According to a story by the TAB’s Chloe Gotsis, BOA President Scott Lennon has announced that he’s running for the alderman at-large seat left vacant by the death of Alderman Carleton Merrill.
This is an interesting twist, given that the Programs and Services Committee just voted 4-2 in favor of asking the legislature to approve a home rule petition skipping a special election until the November municipal election. Hard to imagine that Lennon would announce that he’s running for the seat unless he thought there would be an election. Unless there is some other political game-playing going on here that I haven’t thought of yet.
Anybody?
Update: Here is Alderman Lennon’s announcement:
I am formally declaring my city-wide candidacy for election to the Ward One Alderman-at-Large seat, recently vacated through the sad loss of my colleague, Alderman Carleton Merrill.
I have proudly served on the Board of Aldermen as Ward Alderman for the last 11 years, having been re-elected 6 times by the voters of Ward One. I have also been greatly honored by my Aldermanic colleagues who have elected me their President for the last two terms.
Although I have been a Ward Alderman for all this time, I have always considered myself to be accessible and responsive to the entire city, and have consistently weighed how aldermanic decisions affected not just my own particular ward but all of Newton. By now running for Alderman-at-Large, I can more effectively further my goal to be officially accountable to all the citizens of this great city where I was born and raised.
I am determined to continue working as hard as I can for all the residents of Newton, and I look forward to meeting you on the campaign trail to learn about your hopes and concerns about the future of Newton.
Whatever way he goes, we have all benefited from Scott’s presence and steady hand in the BOA. I’ve been impressed with the way he handles himself, how he handles questions from the media and public, and how smoothly he deals with 23 strong personalities. He seems well versed on matters before the Board and you just sense that he knows were each of the 23 other aldermen are coming from. He manages well without trying to be dominant; a very good trait. His humor, informality and deft style with the gavel have helped to lighten and enliven the televised replays of the Board on NEW TV. This, in itself, is no small accomplishment.
I assumed this meant his intention to run for the at-large seat in November. Then the other guy could run for his Ward 1 seat.
1. The full Board will vote to hold the special. I’m sure he has the votes or there would be no announcement. Scott is smart and has the support of most Board members.
2. Scott does not have to give up his current seat to run in a special.
3. He’ll win in a special. In fact, if he runs in the at large fall election, he’d most likely win as well, but why take a chance? This way there’s almost zero risk of losing “a” seat on the BOA.
This is an opportunity for Scott to raise his profile and for the city to do the right thing so there’s no “questionable” decision regarding another election (a la the previous SC).
Regardless of the committee vote, the full Board should do the right thing.
Any truly objective viewing of this says that it’s the right thing to do and with multiple elections we could piggyback on, there’s no legitimate reason not to follow the very clear dictate in the Charter.
Because Chloe wrote that he was running for the “at-large seat left vacant by Alderman Carleton Merrill’s death,” I assumed that meant he’s running in a special election. In November it won’t be a seat left vacant. It will be an open seat as will the other 23 seats on the board.
I have a call into Scott for clarification.
I am happy to have the opportunity to vote for Scott for once! He is sensible, pragmatic and responsive.
OK, so if he is declaring for the Special and the BOA goes ahead with it – if he ends up running unopposed do we still have to go through the motions with the ballots, etc.?
@Tricia: Depends how “tired” we are.
@Gail: Actually I believe we established that it would still be a seat “left vacant” even if delayed until November in so far as the top vote getter would take office immediately, as opposed to in January. It would, in essence, be a 26 month term.
BTW, I thought it was odd that Lennon would announce his plans in a “statement” on a Sunday.
Regardless of when the election is, potential candidates need to know what Alderman Lennon’s plans are. He’s the Secretariat in any Ward One race. I’m very happy that I’ll finally be able to vote for him!
@Greg: You are correct. I just spoke to Scott. He is running for the at-large seat whenever the election is held. He said, “I’m simply putting my name out there to let people know that this is what I’m doing.” I’ll clarify in the post.
BTW, I, too, am very happy that I’ll be able to cast a ballot for Scott. I’m also glad that he’s chosen to raise his visibility.
In the past Janet Sterman has run for this seat, saying she always wanted to give voters a choice. I wonder if she will do so again this year.
I have updated the post to include Alderman Lennon’s statement announcing his intention to run for the at-large seat.
New clarification: I just spoke with Peter Koutoujian Sr. If the election for the alderman at-large seat to replace Alderman Merrill is held in November, it is not considered a special election. It is simply considered filling a vacancy. This keeps getting better.
If there’s a special election and he wins the at-large seat, we’ll still only have 23 Alderman. What a mess.
Oh, the irony! Those mudrooms will have to wait.
But according to the charter, the vacant seat would be filled immediately, even after a regular election in November.
@Adam: That’s correct. It’s just the terminology that I’m clarifying. Some here thought that it was still called a “special election,” even if it’s held in November.
@Adam, that’s correct. It’s just not called a special election.
@Greg I didn’t realize you were a supporter of mine. What a lovely compliment! 🙂
@Janet: I always respected that you were willing to run.
Are you running again?
@Greg Your respect for my running for office comes with a huge serving of asteism. (I base this on public commentary you have made to or about me while either working for Gatehouse Media and after). I have made no decisions to run or not run. The only elections I am sure of are the November municipal elections, as nothing else has been confirmed other than Alderman Carleton Merrill will not be running for re-election as Alderman-at-Large this fall.
@Janet: Sorry but I just dont have time to be your campaign treasurer. Best of luck with your kickoff.
Janet – why dont you consider running for School Committee in Ward 1. You dont need to have children in the NPS as is evident by members of the present SC and I think that you would be great!