Hannah Kaplan is running for councilor-at-large in Quincy's elections

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QUINCY ‒ Eight candidates are vying for three at-large city council seats in this year's city elections. One of those candidates is Hannah Kaplan, a 32-year-old hostess at Alba restaurant with an educational background in law, philosophy and ethics.
A Tuesday, Sept. 2, preliminary election will narrow the field to six candidates who will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot.
"I want to give back to the community I love," Kaplan said of her candidacy. "I've been here my entire adult life. That means something to me. I attribute my growth to the city."
Kaplan moved to Quincy from Santa Monica, California, at 19. She earned an associates degree in paralegal studies from Quincy College. She continued her at UMass-Boston, receiving a bachelor's in law, philosophy and ethics this May.
Canvassing the city for votes has provided a new form of education, Kaplan said.
"(Residents) are educating me on new topics that I can then research," she said. "I'm learning. That's what I love to do."
Quincy City Council candidate Hannah Kaplan: On the council and mayoral raises
One of the more contentious issues in recent years is the raises for mayor and city councilors proposed by Mayor Thomas Koch and approved by the sitting council in 2024.
The order raised the mayor's salary 79% from about $159,000 (including a travel stipend) to $285,000, and increased councilors' salaries from just under $30,000 to $44,500.
After the State Ethics Commission launched a conflict-of-interest inquiry, Koch and the councilors deferred the raises until after the next elections. The raises take effect in 2026 for the councilors and 2028 for the mayor.
Or perhaps not for the mayor. A group of Quincy residents are working to put a citizen petition on November's ballot that would set the mayor's salary at $184,000 and take away elected officials' ability to increase their own salaries.
Kaplan said that if elected, she would contribute her salary in excess of $30,000 to charitable causes, though she said she doesn't think $44,500 is excessive given the time demands and responsibility that comes with the seat.
On the mayor's raise, Kaplan would not give position, saying she had not looked deeply into the issue.
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Quincy City Council candidate Hannah Kaplan: On the statues
Speaking on the two, 10-foot-tall bronze statues of St. Michael and St. Florian planned for the façade of the new public safety building, Kaplan said that with contentious issues, it's important to listen to different perspectives.
The statues cost $850,000, according to city officials. Commissioned as early as 2023, they were not disclosed to the city council, which approved the project's budget, or the residents until The Patriot Ledger reported on them in February.
"Could there have been more public discussion? Sure," Kaplan said, alluding to the fact that city council held no public hearings once plans for the statues were revealed.
She recommended more dialogue, transparency, communication and opportunities for residents to feel heard. She also praised Mayor Koch's commissioning the statues.
"I understand the mayor's intention," she said. "It was rooted in something really great, a desire to honor culture and tradition with support for police, firefighters and veterans."
Asked if thought the statues violate the constitutional separation of church and state, Kaplan said, "The intention was rooted in something good."
Quincy City Council candidate Hannah Kaplan: On the Granite Links lease
Kaplan also spoke glowingly of the new lease for Quarry Hills Associates, which operates a 240-acre golf course on public open space. The new lease, approved unanimously by city council in December 2024, extends the company's control of the land until 2106.
Supporters say the extension will allow Quarry Hills to secure financing for planned improvements, including a hotel, and argue the club has benefited the city economically.
Opponents argue that Quarry Hills has failed to maintain surrounding parkland as promised, while the golf club itself primarily benefits an affluent clientele. Critics have also raised concerns about financial accountability and campaign contributions from club owners to city council members.
"I understand the concerns," Kaplan said, noting how the deal puts a public asset under private control for 80 years. Still, she said that Granite Links' arrangement with Quincy has proven successful and mutually beneficial.
"Quarry Hills is more than just a golf course," she said. "It's a place of joy, peace and shared moments." Kaplan further described Granite Links as "a place where life unfolds," and "something truly lovely."
The agreement, presented in the form of a home rule petition because its duration exceeds 30 years and it doesn't comply with public procurement law, still requires approval from the state legislature and governor.
Peter Blandino covers Quincy for The Patriot Ledger. Contact him at [e-mail].
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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Hannah Kaplan is running for Quincy city councilor-at-large
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