So after considerable debate our elected Board of Aldermen vote to uphold democracy and abide by the city charter but one man thinks he knows better. Discuss.
Crazy Divers: Men be like...
drivers man be like
So after considerable debate our elected Board of Aldermen vote to uphold democracy and abide by the city charter but one man thinks he knows better. Discuss.
Crazy Divers: Men be like...
drivers man be like
Aargh!!!
More people have approached him on this issue than any other issue in a long time? I bet. This is what everybody in Newton is talking about right now.
Other than blatantly ignoring the will of his colleagues here’s the part from Trevor Jones’ story that bugs me.
So basically, this is just an effort to stall the decision to have the election in June until after folks vote next week? If so, is it necessary to explain to anyone other than Alderman Gentile (and perhaps Susan Basham) how cynical, shameful and manipulative that is?
From the City’s web site… 617-527-5446… [email protected]
I wouldn’t bother with the email address. I doubt he checks it.
He does read his email and already replied to an email I sent him earlier today. He wrote in effect that he’s trying to save the City $35K, and pointed to the fact that the State Constitution gives the City the right to file a Home Rule Petition.
Can someone clarify this cost issue for me? It’s my understanding that to conduct a special election to replace a BOA member would cost about $35K, but that cost would have been substantially reduced by piggybacking this on the Senate election in June. Am I correct?
According to this article , it seems that the 35K figure is for holding a special election so I would guess a “piggybacked” election would cost substantially less. It’d be helpful to have an estimate of that cost too.
That’s what I’m interested in. The cost of piggybacking this on top of the senate election in June, because Alderman Gentile suggested to me he’d be saving the City $35K. Anyone know the added cost to piggyback this on the senate election?
UPDATE: Alderman Gentile wrote me a second email stating he double checked on cost, and that the vote to fill the empty seat would cost an ADDITIONAL $35K if piggybacked on the Senate election. I believe Alderman Gentile is giving me his honest opinion as he understands the facts. But it does seem strange to me that the cost would be about the same as a stand-alone election. Can anyone else either confirm or contradict this $35K cost?
Mike – I think I’ve heard $85K bandied about as the amount for a special election.
In the article Jerry linked above, the acting Election Commissioner said canceling the election to fill the empty Board seat would save the City about $30K, but it’s clear he was referring to a stand-alone election. It then goes on to say that piggybacking would be “problematic because it would require special ballots to be printed.” Does anyone know how much it would actually cost to piggyback the Board seat with the Senate election? In other words, how much ADDITIONAL cost?
Mike: I think you’re too late pursuing the expense question now (and so is Alderman Gentile). As many of Aldermen Gentile’s colleagues thoughtfully articulated the night the decision to move forward with the election was made, this is about upholding the charter and upholding the very freedoms that Aldermen Merrill fought for. Or as our League of Women Voters clearly articulated in its letter to the board….
The board debated, deliberated and voted. The costs of the election have not changed since that vote. If Aldermen Gentile and his constituents don’t like it they should grab some clipboards and help gather signatures for the creation of a charter commission.
Programs and Services voted to approve $171,000 from free cash for special elections on April 30 and June 25 to fill the vacant US Senate seat and the special election (if it is approved at our next board meeting). We were told that the Secretary of the Commonwealth insists on two separate check ins that will require additional staff, in addition to printing ballots, mailings, etc.
Total cost for the Ward 1 AAL = $35,000.
Democracy = Priceless.
Greg– I’m not attempting to make a a case for canceling the election because of the cost. I think the election should have been held with the override next week. I believe “forthwith” is the operative term. Plenty of people have paid for democracy with their lives, so in my mind its value is well established.
What I’m doing, is questioning whether Alderman Gentile’s information is accurate. He wants to cancel the election because he’s been told from the Elections Commission that the cost is $35K, to piggyback on the Senate election in June. I’m not questioning his honesty. I’m not questioning his motive. I’m questioning whether he’s receiving accurate information from an Elections Commission that is on record as wanting to cancel the election.
The acting Elections Commissioner is quoted in the Tab as putting the cost of a special election, held for the singular purpose of filling Alderman Merrill’s seat, at approximately $30K. But then the Elections Commission tells Alderman Gentile that it will cost $35K to piggyback on the Senate election. That doesn’t make any sense, and it makes me wonder if the Elections Commission isn’t playing with these numbers to get the outcome they want.
I was writing while Ted was posting. Hey, Ted… who told you the Secretary of the Commonwealth insists on two separate check ins? I’ve been voting in Newton for a lot of years. Voted in every election since I was 18. I can’t ever recall a voting day with two separate check ins.
@Mike,
Two check in’s may be require as one is a Federal election and the other a mere municipal election! 😀
Mike, David Olson, who is the city clerk and has been chosen by the mayor to run the elections department as interim director after Peter Koutoujian Sr’s contract expires March 15, confirmed that the SOC requires that the state and local election be conducted separately. Voters will obtain one ballot for the senate election and another for the alderman election. Checkout will be separate too. The ballots themselves will go throiugh the same Accuvote machine, but will have to be sorted after the polls close in the event of a recount.
Frankly, I think this could be done more economically, but because a state election is involved, the SOC gets to decide.
Well, the only silver lining in that information, is Koutoujian leaving on March 15th. Other than that I’m pretty disgusted, particularly with state government, which seems to be screwing Newton at every turn. I’m contemplating starting a secessionist movement in Newton. Alternatively, I’m also thinking Hawaii might be a nice place to live.
Awww Mike, admit it: you’d miss us!