Jan Huffman of Indiana Terrace was recently named the 2013 Newton Republican of the Year by the Newton Republican City Committee. In addition to various volunteer efforts throughout the year, Jan served as office manager for congressional candidate Sean Bielat’s Newton office and played an important role in establishing Newton’s September 11 memorial.
Aside from his political and citywide efforts, Jan’s known around Upper Falls for pitching in behind the scenes with help for nearly every Upper Falls activity or event in recent memory.
Aside from all that, he’s no doubt best known on Indiana Terrace as Mr. Cotton Candy.
congratulations!!!!
Jan and Susan Huffman are Upper Falls Dynamos.
http://village14.com/netwon-ma/2013/06/the-upper-falls-dynamo/#comment-34211
Jan was also the Webmaster for Moving Newton Forward and is a valuable member of the Newton Taxpayers Association’s Institutional Presence & Identity Team as well as the Organizational Communications Team.
This is a well deserved recognition not because of Jan’s politics, but because of how much he has done for Newton over the years. I’m a pretty solid leftie, but it’s been a pleasure getting to know Jan and Susan Huffman through our activities togwether as Friends of Hemlock Gorge and on other matters pertaining to the Highlands and Upper Falls. I’ve been thinking lately that we might be able to eliminate the more negative aspects of partisanship if Republicans and Democrats came together to work on important community projects like the ones Jan is being recognized for, or on local issues that transcend and difference between the two parties at higher levels of government.
Bob, with regards to (registered) Republicans and Democrats coming together to work on important community projects like the ones Jan is being recognized for, or on local issues that transcend and difference between the two parties at higher levels of government, I would like to call your attention to projects involving the Newton Upper Falls Area Council.
Susan Huffman is a proud grassroots Republican and Brian Yates and the Bridgers are staunch Democrats but they are working together on important Upper Falls area projects, most notably investigating the feasibility of a new Upper Falls School in lieu of expanding Zervas.
Congratulations to Jan ! A terrific Republican and more importantly a terrific community servant for Newton. Well deserved Jan. Keep up the good work!
@Joshua. Thanks for expanding on my comments and I don’t have to tell you that the Bridgers and Brian Yates are very special for me, too. They seem to have a knack about articulating what will work and what won’t in Newton and village public affairs. Jerry Reilly, village merchants, and every other member of the Upper Falls Area Council deserve mention and this include particularly another good Republican Anil Adyanthaya, who reaches out to everyone as the Council’s President.
You guys are awesome! Thanks so much for all the kind words. You have no idea how much they are appreciated – and just wait until Jan sees this!!
Congratulations Jan for being recognized for your commitment to your community. Jan is always ready to get his feet wet when it comes to taking an active role in whatever project he signs up! I am proud to serve with him as a member of the Newton-911 Memorial Foundation, where he is a founding member and has held the office of treasurer from the start.
It’s wonderful to see people validated for their contributions to the issues in which they’re immersed. I am sure there is much more to come from the “man-with-the cotton-candy” in Newton…