Polls open Tuesday at 7 a.m. Make your final pitch here.
Please vote for….
by Greg Reibman | Nov 3, 2013 | Newton | 12 comments
by Greg Reibman | Nov 3, 2013 | Newton | 12 comments
Polls open Tuesday at 7 a.m. Make your final pitch here.
September 13, 2023
Men's Crib September 13, 2023 5:20 am
In the Ward 2 School Committee race, voters have an opportunity to vote for a candidate with real knowledge, expertise and experience in education – Margaret Albright. We strongly believe that a diversity of backgrounds and skill sets will always make for the best possible school committee, and Margaret Albright is the education candidate. With her strong background in K-12 policy, she will be a unique and invaluable resource for the Newton Public Schools.
Innovation is one of the Core Values from NPS’ Mission Statement. It states that we will continually assess and improve our teaching and learning. How better to accomplish this than to have someone with a background in education policy, and a strong vision for where we need to take our schools. It also states that we will be a recognized leader in education and curriculum development. Once again, who would be best suited to help us attain this goal?
Excellence is another Core Value and it calls for educating the whole child by striving for excellence in academic, artistic, physical, interpersonal and vocational pursuits. Margaret is passionate about this, and has strongly advocated for increasing our investment in early childhood learning with full day kindergarten, for cutting fees on the arts and for improving support for out of school activities.
Finally, the Mission Statement states we will continuously assess and improve our teaching and learning. Margaret strongly supports fully funding the digital resources and teacher training that we need, and advocates for accelerating our investments in STEM education to assure up to date teaching and learning environments, allowing our students to reach their maximum potential.
It’s time to bring someone who has experience, expertise and passion for educating the whole child onto the School Committee. Please join us and vote for Margaret Albright, the education candidate.
Jay Harney – Ward 4 Alderman
Amy Sangiolo – Ward 4 Alderman at Large
Here are my picks:
Eve Tapper – she knows her STUFF!!!!!
Chris Steele – He knows his stuff, and Village centers are important to him and all of us; budget issues are important to him and all of us as is Newton Public Schools.
Margaret Albright – because she KNOWS education and she knows how to make it better! I am concerned that the school committee is becoming a group of like thinkers that CANT think out of the box. We need the outside voices, and we are losing one of them. NPS and Newton need Margaret Albright. As a parent of two students in NPS, we need help and we need Margaret’s ideas for the future!
VOTE TUESDAY and don’t forget to vote for Waban Council also!
November 5th is Election Day and in Ward 1 you have a clear choice to make. You can vote for the status quo, the old ways, the go along to get along, or you can vote for someone who will work tirelessly to assure that her constituents are well represented. Alison Leary is the right choice for Newton.
Alison Leary will make sure your children have safe streets to use to get to and from the great schools of Newton. Assure that these schools continue to maintain their high standards that have made Newton a prime destination for people who want their children to have a great education to set them on the path to success. Alison Leary will make sure the infrastructure of Newton will still provide the level of services we have all grown accustomed too while assuring city government is spending within it’s means.
Alison is the candidate that will make sure your voice is heard, that you are well represented and that you are well informed. She has knocked on doors tirelessly since April to introduce herself to you but more so to understand the problems and challenges each one of her constituents is dealing with and helping you find resolutions. This is the kind of dedication and forethought we need in Newton. This is the kind of advocacy our neighborhoods need. This is the candidate we need to send to the board of Alderman to make sure Newton remains one of the best places in America to live, work, get and education, and raise children.
Alison and I have lived our whole lives in Newton. Our parents, grand parents and many family members have called Newton their home for over 100 year.
We are so happy and feel it is a privilege bringing up our children in Newton. We know our children will grow up and feel the same way we do about this great city, but it takes hard work and dedication, and I can think of no better person to make sure this happens in Newton for residents than my wife Alison Leary.
Please join me in voting for Alison Leary on November 5th!
Emily Norton and Margaret Albright are model candidates: they are active ALL the time (not just during elections), they are engaged, purposeful, accessible, thoughtful, organized, focused, attentive to the needs of the residents of Newton, and educated as to the ways and means to make this a better city.
I honestly cannot imagine two better candidates and I cannot imagine anyone else would work harder for our city than they would.
Please vote for Allan Ciccone Senior. Allan Ciccone Senior is a life-long resident of Newton and he has his finger on the pulse of Ward 1
The majority of Ward 1 residents voted against the override. Allan Ciccone Senior is the only candidate that voted against the override.
Many of Ward 1 residents work in the landscaping and related industries. Allan Ciccone Senior is the only candidate that opposed the leafblower ban and recognized that it is a tool of the trade.
Allan Ciccone Senior is not afraid to buck his party’s establishment. He’s the only candidate that has courageously called for Boston and other communities to pay us $5 Million annually for educating 500+ of their students in Newton Public Schools.
Allan Ciccone Senior also has a forward-thinking progressive vision on non-fiscal issues. Mr. Ciccone emphasized the need to resolve the Newton Corner Circle of Death Traffic Problems, supports fee relief for parents of schoolchildren and wants the City of Newton to work with the Sisters of Saint Joseph towards acquiring Aquinas.
Alison Leary and Peter Mooradian are nice people but however Alison’s positions on taxes and pushing more costs onto consumers to meet her environmental agenda are why I oppose her and support Allan. Plus she will do nothing to deal with the need for Boston and other communities to pay us for educating their students in our school system to supplement the meager state aid we currently get for educating them in Newton.
Alison has a clear plan on reviewing all School programs (and all city budgets) to find waste and improve efficiencies and synergies. Alison will reach out to the right State legislators to find ways to ease the burden on the Newton tax payer, All Allan will do is just tell you we shouldn’t pay anything for it. As my daughter said at the debate at the American Legion ” Daddy a lot of my best friends are Metco kids, does this mean they can’t go to school with me anymore”.
Alison wants to add more transportation option to Newton to reduce traffic, Allan will only say people won’t give up their cars.and we should just hire more Police. While we are all in favor of more Police, where do you think that money will come from? Increased taxes, so who is the candidate to increase taxes.
Alison continues to work tirelessly to make improvements to our city. The city she was born and grew up in. The city where her families roots run as deep as anyone. The city that she loves and wants to ensure is always considered the best city in America for people to live, work, and raise children in.
Alison will do her homework and talk to her constituents every day on these issues so she is prepared to cast her votes based on the best interest of those she will serve. She will not delay the process she will keep it going forward.
Alison is the person Ward 1 needs to send to the Board of Alderman!
Peter, if Alison was sincere about wanting to reduce costs, she would not have supported the override. I led the opposition to the override because I wanted Newton to solve its $1+ Billion Borrowing Binge and structural spending problem without resorting to tax increases. Supporting the override put $11.4M more in the pot, which filtered through to fund more of the 80% of what we fund all the time (compensation and benefits).
Allan Ciccone Senior bucked the party line by calling for Boston and other communities to pay $5M/year for 500+ out-of-district students. Alison pretends that it only costs $540K/year.
As for your daughter’s out-of-district student friends, explain how their educational experience would change if Boston and their home communities sent us a $5M check each year. Think about this, we spend $7M/year net of state aid for 500+ out-of-district students to come to Newton and another $13M/year to send 200 of our kids to get educated in other schools. We’re paying both ways and that’s not fair when Boston has accumulated a $1.4 Billion portfolio of liquid investment securities. Meanwhile Newton has racked up $1 BILLION worth of debt and retirement benefit liabilities. Boston has never had an override on the ballot. Newton has had six overrides (two passed, four failed) on the ballot plus CPA.
Allan recognizes that people need their cars. Alison doesn’t. We don’t need more cops. We’re hiring four more already and Newton is still the fourth safest city in the US. What are the new cops going to do, undercover stings to enforce crosswalk laws?
As for Alison reaching out to the right state legislators, the right state legislators already know who Allan is and he has the relationship with them to move things forward. Last I checked, our very own State Representative John Lawn endorsed Allan, not Alison.
Allan Ciccone has his finger on the pulse of Newton’s needs and especially Ward 1’s needs. Alison Leary is too extreme for Newton and especially Ward 1.
Brian Yates for all the reasons I have stated on past blogs.
Mr. Mooradian,
I disagree with your remarks towards my father. He is the LAST person to go for status quo. He has structured ordinances and amendments which have SAVED the city money each and every year since their inception. As far as educating Boston Students, should we be paying for children from other cities and towns to be educated in Newton while parents are stuck paying for user fees for their children to play a sport, be in an arts program or take a bus? I have lifelong friends who I attended school with from Boston and at the time when space was available and the program was fully funded it was a win/win situation. The program is not fully funded and Boston needs to step up to the plate and make up the difference, it’s that simple. We do not have the funding sources to continue a program which will only cost more money each year it continues in Newton. Boston is in a situation where they are to gain millions of dollars with casino business so why should Newton have to subsidize their school aged children? I don’t think my Dad is too far off asking Boston to make up the difference to educate their children. If the program was fully funded as in the past we wouldn’t be having this issue. You also made a comment about “just hire police officers”, well are you aware since the 1970’s we have lost over 100 police officer positions? In a city of close to 90,000 residents Newton ranks as one of the lowest in the country. (please check my numbers, I have done my homework) 242 uniformed police officers back then and 143 is budgeted now. Where did that money go??? If we have enough police officers than why did the Mayor himself put 4 police officer positions in with one of the latest overrides?I will tell you why. During his village tours he asked the people of the city what needs to be done and where? I don’t have the exact numbers and I won’t speak for the Mayor but I would guess the number was overwhelming if he made it a part of an override ballot question. You can only do more with less for so long until something has to give. I myself have an item docketed with Alderman Fuller to compare overtime costs vs. police positions. The administration has agreed to set up a sub-committee with the board to research the pros and cons as well as comparisons to police departments with similar populations. If the administration is saying we need to look at this I think their are more people than my father who finds this at the very least a little alarming. Raising our children in a safe environment with great, strong schools is my Dad’s first priority as well as mine. I won’t fault my Father for looking out for the city stability. Are we going towards being a city of fees (another tax in my opinion) and overrides just to keep our key programs and services in place? Good police, fire and schools are why people move here to Newton. Our property values stay on the upper level as well because of our schools, police and fire.
My Dad’s record of work on the board speaks for itself. He wants whats best for the city, keeping our core programs and services in place while being fiscally responsible. Status quo? You got the wrong guy Mr. Mooradian.
Allan L. Ciccone Jr
Hi Folks,
Scott Lennon has just released this letter of endorsement.
Dear Friends,
On Tuesday, November 5th we have an opportunity to elect a seasoned veteran for Alderman in Ward One. I hope you will join me in voting for my friend Allan Ciccone.
Allan is a life-long resident of Newton who has been educated by Newton schools and worked for years as a Newton police officer. He has raised a family here and his children and almost have been educated in the Newton schools.
As I do, Allan cares deeply about Newton and has served us very well as an Alderman in the past. He understands how the city works and what constituents need and you can bet he will hit the ground running. Allan has a keen sense of how to look at issues on all sides. He is passionate about public safety, education, the spending of hard-earned tax dollars and seeing to it that residents are heard and get a fair and balaned approach to all their city services.
Allan is a friend to many and will be an effective and responsible member of the Board of Aldermen. I hope you will join me in voting for him on Tuesday, November 5th.
Thanks
Scott Lennon, Alderman-at-Large
Ward One
President, Board of Aldermen
Ward Alderman – 2002 – 2013
Polls are open from 7:00a.m. to 8:00p.m.
Peter, I have to agree with Jay Ciccone and Scott Lennon here.
Here is who I want to see win the competitive aldermanic/school committee races tomorrow:
School Committee, Ward 2: Margaret Albright:
Where do I begin? Margaret Albright emphasizes the need to move educational excellence and outcomes forward with fiscal responsibility by prioritizing our budget
Alderman At-Large, Ward 5: Brian Yates:
Co-sponsored the residential exemption proposal, strong constituent service background and he helped save the Auburndale and Waban branch libraries
Ward Alderman, Ward 1: Allan Ciccone Senior
Opposed the recent override tax increase and called for Boston and other communities to pay us $5M/year for educating 500+ out-of-district students in Newton Schools
Ward Alderman, Ward 2: Emily Norton
Supports environmental excellence without resorting to PAYT, legendary Newtonville activist, founder of GreatNewtonSchools and opposes urbanizing Newtonville because she wants to keep Newton affordable.
Here are the candidates I’m voting for in the uncontested races:
Alderman At-Large, Ward 3: James Cote:
Opposed the recent override tax increase and seeks to reform unfunded liabilities
Alderman At-Large, Ward 1: Jay Ciccone:
His above post says it all
Alderman At-Large, Ward 1: Scott Lennon:
His endorsement letter says it all
What I am noticing here — and in talking with people at the polls — mostly sign holding supporters — is that people are not lock-step voting for a slate. For instance, I talked with some well-infomred Waban folks who were supporting Chris Steele AND voting for Margaret. Something that I didn’t expect. People voting on issues and candidates’ stands.