Olson: Scott Lennon would become acting mayor ‘if’ Warren resigns

by | Apr 1, 2015 | Newton | 8 comments

I just spoke to City Clerk David Olson who, if he knows about the mayor resigning or not, wasn’t exactly letting on.

But Olson confirmed that if the mayor stepped down, Alderman President Scott Lennon would be sworn in as acting mayor. He said the board, starting with Programs and Services, would have to decide when the election was to be held.  The Charter says special elections need to be held within 120 days and that the winner would assume office immediately after that.

That would put the special election into early August, a very odd time for an election, given vacations.

If I remember right from the Ward 3 special election (to replace the late Alderman Salvucci) there is no preliminary election so it could be a very crowded ballot with the winner potentially getting less than 50 percent of the vote.

8 Comments

  1. Ted Hess-Mahan
    Ted Hess-Mahan on April 1, 2015 at 10:13 am

    I hesitate to contradict our City Clerk, but the Charter provides as follows:

    Sec. 3-10. Vacancy in Office of Mayor.

    If a vacancy occurs in the office of Mayor, by death, resignation, removal from office, failure to elect or otherwise, at any time preceding the last nine calendar months of the term for which he was elected, the Board of Aldermen shall forthwith call a special election to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term. If a vacancy occurs in the office of Mayor during the last nine calendar months of the term for which he was elected, the Clerk of the Board shall forthwith call a special meeting of the Board of Aldermen, and the Board of Aldermen shall by majority vote of the full Board elect one of its members as Acting Mayor for the remainder of the unexpired term. If the Board of Aldermen fails to elect an Acting Mayor as aforesaid within thirty days of the date of the meeting called by the Clerk of the Board, the president of the Board of Aldermen shall become Acting Mayor, shall exercise all the rights and powers of the Mayor, and shall be sworn to the faithful performance of his duties. Upon the election and qualification of any member of the Board of Aldermen as Acting Mayor under the provisions of this section, a vacancy shall exist in his aldermanic seat.

    So there could be quite a scramble for the position of acting Mayor. I am informed a number of aldermen think they would actually make a pretty good Mayor and are interested in grabbing the brass ring. In fact, I would not be surprised to see a palace coup in the BOA.

    • Greg Reibman
      Greg Reibman on April 1, 2015 at 10:15 am

      What about you Alderman Hess-Mahan, are you in?

  2. Ted Hess-Mahan
    Ted Hess-Mahan on April 1, 2015 at 11:02 am

    That depends Greg. I haven’t figured out whether I can serve as Mayor, and run for Mayor, School Committee Member and City Councilor all at the same time.

    • Greg Reibman
      Greg Reibman on April 1, 2015 at 11:16 am

      @Ted: And how about West Newton Area Council?

  3. Jerry Reilly
    Jerry Reilly on April 1, 2015 at 11:21 am

    @Greg and Ted – ah yes, the rare electoral pentafecta

  4. Ted Hess-Mahan
    Ted Hess-Mahan on April 1, 2015 at 11:27 am

    Greg, after observing the recent border wars between the Newton Highlands and Waban area councils, West Newton has decided not to create an area neighborhood council, for the sake of maintaining peace between the Hatfields and the McCoys.

  5. Jerry Reilly
    Jerry Reilly on April 1, 2015 at 11:38 am

    @Ted Hess-Mahan

    after observing the recent border wars between the Newton Highlands and Waban area councils …

    The Upper Falls Area Council has sat those border skirmishes out. They’re waiting for Waban and the Highlands to wear themselves out. They’ll then pull a Putin and swoop in and take the whole damn southside of the City,

  6. Tricia
    Tricia on April 1, 2015 at 11:42 am

    Which will create the perfect opportunity for a previously clandestine West Newton Area Council to spring to life and seize power on the northside of the city. Then things get interesting…