Louise Venden
She/Her
Election history: 1st-time write-in candidate
She/Her
Election history: 1st-time write-in candidate
Although her nomination papers were rejected on the final day of eligibility, Louise Venden is running a write-in campaign for City Council. She has previously served as a member of Provincetown's Select Board and on Provincetown's Finance Committee. Louise promises to "bridge the divide," having worked with ABC in the past while accepting CCC's endorsement this cycle.
Outside of politics, she has experience as a real estate bank loan officer.
Louise has given public comment in favor of building more housing. She is a critic of the Multifamily Housing ordinance. She blames it, and not the Board of Zoning Appeals, for the lawsuit and subsequent monetary settlement with Chabad over the handling of their case before the BZA.
As other neighborhoods struggle to accept taller multifamily housing, East Cambridge has welcomed thousands of new residents living in towers who are our work collegues, share music and events, schools and parks. Diversity of housing styles encourages engaging all of us in supporting each other in neighborhood concerns, not appealing to one economic class, age group or history in our community.
We were not careful enough to fill out these forms properly, but did the process help us succeed or blame us? Louise Venden is not giving up and is running for Cambridge City Council as a write-in candidate.
| Organization | Cambridge? | Union? | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge Citizens Coalition |
Pedestrian and cycling safety, policy, infrastructure, governance
Pedestrian and cycling safety, policy, infrastructure, governance
Housing policy, development, governance
Housing policy, development, governance
Housing, zoning, governance, infrastructure
Housing, zoning, governance, infrastructure
"This year, we turned the traditional format upside down: community members with lived experience will speak first, and candidates will listen and respond. We heard directly about pressing issues like housing, mental health, and food security—and learn how candidates plan to act on them."
"This year, we turned the traditional format upside down: community members with lived experience will speak first, and candidates will listen and respond. We heard directly about pressing issues like housing, mental health, and food security—and learn how candidates plan to act on them."
Venden was inspired to join the race relatively late in the cycle after penning a letter to the editor of the Cambridge Day that resonated with many Cantabrigians frustrated about the lack of data and tracking of progress made publicly available following zoning reforms. The letter caught the attention of Suzanne Preston Blier, president of Cambridge Citizens Coalition, one of two Cambridge Super PACs organized around the issue of housing. (CCC raises concerns about the impacts of rapid large-scale development, while A Better Cambridge (ABC) advocates for rapidly creating new housing to combat the affordability crisis.) Venden was encouraged to enter the race, but attempting to file as a candidate on the day of the deadline led to her being unable to get on the ballot after a paperwork error was discovered.
Nov. 2, 2025Venden was inspired to join the race relatively late in the cycle after penning a letter to the editor of the Cambridge Day that resonated with many Cantabrigians frustrated about the lack of data and tracking of progress made publicly available following zoning reforms. The letter caught the attention of Suzanne Preston Blier, president of Cambridge Citizens Coalition, one of two Cambridge Super PACs organized around the issue of housing. (CCC raises concerns about the impacts of rapid large-scale development, while A Better Cambridge (ABC) advocates for rapidly creating new housing to combat the affordability crisis.) Venden was encouraged to enter the race, but attempting to file as a candidate on the day of the deadline led to her being unable to get on the ballot after a paperwork error was discovered.
The young people running for office have surprised and inspired Louise Venden, a write-in candidate. “A lot of young people are idealists!” she said. “but wanting everything for everybody isn’t a solution.”
Oct. 27, 2025 — Michael F. FitzgeraldThe young people running for office have surprised and inspired Louise Venden, a write-in candidate. “A lot of young people are idealists!” she said. “but wanting everything for everybody isn’t a solution.”
Louise Venden said she has been involved with the housing super Pacs, the ABC and CCC, and that their leaders “share values. We should create bridges.” Instead, she thought they created an environment where “people [on the council] were afraid to vote against multifamily even though it was done too quickly and not well thought out.” A multifamily zoning ordinance enacted by the council Feb. 10 allows for four-story buildings to be built as-of-right in all residential areas, with an additional two-story bonus for buildings with inclusionary units on lots of more than 5,000 square feet, among other zoning changes.
Sept. 23, 2025 — Michael FitzgeraldLouise Venden said she has been involved with the housing super Pacs, the ABC and CCC, and that their leaders “share values. We should create bridges.” Instead, she thought they created an environment where “people [on the council] were afraid to vote against multifamily even though it was done too quickly and not well thought out.” A multifamily zoning ordinance enacted by the council Feb. 10 allows for four-story buildings to be built as-of-right in all residential areas, with an additional two-story bonus for buildings with inclusionary units on lots of more than 5,000 square feet, among other zoning changes.
Cambridge politics sometimes seems like an insider’s game, favoring incumbents who know the ropes. New voices will offer new solutions to meet urgent challenges and demand accountability.
Aug. 5, 2025 — Louise VendenCambridge politics sometimes seems like an insider’s game, favoring incumbents who know the ropes. New voices will offer new solutions to meet urgent challenges and demand accountability.
Let’s make sure affordable housing gets built while respecting values held by longtime neighbors. Let’s make sure transportation is improved to reduce cars on our streets. Let’s make sure we fund priorities that serve our neediest residents. Let’s lower our voices and seek answers to inform solutions, not bicker about which side we’re on.
Aug. 5, 2025 — Louise VendenLet’s make sure affordable housing gets built while respecting values held by longtime neighbors. Let’s make sure transportation is improved to reduce cars on our streets. Let’s make sure we fund priorities that serve our neediest residents. Let’s lower our voices and seek answers to inform solutions, not bicker about which side we’re on.
"I have an accessory dwelling unit in my home, the first and one of only three that we have in this town," she said. "And anyone who wants to know what that is or how it works can call town staff directly if they want to question my property or anyone else's property."
April 26, 2022"I have an accessory dwelling unit in my home, the first and one of only three that we have in this town," she said. "And anyone who wants to know what that is or how it works can call town staff directly if they want to question my property or anyone else's property."
The board voted 4-0-1 to make the change, with Venden abstaining. The vote was taken at a special meeting called to discuss “Select Board Leadership and Public Comments.” It was the lone agenda item.
Nov. 9, 2018 — Ethan GenterThe board voted 4-0-1 to make the change, with Venden abstaining. The vote was taken at a special meeting called to discuss “Select Board Leadership and Public Comments.” It was the lone agenda item.