Here at Village 14 we’re ready for anything that might happen — or not tonight. So be sure to come back after the polls close to discuss the election results.
Here at Village 14 we’re ready for anything that might happen — or not tonight. So be sure to come back after the polls close to discuss the election results.
Where’s the byline?
Sheff has posted his victory speech (and a concession) on his Facebook page (I’m not kidding)
Y’know, Tom Sheff is an earnest guy whose heart bleeds Newton. And Jackie Sequeira had the audacity to run for the highest office in the city on her first try. Instead of mocking these good people, I would like to thank them for having the courage to run.
I agree with Ted about Tom Sheff. Even though I strongly disagree with Tom Sheff’s platform of more bicycle lanes, traffic cameras, OPEB Overrides and MIIA Tax Surcharges, he is a Thoughtfully Concerned Newtonian. Tom Sheff is the best example of how I can have a high regard for someone personally without agreeing with their political platform.
I agree with Ted about people who choose to run for office.
Very Low – lowest of lows.
Greg didn’t your mother ever teach you that the person you toss down on the ground today might be your boss tomorrow?
A little respect for Tom and Jackie running would have been a better headline.
Tom and Jackie are sincere Newtonites but why should we thank them for running?
Good people that they may be, neither of them brought thought provoking or illuminating issues to the discussion. Neither of them put on a serious campaign (fund raising or gaining support). The greatest achievement of both campaigns was to gather signatures, forcing the city to spend money on a citywide primary. They wrote a few letters to the TAB and showed up at one debate. Not much investment on their part, the investment was strictly from the taxpayers of Newton. Was it worth it? How did Newton benefit?
Our well intended instinct to thank people for participating is wrong. A candidate who does not make a viable effort, who has no chance for winning, who doesn’t bring a new or provocative message to the discussion, who diverts taxpayer money for the sake of their vanity should be met with scorn not thanks.
Joanne – Actually the turnout was typical for a municipal preliminary election. ’09 was the exception, and even that was only 28%.
I was about to respond to “JHolden’s” remarks but I just realized that there is no JHolden in the Newton voter database and it would be a waste of time to argue with “JHolden”.
If I was to respond to “JHolden”, I would have pointed out that what Newton spent on yesterday’s election was probably less than $41,000 it spends annually on the salary of the teacher’s union president.
And that was the smallest item of the Baker’s Dozen items that I found that Newton needs to adopt in order to improve its fiscal management so as to fund the 20 Year CIP Program and the unfunded retiree benefits without having to override Proposition 2.5 or cut core programs, services and essential public servants.
@ Jane – I was not referring to the low voter turnout – I was referring to Greg hitting an All time Low.
Joshua Norman: why do you have to be so consistently disagreeable? 80% of bloggers here don’t use their full name yet you feel obligated to insult me. Unlike you, I am a taxpayer. Unlike you, I have kids in the schools. Unlike you, I have common sense and some social skills. By many measures I’m more entitled to an opinion about the state of Newton than you are. A piece of advice for you: Go to the Library and take out the book, “How to win friends and influence people”. It’s never too late to learn to play well with others.
I agree that we shouldn’t pay the President of the Teachers Union. This discussion is about the election that we shouldn’t have had. It was wasteful of time and money and a distraction.
I don’t know why I bother to engage with “JHolden” but whatever.
My rent is going up because of this recent tax increase. DON’T YOU DARE TELL ME I don’t pay taxes.
You’re right, I don’t have kids in the schools, but I’m paying for it anyway.
Unlike you, I don’t hide behind a pseudonym
Your advice is as unwelcome as your presence.
@Joanne:
….And I have some advice for you too: Invest in one of these.
Greg-
I find you to be incredibly childish and I think you must have been beaten up day after day as a child and it’s affected your brain. (I’m not kidding about that).
J Holden-
I am sorry I didn’t live up to your expectation of a candidate. The people that I was trying to represent, the downtrodden, have been hit with higher taxes from the national level, the state level and the local level, I didn’t feel comfortable asking them for more money until after I got past the preliminary. As far as not bringing anything to the table some of my ideas have been implemented by the mayor already. I had on my platform a website/alert system to inform people of the construction going on in Newton so people can check the web site and plan their day accordingly. According to the Mayor that was implemented 2 weeks ago and I had that issue on my website (an idea I got from a friend) atleast 2 months ago. I don’t know if he got the idea from me or someone from his staff read my platform but I had it up atleast a month before it was implemented. As far as everything else, I feel I brought more attention to OPEB, unnecessary cutbacks at Newtv, I had an idea to raise revenue for the schools that would have eliminated school fees, Full Day Kindergarten. I don’t know what you expect when the city has one debate which doesn’t sound like you watched since all of these issues came up on it (except FDK, which I wrote in to the Tab about). JHolden, maybe you should be the filter to determine whether a candidate was viable. You, Greg and Gail can all determine who runs or doesn’t. People seem to listen to you, I don’t know why I find the 3 of you full of yourselves and full of IT. Have a nice day:).
Is anyone else getting tired of the childish bickering from this blog? I thought it was supposed to be adults discussing, sharing, disagreeing yet respectful. It has degenerated into name calling and the type of rudeness that we all seek to teach our children to avoid. Shame on the lot of you.
@Tom – I’m glad that you ran. I may not have voted for you, but I believe it’s important to have contested elections and public debate.
@Native Newtonian – YES!!!
Joanne – I should never read before my second cup of coffee.
I know what you mean Jane- On my second cup right now!
And Thanks SO Much Greg – obviously I was right that your mother never taught you any manners.