 10 meetings or votes to count.
  • A split vote is one where at least one member voted yes and another voted no. “In the minority” means on the side with fewer votes; ties are not counted.
  • “Whole council” combines every member’s record for the same term.

These numbers describe the record; they are not a grade. A no vote, an abstention or a minority vote is neither good nor bad. MassVoter never rates officials.

Attendance

At the start of 75 of 78 City Council meetings in 2024–2025 Council.

Missed

Every meeting (78)

Votes where councilors disagreed · 2024–2025 Council

Dec 22That the City Manager is requested to instruct the…Motion: FAILED OF ADOPTION [4-5-0]Failed 4–5 · Toner: No

December 22, 2025: That the City Manager is requested to instruct the Community Development Department to reduce the recommendations for the Massachusetts Avenue subdistrict (MAS-12) from a maximum of 12 stories to...

ApproveFailed · 4–5

FAILED OF ADOPTION [4-5-0]

Voted: No

Yes: Nolan, Siddiqui, Wilson, ZusyNo: Azeem, McGovern, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Toner

From the minutes

“RESULT: FAILED OF ADOPTION [4-5-0] YEAS: Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy NAYS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Mayor Simmons.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 5 (PDF)

Dec 22Ordain: An Ordinance has been received from Interim City…Motion: ORDAINED AS AMENDED BY SUBSTITUTION [6-3-0]Passed 6–3 · Toner: Yes

December 22, 2025: Ordain: An Ordinance has been received from Interim City Clerk Paula M. Crane, relative to amend the Zoning Map and Articles 2.000, 3.000, 4.000, 5.000, 6.000, 11.000 17.000, and 20.000…

ApprovePassed · 6–3

ORDAINED AS AMENDED BY SUBSTITUTION [6-3-0]

Voted: Yes

Yes: Azeem, McGovern, Siddiqui, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, TonerNo: Nolan, Wilson, Zusy

From the minutes

“RESULT: ORDAINED AS AMENDED BY SUBSTITUTION [6-3-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Mayor Simmons NAYS: Councillor Nolan, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 6 (PDF)

Dec 22Resolutions adopted together (11 resolutions, RES 2025 #288 to…Motion: ORDER ADOPTED [9-0-0]Passed Unanimous, 9 present · Toner: Yes

December 22, 2025: Resolutions adopted together (11 resolutions, RES 2025 #288 to RES 2025 #298)

Adopt orderPassed · Unanimous, 9 present

ORDER ADOPTED [9-0-0]

Voted: Yes

The Final Actions record the same result and vote for each of these 11 resolutions (RES 2025 #288, RES 2025 #289, RES 2025 #290, RES 2025 #291, RES 2025 #292, RES 2025 #293, RES 2025 #294, RES 2025 #295, RES 2025 #296, RES 2025 #297, RES 2025 #298); MassVoter lists them as one vote.

From the minutes

“RESULT: ORDER ADOPTED [9-0-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 20 (PDF)

Dec 22Resolutions adopted together (4 resolutions, RES 2025 #300 to…Motion: ORDER ADOPTED [9-0-0]Passed Unanimous, 9 present · Toner: Yes

December 22, 2025: Resolutions adopted together (4 resolutions, RES 2025 #300 to RES 2025 #303)

Adopt orderPassed · Unanimous, 9 present

ORDER ADOPTED [9-0-0]

Voted: Yes

The Final Actions record the same result and vote for each of these 4 resolutions (RES 2025 #300, RES 2025 #301, RES 2025 #302, RES 2025 #303); MassVoter lists them as one vote.

From the minutes

“RESULT: ORDER ADOPTED [9-0-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 23 (PDF)

Dec 15A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative…Motion: APPROVED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1]Passed Unanimous, 8 present · Toner: Yes

December 15, 2025: A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of four (4) members to the Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD).

Confirm appointmentPassed · Unanimous, 8 present

APPROVED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1]

Voted: Yes

Burhan Azeem is listed as absent for this vote.

From the minutes

“RESULT: APPROVED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1] YEAS: Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho- Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons ABSENT: Councillor Azeem.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 2 (PDF)

Dec 15A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative…Motion: APPROVED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1]Passed Unanimous, 8 present · Toner: Yes

December 15, 2025: A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of the following people as members of the BEUDO Review Board.

Confirm appointmentPassed · Unanimous, 8 present

APPROVED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1]

Voted: Yes

Burhan Azeem is listed as absent for this vote.

From the minutes

“RESULT: APPROVED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1] YEAS: Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho- Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons ABSENT: Councillor Azeem.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 2 (PDF)

Dec 15Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to…Motion: ORDER ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1]Passed Unanimous, 8 present · Toner: Yes

December 15, 2025: Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $935,497.00 to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Salary and Wages account ($67,493.00), to the Grant...

Adopt orderPassed · Unanimous, 8 present

ORDER ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1]

Voted: Yes

Burhan Azeem is listed as absent for this vote.

From the minutes

“RESULT: ORDER ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1] YEAS: Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho- Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons ABSENT: Councillor Azeem.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 5 (PDF)

Dec 15Cancellation of the December 29, 2025 City Council MeetingMotion: ORDER ADOPTED [8-0-1]Passed Unanimous, 8 present · Toner: Yes

December 15, 2025: Cancellation of the December 29, 2025 City Council Meeting.

Adopt orderPassed · Unanimous, 8 present

ORDER ADOPTED [8-0-1]

Voted: Yes

Burhan Azeem is listed as absent for this vote.

From the minutes

“RESULT: ORDER ADOPTED [8-0-1] YEAS: Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho- Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons ABSENT: Councillor Azeem.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 6 (PDF)

Dec 15That the City Manager is requested to instruct the…Motion: ORDER ADOPTED [7-1-1]Passed 7–1 · Toner: Yes

December 15, 2025: That the City Manager is requested to instruct the Community Development Department to reduce the recommendations for the Inman Square zoning sub-district (CAM-10) from a maximum of 10 stories to...

Adopt orderPassed · 7–1

ORDER ADOPTED [7-1-1]

Voted: Yes

Yes: McGovern, Nolan, Siddiqui, Simmons, Toner, Wilson, ZusyNo: Sobrinho-WheelerBurhan Azeem is listed as absent for this vote.

From the minutes

“RESULT: ORDER ADOPTED [7-1-1] YEAS: Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons NAYS: Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler ABSENT: Councillor Azeem.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 7 (PDF)

Dec 15An application was received from Brian Chipman representing Curie.Bio,…Motion: ORDER ADOPTED [7-0-2]Passed 7–0 · Toner: Yes

December 15, 2025: An application was received from Brian Chipman representing Curie.Bio, requesting permission for two (2) projecting blade signs at the premises numbered 196 Broadway approval has been received...

Adopt orderPassed · 7–0

ORDER ADOPTED [7-0-2]

Voted: Yes

Yes: Nolan, Siddiqui, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Toner, Wilson, ZusyBurhan Azeem and Marc McGovern are listed as absent for this vote.

From the minutes

“RESULT: ORDER ADOPTED [7-0-2] YEAS: Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons ABSENT: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 9 (PDF)

Votes with no disagreement (482)

    From the Cambridge City Council’s official Final Actions, posted by the City Clerk on the city’s meeting portal (and, for meetings before late January 2026, the Open Meeting Portal), linked from the City Council page. We check every vote against the councillors present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Councillor photos: City of Cambridge (cambridgema.gov), from the official headshots on each councillor’s City Council page. Former councillors show initials.

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