Congratulations to everybody!
Albright elected to School Committee; Crossley and Yates re-elected
by Nathan Phillips | Nov 5, 2013 | Newton | 22 comments
Crazy Divers: Men be like...
drivers man be like
Congratulations to everybody!
Crazy Divers: Men be like...
drivers man be like
CONGRATULATIONS TO MARGARET!!!!!!
Very excited about Margaret Albright’s victory!
And I have to give Brian Yates credit for a robocall that began by apologizing for robocalling 🙂
Yes, huge congratulations.
Congratulations to Margaret!!!
Congratulations to Brain and deb.
Chris, you ran a great race, all of you did…nice job.
I have supported so many candidates that lost that I worried that I was a jinx. This time, all three of the candidates that I supported on principle and their stance on issues won. I don’t quite know how to deal with this except to say that my faith in the intelligence of Newton’s electorate has been restored. Keep believing and chasing after windmills, folks. Let’s not make it about power or threats of retaliation or petty calls to the election commission about distance from polling entrances or unattended signs. Let’s just make it about being the best school system that we can possibly be, outshining our neighbors. Let’s make it about smart development where residents get the upper hand, not rich corporations,
@Tom – Thanks very much. I’m happy with the campaign we ran and with the issues we got to discuss. There’s plenty of work to do around the City, and I’m sure we’ll all be crossing paths on a full set of topics over the coming weeks and months.
Thanks also to everyone for their support, and also to everyone who came to their door to talk with a new candidate.
I also hope that Chris Steele remains engaged. He has a good deal to offer and our thanks should go to him for engaging in the contest.
This certainly illustrates how hard it is to unseat an incumbent. Steele knocked on 1,500 doors and has been campaigning pretty much non-stop since the override.
Of course, he ran against two of our better aldermen and, just when he seemed most vulnerable, Brian Yates really stepped up in the home stretch with an image makeover and the best robocall I ever recall receiving, all while driving home what he knows and does for our city.
All three candidates ran dignified, respectful, informative, clean, campaigns.
This was a campaign worthy of our city’s finest aspirations.
What Greg said in his last two sentences.
I agree. And I’m disappointed I didn’t get the Brian Yates robocall that everyone’s raving about. )-;
Clearly Chris should move to a ward that needs him more 🙂
Greg has it exactly right. I think most folks know I was supporting Brian Yates and was doing whatever I could to advance his cause. While all this was going on, however, Chris Steele and I were sharing our thoughts and book lists about multiple global environmental dislocations that are coming at us at an ever increasing pace. We come at this from vastly different experiences, but we are on the same page with regard to what’s happening, what the impacts are likely to be on generations just ahead of us, and how little is really being done to reverse most of these ominous trends. I’m certain it’s dawned on both of us that some of the things that consume discussion in Newton look pretty mild when compared to what’s going on throughout the World in terms of environmental and resource protection. But a lot of the tactical solutions will likely come from the local level and that’s what makes all of Newton’s current initiatives well worth the effort. Both Chris and Brian are a joy to talk with and to learn from.
…and so is Alderman Crossley
@Greg. Absolutely.
@Greg. I guess the oversight is caused from the fact that I never thought Deb would run anything but first in this contest. Yates had the most diverse assortment of signs, Steele the most concentrated and pin pointed, but it was Deb’s signs that appeared everywhere in Newton. She was everywhere and she never stopped asking for my vote even though she knew what I was going to do.
Brian. I’m now officially dissed that I didn’t ‘t get the robo call
One note about robo calls that will become a significant factor.
The information made public about registered voters used to include a phone number. It no longer does.
So it will become more and more difficult for independent candidates to have an up to date phone list to assist their campaign make robo calls or even individual calls to raise support.
Candidates with access to democrat party databases will have an increasing advantage in Newton over time.
This is a big issue for future campaigns.
This Yates robocall is becoming the stuff of urban legend. I feel compelled to raise another point: the candidate who is now our longest serving alderman was also this race’s most innovative and creative communicator. Think about how much attention his robocall AND the “Yes to Yates” sign (and choice of others) captured. Really overturns the stereotype that those who have been in the game for a long while can’t surprise you with fresh approaches. It’s even more remarkable when achieved by putting a fresh spin on traditional tactics.
For innovation alone, Brian deserves to be an alderman for a lot longer!
Y’know, Brian Yates is an earnest guy whose heart bleeds Newton. I guess being a sixth generation resident will do that. I’m a third generation (maybe fourth) resident of Newton myself so I’m glad that Brian pulled it out.
I received a call from Brian’s house last Friday before the election. I called the number back and Brian was surprised I called him. I figured the call I got was the robo-call that went to voice mail. If so, I’ll listen to it in due time.
When I picked up the robocall, caller i.d. read, “Brian Yates”. Most of the other calls were either “Private Caller” or an out of state number. So I think that happened because Brian put his home number out there. Not something that candidates usually do.
I had the great privilege of standing outside of Mason-Rice school Tuesday evening sign holding in the company of Alderman Yates. Not only did the time pass quickly for me, I had an opportunity to watch his ease and grace with constituents. It was an evening I shall not soon forget.