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Photo of Emily Lazzaro

Medford Vice President

Emily Lazzaro

At-large · 2 terms in this record

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

Council terms

2026–2027 Council2024–2025 Council
Election Day · Tuesday, Nov 3

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Record at a glance · 2024–2025 Council

49 of 49meetings attended (100%) · whole council 97%
336votes cast by name (yes, no or abstain)
15no votes (4% of votes cast) · whole council 4%
6 of 59split votes where Lazzaro was in the minority (10%) · whole council 19%
0abstained
2terms in this record

On split votes, Lazzaro 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 Lazzaro 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.

In the news

No recent stories found that name Emily Lazzaro in the headline or opening.

Stories that name Emily Lazzaro in the headline or opening, newest first, from 25 free news outlets (see the list). Headlines appear as each outlet published them; MassVoter does not write, choose or rate them. Only stories that are free to read are listed.

Disclosure: MassVoter’s founder, Michael Silvia, is the publisher of Fall River Reporter and New Bedford Guide.

Attendance

At the start of 49 of 49 City Council meetings in 2024–2025 Council.

Missed none.

Every meeting (49)

Votes where councilors disagreed · 2024–2025 Council

Dec 16Move to Committee of Whole & receive legal advice…Motion: Councilor Callhan Motioned to Move to Committee of Whole & receive…Passed 5–1 · Lazzaro: No

December 16, 2025: Move to Committee of Whole & receive legal advice from Counsel

ApprovePassed · 5–1

Councilor Callhan Motioned to Move to Committee of Whole & receive legal advice from Counsel (seconded by President Bears) - Approved non unanimously on a Voice vote Five in Favor, One opposed Councilor Lazzaro (Councilor Scarpelli absent)

Voted: No

Yes: Bears, Callahan, Collins, Leming, TsengNo: Lazzaro

From the minutes

“Councilor Callhan Motioned to Move to Committee of Whole & receive legal advice from Counsel (seconded by President Bears) - Approved non unanimously on a Voice vote Five in Favor, One opposed Councilor Lazzaro (Councilor Scarpelli absent).” (Motion: Callahan, second: Bears)

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

Nov 18Not adopt Residential Exemption — Paper 25-159: Legal noticeMotion: Councilor Scarpelli Motioned to not adopt Residential Exemption (seconded by Councilor…Passed 6–1 · Lazzaro: Yes

November 18, 2025: Not adopt Residential Exemption — Paper 25-159: Legal notice

ApprovePassed · 6–1

Councilor Scarpelli Motioned to not adopt Residential Exemption (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a roll call vote of Six in favor, One Opposed (President Bears).

Voted: Yes

Yes: Callahan, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, Scarpelli, TsengNo: BearsThe motion was not to adopt; a yes vote was a vote not to adopt, and the motion carried.

From the minutes

“Councilor Scarpelli Motioned to not adopt Residential Exemption (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a roll call vote of Six in favor, One Opposed (President Bears)..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Lazzaro)

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

Nov 18Not adopt Commercial exemption — Paper 25-159: Legal noticeMotion: Councilor Scarpelli Motioned to not adopt Commercial exemption (seconded by Tseng)…Passed Unanimous, 7 present · Lazzaro: Yes

November 18, 2025: Not adopt Commercial exemption — Paper 25-159: Legal notice

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 7 present

Councilor Scarpelli Motioned to not adopt Commercial exemption (seconded by Tseng) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed

Voted: Yes

The motion was not to adopt; a yes vote was a vote not to adopt, and the motion carried.

From the minutes

“Councilor Scarpelli Motioned to not adopt Commercial exemption (seconded by Tseng) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed.” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Tseng)

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

Nov 12Override the Veto — Paper 25-105: Amended Values Aligned…Motion: Vice President Collins Motioned to Override the Veto (seconded by Councilor…Passed 6–1 · Lazzaro: Yes

November 12, 2025: Override the Veto — Paper 25-105: Amended Values Aligned Local Investments Ordinance The Proposed Medford Values-Aligned Local Investments Ordinance CHAPTER 2

ApprovePassed · 6–1

Vice President Collins Motioned to Override the Veto (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Six in Favor, One opposed (Councilor Scarpelli).

Voted: Yes

Yes: Bears, Callahan, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, TsengNo: Scarpelli

From the minutes

“Vice President Collins Motioned to Override the Veto (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Six in Favor, One opposed (Councilor Scarpelli)..” (Motion: Collins, second: Lazzaro)

Read it in the official minutes, page 12 (PDF)

Sep 30Approve for Third Reading — Paper 25-105: Values-Aligned Local…Motion: Vice President Collins motioned to approve for Third Reading (seconded by…Passed 6–1 · Lazzaro: Yes

September 30, 2025: Approve for Third Reading — Paper 25-105: Values-Aligned Local Investments Ordinance CHAPTER 2

ApprovePassed · 6–1

Vice President Collins motioned to approve for Third Reading (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a roll call vote of Six in favor, one opposed (Councilor Scarpelli).

Voted: Yes

Yes: Bears, Callahan, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, TsengNo: Scarpelli

From the minutes

“Vice President Collins motioned to approve for Third Reading (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a roll call vote of Six in favor, one opposed (Councilor Scarpelli)..” (Motion: Collins, second: Lazzaro)

Read it in the official minutes, page 8 (PDF)

Aug 5Approve the committee report — Paper 24-033: Planning and…Motion: Vice President Collins moved to approve the committee report (Councilor Leming…Passed 5–1 · Lazzaro: Yes

August 5, 2025: Approve the committee report — Paper 24-033: Planning and Permitting Committee, July 16, 2025, Report

ApprovePassed · 5–1

Vice President Collins moved to approve the committee report (Councilor Leming second)-approved on a roll call vote of five in favor, one opposed (Scarpelli), and one absent (Callahan).

Voted: Yes

Yes: Bears, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, TsengNo: Scarpelli

From the minutes

“Vice President Collins moved to approve the committee report (Councilor Leming second)-approved on a roll call vote of five in favor, one opposed (Scarpelli), and one absent (Callahan)..” (Motion: Collins, second: Leming)

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

Aug 5Approve — Paper 25-125: Offered by Isaac Bears, Council…Motion: Vice President Collins moved to approve (Councilor Leming second)-approved on a…Passed 5–1 · Lazzaro: Yes

August 5, 2025: Approve — Paper 25-125: Offered by Isaac Bears, Council President MBTA Bus Stop Improvements Presentation

ApprovePassed · 5–1

Vice President Collins moved to approve (Councilor Leming second)-approved on a roll call vote of five in favor, one opposed (Scarpelli), and one absent (Callahan).

Voted: Yes

Yes: Bears, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, TsengNo: Scarpelli

From the minutes

“Vice President Collins moved to approve (Councilor Leming second)-approved on a roll call vote of five in favor, one opposed (Scarpelli), and one absent (Callahan)..” (Motion: Collins, second: Leming)

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

Aug 5Approve for main paper — Paper 25-123: Whereas, on…Motion: President Bears moved to approve for main paper (Councilor Lazzaro second)-approved…Passed 5–1 · Lazzaro: Yes

August 5, 2025: Approve for main paper — Paper 25-123: Whereas, on July 16, 2025, the Council President outlined a shared path forward for Medford's Zoning Updates Project that outlined a clear and…

ApprovePassed · 5–1

President Bears moved to approve for main paper (Councilor Lazzaro second)-approved on a roll call vote of five in favor, one opposed (Scarpelli) and one absent (Callahan).

Voted: Yes

Yes: Bears, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, TsengNo: Scarpelli

From the minutes

“President Bears moved to approve for main paper (Councilor Lazzaro second)-approved on a roll call vote of five in favor, one opposed (Scarpelli) and one absent (Callahan)..” (Motion: Bears, second: Lazzaro)

Read it in the official minutes, page 28 (PDF)

Aug 5Approve for third reading — Paper 25-118: Personnel OrdinanceMotion: Vice President Collins moved to approve for third reading (Councilor Lazzaro…Passed 4–1 · Lazzaro: Yes

August 5, 2025: Approve for third reading — Paper 25-118: Personnel Ordinance

ApprovePassed · 4–1

Vice President Collins moved to approve for third reading (Councilor Lazzaro second)-approved on a roll call vote of four in favor, one opposed (Scarpelli), and two absent (Callahan and Tseng).

Voted: Yes

Yes: Bears, Collins, Lazzaro, LemingNo: ScarpelliThe records list Justin Tseng as absent for this vote.

From the minutes

“Vice President Collins moved to approve for third reading (Councilor Lazzaro second)-approved on a roll call vote of four in favor, one opposed (Scarpelli), and two absent (Callahan and Tseng)..” (Motion: Collins, second: Lazzaro)

Read it in the official minutes, page 29 (PDF)

Jun 24Approval — Paper 25-106: Use of Free Cash and…Motion: Vice President Collins moved for approval (Councillor Leming second)-approved on a…Passed 4–2 · Lazzaro: No

June 24, 2025: Approval — Paper 25-106: Use of Free Cash and Retained Earnings

ApprovePassed · 4–2

Vice President Collins moved for approval (Councillor Leming second)-approved on a roll call vote of four in favor (Vice President Collins, Councillor Leming, Councillor Tseng, and President Bears), two opposed (Councillor Lazzaro and Councillor Scarpelli) and Councillor Callahan absent.

Voted: No

Yes: Bears, Collins, Leming, TsengNo: Lazzaro, Scarpelli

From the minutes

“Vice President Collins moved for approval (Councillor Leming second)-approved on a roll call vote of four in favor (Vice President Collins, Councillor Leming, Councillor Tseng, and President Bears), two opposed (Councillor Lazzaro and Councillor Scarpelli) and Councillor Callahan absent..” (Motion: Collins, second: Leming)

Read it in the official minutes, page 15 (PDF)

Votes with no disagreement (252)

    From the Medford City Council’s official records (its minutes), posted in the city’s Municode document library (Council Records) and on its CivicClerk meeting portal. We check every vote against the councilors present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Councilor photos: City of Medford (medfordma.org), cropped from the captioned 2026 City Council photo on the official City Council page (Gotta Know Media). Justin Tseng: Harvard Law School. Former councilors show initials.

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