Fitzgibbons looking to be Newton Democrats’ new chairman

by | Feb 7, 2012 | Newton | 4 comments

| Newton MA News and Politics BlogI’ve never been involved with Newton’s Democratic City Committee but for as long as I can remember Martina Jackson has been the person in charge.*   But now comes word that current vice chair Shawn Fitzgibbons, in photo right, is campaigning for the job, while Hannah Banks, on left, is looking to be vice chair. Given the important elections coming up this year and the perception that the Newton Dems are pretty insular, this seems like a positive development.

* UPDATE:  Jackson has been chair since 2002.

4 Comments

  1. Greg Reibman
    Greg Reibman on February 7, 2012 at 6:53 pm

    Here’s hoping that one of the first things Shawn does if elected is modernize that hideous web site and logo.

  2. tom sheff
    tom sheff on February 7, 2012 at 11:52 pm

    For transparency sake, I have left the Newton Dem CC. But, I have reservations as to whether Shawn will be any different than what is there now. I saw the signs he endorsed during the election time and I saw all staus quo candidates. He placed signs on his lawn for people he would need to get their support for the chairmanship…politics…no guts.
    He basically misled me, when I asked for his support instead of having the guts to say no to me he said he plans on running for the chairmanship of the dems and he wont endorse or place signs for anyone. Apparently he changed his mind as he placed signs for all races. I see a change in name only. But thats their problem, not mine. Good luck to everyone.

  3. Greg Reibman
    Greg Reibman on February 9, 2012 at 3:10 pm

    Martina Jackson has confirmed on the TAB Blog that she’s running. Here’s an excerpt from what she told them..

    It’s going to be particularly important this year where we have a newcomer running against an incumbent for Senate and we have a newcomer running for Barney’s seat. Barney’s retirement puts a whole new dimension on local politics. It’s going to mean we will be doing a triple crown – the presidential race the Senate race and the congressional race.

    I say “Go for a clean sweep.” Elizabeth Warren and Joe Kennedy need organizational energy — and money — from Newton. It seems to me the money will come no matter who is the city committee chair. But it seems the energy might best come from someone new in that job.

  4. Greg Reibman
    Greg Reibman on February 9, 2012 at 3:17 pm

    By the way, as most folks know, I was editor in chief and later publisher of the Newton TAB for just slightly longer than Martina Jackson was chair of the city dems.

    During that time, I don’t believe Jackson ever reached out to me, called me, wrote to me or emailed me. I can’t even recall her saying hello to me, although I could be mistaken.

    I can tell you that political party leaders in other communities where I was publisher, contacted me frequently.