Gerry Chervinsky just informed Village 14 that he has decided not to run for alderman at-large in Ward 3. He is endorsing Ted Hess-Mahan for re-election and he is encouraging a progressive candidate to step forward for the second seat. His statement follows:
“I have decided not to run for Ward 3 alderman at-large in this fall’s election. I thank everyone who encouraged my potential candidacy. Personal considerations, as well as my intention to strongly campaign for outstanding candidates in contested races like Setti Warren for mayor, Chris Steele and Deb Crossley for Ward 5 alderman at-large, Eve Tapper for Ward 2 ward alderman, and Andrea Steenstrup for Ward 2 School Committee, outweigh my interest in running at this time. In Ward 3 I endorse Ted Hess-Mahan’s re-election as alderman, and hope that newly announced candidate James Cote, an apparent Republican opponent of Mayor Warren’s override package, will hold true to his word that he won’t bring a preconceived agenda if elected. Still, a more progressive candidate coming forth and preventing him from being elected without opposition would be far preferable.”
Let me be the first to say: I told you so.
I am not surprised Gerry chose not to run, but I am disappointed that there is only one other candidate who has stepped up to run for alderman-at-large in Ward 3. Campaigning is a lot of work, but uncontested races do not serve the public well, in my humble opinion. So while I appreciate his support, I sincerely wish new leaders were willing to emerge. Over a year ago, when Gerry came to me to talk about recruiting someone to run to fill the vacancy created when Ald. Swiston said she would not run again, I told him I was thinking of retiring myself. Gerry and I have talked to a lot of people in Ward 3, but everyone we spoke to felt it wasn’t the right time or the right fit. So unless someone else throws their hat into the ring in the next 19 days, I wish Jim Cote the best of luck. We met at Albermarle on July 4 while we were both collecting signatures, and I sincerely hope he will serve the city with the same commitment and devotion that I have tried to maintain for the past ten years. I look forward to getting to know him.
I would imagine there are many breathing a sigh of relief.
Or, coming from a political game-player, could this be a tactic to generate a “No! Come back we need you!” campaign? A way to get the Democratic establishment behind him? There is a rumor that he has already submitted the signatures necessary to get him on the ballot and signs are in his garage.
With Chervinsky, you never know…
Hey, Terry Malloy, are you willing to come clean on who pulled papers on behalf of Gerry Chervinsky? 😉
Ted, I’ve heard many rumors regarding the Ward 3 At-Large scene- who’s pulled papers for whom, who is and isn’t running, who’s got signatures…
Could you clear one up? Are you really running for both Alderman At-Large AND Mayor? Or did someone pull your At-Large papers for you?
Gail, I’m glad that you were right about Gerry Chervinsky.
Terry, I would think that the Democrat Establishment has mixed opinions about Gerry Chervinsky publicly supporting Eve, Andrea, Chris & Deb.
Joshua –
Can you please identify the “Democrat Establishment”?
Gail Spector — I was sooo hoping you’d ask what Gerry Chervinsky meant by a “progressive candidate”! I did a Google and the top entry was Progressive Party 1912. What does progressive mean?
(PS — I think “Democratic Establishment” in Newton means candidates that win votes. Do I get dinner with Julia M?)
Gail, notable members of the Newton Democratic Establishment Old Guard include people like Rob Gifford, Claire Sokoloff, Lisle Baker, Ruthanne Fuller, Sydra Schnipper, David Cohen, David Mofenson, No Show Joe DeNucci, Anne & Bob Larner, Kay Khan, Susie Heyman, Cindy Creem, Ruth Balser, Vicki Danberg and maybe Gerry Chervinsky.
That is not a complete list, just the names that came to my mind.
At any rate, I don’t worry about it too much because one source of amusement I find in Newton politics is that municipal races are practically a popularity contest in which voters pick their favorite Democrat. The most poignant example of this was the 2011 Ward 4 School Committee Race.
At any rate, let’s not get too far away from the original topic, especially when I expressed my delight that you were right about Gerry Chervinsky not running and especially because Terry Malloy brought up the Newton Democratic Establishment.
By the way, why IS Ted running for two offices? Doesn’t that seem to indicate a problem in his thinking?
He wants to be sure, I guess, that he’s not totally out of Newton politics should he not win if he runs in only one race. Since the mayoralty is more difficult, running against an incumbent mayor, against whom he will have difficulty proving that he is an improvement, he wants the Alderman opportunity as a backup. And should he win as mayor, we will have to pay for another special election. This is pretty inconsiderate, and another argument against him.
He can beat to death the Engine 6 issue in the hopes of making Setti look bad, but in my opinion that his aggressiveness on this project shows what’s wrong with Ted.
There’s nothing wrong with Ted wanting to keep his Alderman seat and at the same time tossing his hat into the ring for mayor. It’s really not very different that a member of the House running for Senate during a special election…is it ?
The key is having the guts and drive to get involved as an actual candidate rather than just sit on sidelines and ‘dabble”.
Very different Charlie. In the most recent instance, Markey wasn’t on the ballot for both House and Senate contests he just was running as a sitting House member.
What Ted is doing is applying for two jobs at the same time with the hopes he’ll get to chose the one he likes but aware that he may only have one choice. I’m neither endorsing or criticizing Ted’s approach, just offering a better analogy than you just did.
A special election costs the city $80,000.
Terry Malloy, rumor control, here. I just checked at the Elections Office and the only person to turn in any signatures for AAL3 is … yours truly. Not one single form has been returned by anyone else. I have also turned in signatures for Mayor. And, yes, unless someone else (Bueller?) turns in signatures for both AAL3 seats in the next 19 days, I am running for both offices.
The city clerk tells me it is not really clear what happens if no one runs for one or both seats. Finally, I have docketed an amendment to the charter which would make a special election optional in the event of a vacancy on the board. That’s one way to reduce the size of the board of aldermen.
Now, my friend, it is time for you to come clean. While I was at the Elections Office, I also confirmed that someone strongly resembling your follicle-ly challenged alter ego (whose name sounds the same, too) pulled papers for Gerry Chervinsky. Tell the truth, now, was it you?
That amendment does not have a chance of passing.
I
Ted Hess-Mahan — If that amendment has merits for the good of Newton, why are you filing this and not one of the 23 others? The timing has the obvious suggestion that the amendment legitimizes (provides support for) your chances of becoming mayor. Seems awkward that you would ask colleagues to play along.
Sorry Joshua, I thought you brought up the Democratic Establishment, not Terry. I really don’t like boiling down the politics of the city to a secret cabal. I’ll excuse Terry in this case because I have it from a very good source that he’s been celebrating the 60th birthday of his alter-eg0 since early this morning!
Ted, Ted, Ted,
First of all, good on you for the amendment you have proposed. I hope it gets traction.
But I’m shocked, SHOCKED! That you would go down the path of “All baldies look alike”. I hope you explained to the elections office that you don’t stereotype by hairstyle and are offended that they would use folical disability as a way of classifying good citizens and engaging in rumor and innuendo!
You know that I would be the first to stand up and protest anyone making sweeping statements about curly headed land-use chairs!
But to clarify your comment: You won’t run for Alderman if two people turn in signatures? If Chervinsky and one other turn in their signatures in the next 19 days you are out? You don’t want to be Alderman? Why run? Encourage new blood by getting out!
Damn humidity, my ice has melted! (and my hair is much too wavy)… Garcon! Refill por favor!
Random thoughts…
It’s good that Chervinsky isn’t running. He’s done enough damage by helping keep David Cohen in office too long.
It’s not good that Ted H-M is running for two offices. Makes it look like he’s planning to lose the mayor’s race.
And, the politics of Newton IS run by a [not so] secret cabal.
Terry, the name rhymes with Gone-athon Tease, if that helps.
@Greg-
Fair enough. My point was only that keeping one job (since it’s uncontested) while running for another proves his dedication to the current job and desire to continue public service while offering himself up for a bigger position. And yes, the ‘divided’ campaign does make it seem as though he’s hedging his bets. But smartly so. Personally, I’m glad we get to keep him in office one way or another.
I agree in part with Charlie. I’ve been a Newton resident for 50 years, and paid attention to local politics since I graduated from high school. To my mind, Ted Hess-Mahan is one of the finest aldermen this city has ever had. That’s why I’d like to see him go all-in on the mayor’s race. I think he has the potential to be a great mayor. Hedging his bet, so to speak, sends the wrong message to the electorate. But it’s Ted’s race, and his decision. I appreciate the fact that he has the courage to run.
If any citizens would like more information on the Ward 5 race than would be provided by Mr. Chervinsky, they should visit my website at http://www.brianyates.org.
Mike,
Ted and Linsky tried to bring a Guantanamo prisoner to Newton. It was done to satisfy some bleeding heart liberal sense of guilt that perhaps this guy may have been in Gitmo erroneously. He could have simply advocated releasing this guy to a friendly country. But to desire to move him to Newton, a person who likely has a natural hatred for the US, is acting totally against the safety and best interests of us, the people who will vote, and totally to satisfy his own needs.
Think about the Tsarnaev brothers, who came with no anti-US baggage and should have been indebted to us for helping them so much and giving them a home and money and an education. Yet they blew up people at the Boston Marathon.
If you think that ” Ted Hess-Mahan is one of the finest aldermen this city has ever had”, then perhaps you think like him, as I know you do, and we’re lucky you weren’t elected.
I want someone who loves this city, not someone who loves some enemy of the US. Setti may have demonstrated by his desire to be Senator that he doesn’t love the city enough, but I don’t see anything he’s done as destructive. And being careful about Engine 6 is fine in my book, since we also could face danger if we don’t think it out well enough. But again, Ted, who is being highly critical of Setti, is placing the apparent needs of these unidentified homeless ahead of the safety and security of us, the voters of Newton.
Other information on the Ward 5 At Large race may of course also be found here
@Barry-
Not a fair criticism of Ted. As you may remember, nobody was more instrumental than I in getting the Gitmo resolution killed. I thought it was a bad idea and the wrong venue in which to discuss it. Ted and others on the BOA disagreed for various reasons. Google “jpost newton gitmo” and read all about it. Ultimately, the entire BOA voted to dismiss the matter. With what happened in Boston recently, I’m proud that our city leaders ultimately made the right decision.
As contentious as that ONE issue was, it’s ridiculous to dismiss to ignore a person’s overall hard work just because we might disagree on one or more topics. Ted has done a fantastic job as chair of Land Use and nobody works harder than he does to be responsive to constituents. The guy shows up to everything, does his homework, and does a damn good job. Plus he has a sense of humor which is a rarity.
Charlie,
You can vote based upon your criteria and I’ll use mine. That’s democracy. I consider Ted’s weird outlooks on many issue to be a serious problem. He may have worked hard on land use, as evidenced by his voluminous posts on these blogs with painful minutiae, but that doesn’t even mean that he makes the right calls, nor does it mean I or anyone else would see him as a good mayor.
Bringing a Gitmo prisoner to Newton is no small issue, as you seem to agree, and I don’t want to risk him making other stupid calls with the authority of the office of mayor. Let him run only for Alderman and continue on the Land Use Committee, if he’s doing such a superb job. Running for two offices is another indication of his lack of judgement.
Hey Barry, some of us appreciate what you call “painful” minutiae! 😉 I call it attention to detail and desire for accuracy. No one’s forcing you to read long comments!
And I think the running for two offices is more an indication of concern over the rather baffling lack of Ward 3 candidates. If there weren’t two candidates I affirmatively wanted to vote for, I’d be writing in Greer and/or Ted anyway. And yes, I realized the inconsistency/irony/hypocrisy, whatever you want to call it, of lamenting the lack of Ward 3 AAL candidates when I am one of the X thousand eligible Ward 3 residents who don’t feel able to run either, due in my case to feeling like I don’t have enough hours in the day as is, already working nights, etc, etc. But I still don’t see why Ward 3 is different from the other seven wards in that respect.
Julia,
The minutiae are available in committee reports and other places. A blog is more appropriate for sharing ideas, not a huge flow of details. Some here provide links to web pages that provide details on issues for those who want them. In fact, Ted inundates us with so many details that the “can’t see the forest for the trees” adage becomes applicable.
@Barry– Empathy is not a bad quality in a leader. I’m reminded of a line from Ted Kennedy’s eulogy of his brother, Bobby, who “… saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it.” You have a right to disagree with Ted’s advocacy on behalf of Guantanamo prisoners, but you shouldn’t besmirch his motive with comments like, “But to desire to move him to Newton, a person who likely has a natural hatred for the US, is acting totally against the safety and best interests of us, the people who will vote, and totally to satisfy his own needs.” I don’t believe for a minute that Ted’s motive was a selfish one. I support what Ted and Steve Linsky did. They “saw wrong, and tried to right it,” despite the political ramifications. That’s what good leaders do.
Gail, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw your post. That’s OK, you’re forgiven.
One thing’s for sure, we will no longer get the kind of insight on a mayoral candidate that we had when Gail Spector was in charge of news. Issues are one thing, but traits that inhibit one’s ability to lead a large enterprise effectively don’t come out in debates. True leadership is not book smarts — it’s people smarts
I met a man at Newton City Hall last Thursday night who I am confident is running for AAL in Ward 3. BTW, I think he is a Republican, but aren’t municipal races in MA supposedly non-partisan?
As for Hess-Mahan, I think Newton would thrive with another TED in the Mayor’s office, don’t you? Not only is he informed, and although you may not agree with him (I don’t on several issues), he is trustworthy and a man of conviction. I would like to see a Mayor with some integrity. TED is the MAN for Mayor in 2014!! Let’s rock and roll! 😀
Janet, municipal elections in MA are officially non-partisan.
Unofficially, its basically vote for your favorite Democrat.
http://www.newtondems.org/muni-elections/
Read further, Joshua…
Mike
You said: “Empathy is not a bad quality in a leader.”
True enough, but, as with charity, empathy begins at home. A leader’s first responsibility is to his constituents. If by having empathy for someone, who is potentially very dangerous to the constituents, he is not concerned (has no empathy”) for them, he is not a good leader.
I’d place the safety of Newton residents way above “empathy” for a Gitmo detainee, who can easily be placed somewhere else, most desirably in a foreign country.
Your warm feelings are directed at the wrong person, and, again, I’m glad you failed in your bid to be mayor, and so should Ted.
Barry,
Running for Mayor is a really difficult thing and I wish you wouldn’t stoop so low as to say I’m glad X lost. It’s a huge commitment and people should be congratulated, instead of chastised for running.
Mike and Ted think a like so it makes sense that they found each other. I have a different perspective and I hope people will seek me out….I sorely want to make some people eat their words.
Tom,
I say I’m glad that he lost in order to emphasize my dislike of a lot of his views, though I respect his thoughtfulness. When he ran, I had no idea about what he felt on a lot of issues, not that he necessarily hid them, and I was really down on David Cohen. Now that I know how he feels, I want to emphasize that I won’t make the same mistake again, in spite of the fact that Setti isn’t my favorite, since I better understand Ted.
Sorry if you don’t like how I express myself. Anyone who cares more about the feelings of some enemy of the US than the well-being of the citizens of Newton should not be mayor.
Sounds good.
Janet, I couldn’t help but remark about how many of the 2011 contested municipal races were between one registered member of the NDCC running against another member of the NDCC.
Ward 1 At-Large Alderman
Ward 2 School Committee
Ward 4 School Committee
Ward 5 School Committee
Ward 6 At-Large Alderman
Ward 8 At-Large Alderman
I see the same dynamic in 2013
Mayor’s Race
Ward 5 At-Large Alderman
Ward 2 Ward Alderman
I was surprised to see that Eve Tapper (Ward 2 Ward Alderman), Andrea Steenstrup (Ward 2 School Committee) and Alison Leary (Ward 1 Ward Alderman) weren’t members of the NDCC. I think that’s probably an oversight. No big deal either way. Other than being something worth remarking on, I’m not losing sleep over it.
Barry– I’m not familiar with the specific Guantanamo detainee or detainees that were considered for Newton, but I’m quite sure that Ted and Steve Linsky, would not have supported bringing anyone here who posed a danger to the community. My limited knowledge of Guantanamo leaves me with the distinct impression that many of those detained there, were non-combatants and not even militant Islamists. So, if you are more knowledgable than I as to the specific individuals, their alleged crimes, and their level of danger, you can win this argument by default.
Joshua,
Not all 4 candidates of Mayor are NDCC. Despite what you say or are looking st, I am an independent and the only non-democrat in the race. Actually, I was PR person for the Massachusetts Independent Party, until I decided to run for Mayor.
Mike,
It doesn’t matter who he was. He didn’t have to be re-located to Newton and have us assume a risk. Look at the Tsarnaev brothers (and the parents), look at Major Haddad from Fort Hood, who we assumed were on our side. And this guy was indoctrinated in hate by the other Muslim detainees and by his treatment by the US. It’s a fool who wants to do what Ted and Linsky wanted, and a fool who can’t see that they were acting as fools.
I don’t want my kids to have to endure any risk to make this unknown guy comfortable. There are plenty of worthy people we could invite to Newton.
Sorry, Major Hasan of Fort Hood. Doesn’t matter. And remember Anwar Al-Awlaki, born and raised in the US, whom the US had to kill in a drone strike in Yemen. Again, don’t make me take a risk to satisfy your social engineering desires.
Tom, I was referring to the two candidates that have had the highest profile during this campaign.
@Barry– Not to belabor the debate, but you’re assuming there was some inherent risk in bringing this specific individual to Newton. You don’t know that for a fact, right? So you can drag the Tsarnaev brothers, Major Hasan, Whitey Bulger, Al Capone, and Frankenstein’s Monster into the conversation if you want. Unless you know for a fact that the individual detainee posed a threat, you’re basing your opinion on a guess about his character. Many innocents were caught up in the aftermath of 9-11. Some of them ended up in US custody. Not all pose a threat. Without knowing the specific details of the individual involved, neither of us is qualified to pass judgement.
Mike,
You still don’t get it. I’m no prophet and I can’t tell what will happen. The guy got to Gitmo from some situation overseas in a conflict with the US. He’s been surrounded by Muslim malcontents. He’s been mistreated most likely at Gitmo by our military and CIA. He’s carrying some emotional baggage. Even if he’s totally an innocent bystander, which I seriously doubt, he most likely, because of his Gitmo experience, would at least have something akin to the PTSD that our soldiers come home with from the battlefield, in addition to the anti-Americanism that pervades the detainees. I don’t want him here.
If he deserves a chance, send him to one of the 57 Islamic countries in the world. At least one should take him. Or anyplace else. We here in Newton owe him nothing. If the US erred, give him some cash as restitution to take with him.
But, your arguments will never convince me that it was anything but a distorted and dangerous outlook on justice that caused Ted to desire to bring him here. Such a man should not be our mayor.
Mike,
So everyone is on the same page until they act out, in your world. So Mother Theresa is the same as Jeffrey Dahmer? Really? Afterall, you weren’t there when Dahmer killed people. If the courts came out and said we made a mistake, we were looking for Jeffrey Dohmer, not Dahmer and they let him out, he’d be welcome to be your neighbor?
Now, if you were the Mayor at the time and you knew part of your job is to protect the citizens of Newton and Dahmer wants to move to Newton..you’d welcome him??? I don’t know.
Gentlemen — Aside from the question of whether a man proved innocent of crimes that had endured terrible physical pain and mental anguish in the hands of our gov’t might become a problem — it’s also what the hell is so special about Newton that makes us think he would want to be here? The same question relates to the potential residents of a Waban home for unresolved homeless issues — why on earth would they choose, of all places, to live next to a golf course in Waban? The air here is pleasant, but is very similar to lots of places — what makes us think everyone would be hitting the lottery if they had a room in Newton?
@Tom– What does Jeffrey Dahmer have to do with this argument? Do you know any of the facts related to the specific individual at the center of this debate? Do you know what country he was from? What religion he is? What crime he was alleged to have committed? Any pertinent fact? Because those FACTS are all that matter. Barry apparently knows none, yet he’s suggesting that this individual was so badly damaged emotionally that he’s not fit to come to Newton. Historically, things like imprisonment and torture have been cause to grant asylum, not a disqualification.
@Hoss– I assume this detainees options beyond Guantanamo were limited. Not dissimilar to the situation Eric Snowden, finds himself in today.
Mike,
You still miss the point. I’m saying there’s a high likelihood that he ended up in Gitmo because he’s an enemy of the US. And there’s a high likelihood that he has emotional issues because of his experiences that would make him a danger. That’s the downside for us.
There is NO upside for us to do this. The world is a big place. We don’t need to take the risk. And, I recall no argument at the time that says he was a wonderful person. Only a sense of guilt that the US is bad, a typical left-wing notion, and that we must compensate for that no matter what. That’s probably why you brought up the Snowden analogy, another leftist anti-American that belongs with that idiot Julian Assange, another completely irresponsible jerk.
Send him someplace else, if he deserves to be free. I don’t want to take the chance here. That’s all. Is that hard to understand?
Barry Cohen — Yhe details on individual cases show that there are individuals wrongly accused and who suffered. But similar to the man that was sad because he had no shoes, then met a man w no feet — it’s a question of what would have happened with an American accused in the hands of other gov’ts. So, while I feel sad for those cases, there are 300+ municipalities in Massachusetts and I assume more the 15,000 nationally. And USA is just one country in this marble. The position against this possibility for me is that Newton gov’t is not charitable endeavor. But we treat it as a charitable endevour over and over w things like buying power creditsfrom a green deliverer in Texas that we know could not deliver to Newton, and further by donating expensive real estate in Waban to Pine Street Inn. We are kind, but our articles of incorporation, I assume, does not allow outright donations for benefit beyond our tiny boarder. Newton goes too far, and the same people sponsor this abuse of taxation.
Mike, my point was that the use of Mother theresa and Jeffrey Dahmer was two extremes you would treat the same unless you visibly saw the bad in Dahmer. As far as the guy from Gitmo is concerned, before he can get my support to live in Newton people would have to convince me that he was a victim and was at the wrong place at the wrong time….I doubt that can be done. Therefore, I’m with Barry, in that I would rather be too safe than sorry.
Hoss, I’m confused by your statement, “further by donating expensive real estate in Waban to Pine Street Inn.” The city cannot donate the so-called Engine 6 to the Pine Street Inn. It is owned by the Hospice of the Good Shepherd, and will be sold at market rate. It is not the City’s to donate.
Native Newtonian — There are limited federal funds thus if the property was more expensive than a larger property for the same use, there’s a clear subsidy.
I’ll add one more point about the Gitmo thing. In my opinion, the mayor and the BOA are elected to run the city in an efficient manner. Their personal opinions on broader political issues are theirs, and they should advocate for them on their own time, in another venue, not while they are serving us.
The Gitmo thing represents Ted’s personal perspective as a leftist who blames the US for everything wrong in the world. He’s free to pursue that himself. But, he shouldn’t try to pass a bill that commits all the citizens of Newton to his point of view. He should stick to things like land use, but he so wants everyone to think like him that he abused his role as an Alderman.
This is exactly how I felt about the Iraq war resolution which the BOA did pass, and which Ted voted for, and his buddy Linsky spearheaded. It’s not their role, nor their right to presume that they can speak for the citizens of Newton on anything other than that for which we elect them, to make Newton a pleasant city that runs within its budget. But of course that’s not as exciting as debating the Iraq war or the situation of a Gitmo detainee.
As a Ward 3 voter, I’m just relieved that I won’t have that poisonous little man representing me. There are many people who I disagree with on many issues who are nonetheless honorable and dedicated public servants. Chervinsky, on the other hand, is a troll with a record of defaming those who disagree with him.
Hello All,
I am writing in to alleviate the fears of no candidates for the Ward 3 at Large race. This afternoon I turned in my 1st set of nomination papers for certification. There are enough signatures there for me to land a spot in the race. My goal is to run an ambitious and visible campaign that will generate a large number of votes thereby validating my running to the voters of Newton. Please note that I have a vast amount of governmental and community experience that will serve Newton well. In my last and only previous campaign, that took place in Worcester in the 2005 city elections, I received the endorsement of the Educational Association of Worcester, the City Labor Council, and the Mass Nurses Association. (Moved to Newton in 2007) I will have my Facebook and website up shortly, in the meantime the Tab ran an article about me in the 7/10 issue on page 3. Stay tuned!!!