Meet the 19-year-old Northeast student running for mayor of Woburn

A 19-year-old Northeastern University freshman plans to run for mayor of Woburn. And for Omar Mohuddin, his youth is just an asset.

With a youth-centric, intimate knowledge of Woburn’s communities, Mohuddin says his campaign focuses on three priorities: investing in schools and educators, supporting first responders, and beautifying streets, sidewalks and public spaces for the city’s 40,000 residents.

But don’t mistake his youth for inexperience or ignorance — the 19-year-old would be the youngest mayor in Massachusetts history if he won in November, Mohuddin says. The 19-year-old, who was born and raised in Woburn, says residents spend their lives being complacent about the city’s shortcomings. He now wants to change that.

“I know a lot of people at Woburn just accepted things the way they are because we know that and we have that,” Mohuddin said. “And I think it would be pretty big to put my voice out there and let people know that we don’t have to accept things as they are. We can take the status quo and make things shape… the way we want them to be.”

Raised by his mother, who Mohuddin says her son’s candidacy is “a little crazy,” the Woburner native grew up with his three brothers in the city. On his Campaign Website, he notes that he was class president at Woburn Memorial High School, where he graduated in 2022 before earning a full Northeastern scholarship; The 19-year-old is currently studying business administration there with a focus on finance. Mohuddin says his experience working with finance prepared him to handle Woburn’s complicated budgets and expenses.

“A big role as mayor of Woburn is managing the budget, and my college work thrown me maybe a million budgets in a year,” Mohuddin said. “And that, I think, will come into play in the business arena.”

In his freshman year, Mohuddin made the Dean’s List and worked with other first-generation college students. During high school, Mohuddin says he was part of the embRACE program at WMHS as well as Welcomed Woburn And social capital inc

With its three focal points — investing in education, respecting and advocating for first responders, and improving the city’s aesthetic — Mohuddin says he’ll start formulating more specific policies as he goes door-to-door asking what issues people care about.

Education is high on Mohuddin’s checklist, and he says the recent teachers’ strike in Woburn, which closed classrooms for several days, is a prime example of the neglect of some Woburn public employees. And while Woburn’s teachers’ wages are set by the School Committee — the organization that eventually gives the city’s educators a… 13.75% wage increase — Mohuddin says that when he is mayor, educators in the city will no longer be overlooked.

Working with a 15-strong team of young but experienced volunteers, Mohuddin says his campaign has the youthful energy and insight needed to help Woburn exceed expectations. And he says this will come by bringing the city’s youth to the table.

“I don’t get bogged down in the day-to-day activities of someone mid-career,” Mohuddin said. “I’m not in the process of starting a family or having a 9-to-5 job, so I have enough time to understand the issues affecting the community. And I’m also able to engage youth in ways they’ve never engaged before. And [I can] Make sure they are involved in the community and the things that are going on in the community because they are part of the community too.”

While Election Day in November is over 200 days away (222 as of Thursday, according to the ticker Mohuddin’s website), says the 19-year-old that he is now laying the groundwork for preparing for the election campaign. And while he’s still in class, he says if he’s elected, the university will count his new position toward Northeastern’s collaborative program before he begins taking part-time classes.

Not for nomination documents due by May, no other candidates have officially announced their campaigns. But the Daily Times Chronicle of Woburn and Patch.com both reported on it Seven-year-old mayor Scott Galvin wants to run againmeaning Mohuddin could face stiff competition.

Meanwhile, Mohuddin says he will continue to knock on doors before hosting a big kick-off fundraiser.

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