headshot of candidate

Robert Eckstut

He/Him

Currently
Consultant, former poker player
Election history
1st time running

More about Robert Eckstut

Robert is a former professional poker player. He's also been a census enumerator and a data science consultant.

Incumbent
No
Education
Lesley University BA
Age
38 years
Born in 1985
Voter Registration
Aug. 8, 2019

Where does Robert live?

Address
Rents at 251 Western Avenue, Apt. 1 Cambridge MA 02139

What are their housing positions?

Proposal Supported?
2072 Mass Ave

Local Endorsements

Q&A

Interviews with the candidate

Cambridge Nonprofit Coalition 2021

Distribution of funds, non-profits and their position in Cambridge

Cambridge Nonprofit Coalition 2021

Distribution of funds, non-profits and their position in Cambridge

Cambridge Bike Safety Pledge 2021

They asked candidates to sign a pledge, which starts: "I support rapid implementation of the citywide network of protected bicycle lanes..."

Cambridge Bike Safety Pledge 2021

They asked candidates to sign a pledge, which starts: "I support rapid implementation of the citywide network of protected bicycle lanes..."

Vision Zero Coalition 2021

Reduction in traffic injuries and deaths

Vision Zero Coalition 2021

Reduction in traffic injuries and deaths

ABC Candidate 2021 Survey

Housing policy questions

ABC Candidate 2021 Survey

Housing policy questions

Cambridge Citizen's Coalition Survey

Questions about recent zoning petitions, city manager contract, and "housing challenges"

Cambridge Citizen's Coalition Survey

Questions about recent zoning petitions, city manager contract, and "housing challenges"

Quotes

Press

Articles about the candidate

The Harvard Crimson Robert Eckstut Brings Poker Player’s Mentality to Debut Run for Council

A few years after leaving professional poker, Eckstut said he worked on Bernie Sanders’s 2016 presidential campaign, and later began consulting for progressive political campaigns in Connecticut and Massachusetts, focusing on state-level politics. He said he hopes to bring the progressive, anti-establishment politics espoused by Sanders to Cambridge, where he feels the city council is unresponsive to the sentiments of Cambridge residents.

Eckstut cited the council’s failure to pass municipal broadband internet despite broad support, and said they did not stand up to the city manager in order to push it through.

Oct. 29, 2021 — Muskaan Arshad, Elias J. Schisgall
The Harvard Crimson Robert Eckstut Brings Poker Player’s Mentality to Debut Run for Council

A few years after leaving professional poker, Eckstut said he worked on Bernie Sanders’s 2016 presidential campaign, and later began consulting for progressive political campaigns in Connecticut and Massachusetts, focusing on state-level politics. He said he hopes to bring the progressive, anti-establishment politics espoused by Sanders to Cambridge, where he feels the city council is unresponsive to the sentiments of Cambridge residents.

Eckstut cited the council’s failure to pass municipal broadband internet despite broad support, and said they did not stand up to the city manager in order to push it through.

Oct. 29, 2021 — Muskaan Arshad, Elias J. Schisgall
The Harvard Crimson Challenger Candidates Propose Housing Plans, Government Reform in Bid for City Council

Some candidates, such as Robert Eckstut, said they are concerned about what they see as lack of accountability for the city manager. In the past, city council legislation has been blocked by the city manager, as with the council’s municipal broadband feasibility study in May.

"The city council can make recommendations, they can cut budgets in certain cases, they can make different petitions, but they’re actually quite weak," Eckstut said. "[The city manager] is the one who really has the power in the city."

Oct. 27, 2021
The Harvard Crimson Challenger Candidates Propose Housing Plans, Government Reform in Bid for City Council

Some candidates, such as Robert Eckstut, said they are concerned about what they see as lack of accountability for the city manager. In the past, city council legislation has been blocked by the city manager, as with the council’s municipal broadband feasibility study in May.

"The city council can make recommendations, they can cut budgets in certain cases, they can make different petitions, but they’re actually quite weak," Eckstut said. "[The city manager] is the one who really has the power in the city."

Oct. 27, 2021
Wicked Local Cambridge ELECTION 2021: Cambridge City Council candidate statements

My number one priority in office stems from how our system of governance has functioned. We have a city manager who is chosen by the council and has full-scale authority over the city. This city manager has no legitimate checks to his power. What this means is that even popular policies — such as municipal broadband — have just died on his desk. In order to make any popular, positive, good-for-the-collective policies possible, we need to change into a mayor-council system, so that the council is empowered to do the work.

Oct. 21, 2021 — Community Content
Wicked Local Cambridge ELECTION 2021: Cambridge City Council candidate statements

My number one priority in office stems from how our system of governance has functioned. We have a city manager who is chosen by the council and has full-scale authority over the city. This city manager has no legitimate checks to his power. What this means is that even popular policies — such as municipal broadband — have just died on his desk. In order to make any popular, positive, good-for-the-collective policies possible, we need to change into a mayor-council system, so that the council is empowered to do the work.

Oct. 21, 2021 — Community Content

Campaign finance

How much the candidate has raised and spent

$616
Current balance
$0
Balance at the start of 2021
$9,411
Raised in 2021
$8,795
Spent in 2021