Join NewTV and the League of Women Voters of Newton (LWVN) for an evening with the candidates for the Governor’s Council (3rd District) and for Ward 3 Ward Alderman. Audience members can watch the debates live from the NewTV conference room. The debate will also be shown at a later day/time on NewTV’s Government Channel and on the web at www.newtv.org.
Send us your questions! NewTV and LWVN want to hear from you about the issues and questions you think are important to ask the candidates. Email your questions to [email protected] anytime before the debate. While the moderators might not be able to ask every question as written, they will try to cover all the topics recommended by the public.
The debate will take place at NewTV studios at 23 Needham Street, Newton Highlands. Candidates for Governor’s Council will debate at 7 p.m. and those for Ward 3 Ward Alderman will debate at 8 p.m.
This debate is a collaboration between NewTV and the League of Women Voters of Newton. For more information, please email [email protected].
Anybody else noticing Charlie Shapiro for Gov Council ads showing up online? I was checking the weather on my smart phone yesterday and there he was! Looking at Facebook that evening on my laptop…there he was again.
Not sure if Charlie can win on Sept. 9 but I give him credit for leaving no stone unturned.
I’m with Charlie. He will bring vigor, common sense and openness to the Governor’s Council. You may feel this institution should be abolished, but as long as it is considering high level appointments, it’s importance can’t be understated. As Greg noted, Charlie understands and knows how to craft impressive and informative public outreach strategies on government related programs and policies. We won’t be left wondering what the Executive Council does and what it’s supposed to do. Go Charlie.
I’d rather Charlie run again for Ward 6 Alderman At-Large.
A lot of good folks endorsed him in his 2011 run. He received support from Progressive, reform-oriented Democrats like Emily Norton, Peter Harrington, and Mike Striar as well as moderates like Alderman Jay Ciccone, Former Alderman Allan Ciccone, Former State Representative Candidate George Withington and Larry & Sande Young.
Interestingly enough, both candidates for 16th Middlesex State Representative in 1976 (Democrat Joe DeNucci & Republican George Withington) endorsed Charlie as well as the current Auditor (Suzanne Bump) and former Auditor (Joe DeNucci).
I may occasionally disagree with some of his stands, but unlike the current Ward 6 Aldermen At-Large, Charlie was the only candidate that ran in 2011 who grew up in Newton, who understood Newton community needs and wasn’t beholden to Newton’s Political Insider Group.
http://charlieshapiro2011.org/endorsements/
Thank you to the League of Women Voters for putting on a TV forum to reach those voters that cannot attend other events.
Please note that there will also be two additional opportunities to meet and talk with the Ward 3 candidates:
8/20/14: A 7:00PM event, sponsored by the Ward 3 Republican Committee, will be held in the Police Community Room in West Newton.
8/28/14: A 7:00PM event, sponsored by the Ward 3 Democrat Committee will be held at the Senior Center, 345 Walnut St.
Important to note that as this is a municipal election the parties will not endorse candidates. The committees are doing this as a service to the community.
Jim Cote
Alderman at Large, Ward 3
I very much appreciate all the positive comments.
Greg, this is very winnable, and I appreciate you mentioning some of the work we’re doing to make it happen and improve the Gov Council. The support has grown tremendously, and this time it’s a 1-1 primary contest.
Yes, we are using the web and social media to get the word out about the differences between the incumbent and me. You can see the 7 main bullet points at http://www.voteshapiro.org.
But more importantly, I am visiting the town committees, farmers markets and local gatherings, and talking with dedicated voters practically every day.
Very few democratic committees endorse at all in the primary, but the ones who have, have endorsed me. The Belmont DTC endorsed me. (I received 90% of the vote). The Acton DTC endorsed me unanimously.
In addition to a number of local Newton elected officials, I am also proud to have the endorsement of Rep. John Lawn (Watertown/Waltham/Newton), Rep. Frank Smizik (Brookline), Rep. Alice Peisch (Wellesley), Rep. Jay Kaufman (Lexington). There are others who have been encouraging, but prefer to stay away from public endorsements.
We have also picked up substantial and important support from community leaders who had supported Mr Margolis two years ago, including Rep. Smizik, Brookline Selectman (Chair) Ken Goldstein, and Selectman Nancy Daly. I am also very proud to have been endorsed by Brookline PAX, a leading progressive group who’s membership is essentially the “Who’s Who” of Brookline.
If you’d like to learn more in person, Larissa Hordynsky is hosting a meet and greet at her home on the 21st at 6pm. Larissa and several other NDCC ward chairs are supporting me (as individuals).
I look forward to the debate on Sept 3rd and I hope V14 readers will contribute questions to the Newton LWV. They are to be commended for putting the effort to bring info on this “down ballot” office to the public.
Just released: Devaney vs Shapiro. The Arlington Debate.
http://news.acmi.tv/segments/2014-state-primary-councillors-debate-d/
A very thorough and sometimes combative discussion.
Charlie, how could you and Tom Sheff have even considered voting for Joe Berman?
Berman was unqualified,
Berman had no experience in that court
Berman’s conduct in his first hearing was atrocious
and Berman basically tried to buy the judgeship with his $110,000 donations
Mr. Berman was vetted by the Judicial Nominating Commission and selected by the Governor, but that does not mean it should be a rubber stamp. I disagree that a nominee’s contributions to candidates or causes they support should automatically disqualify them from being confirmed.
Ms. Devaney stated publicly that she would never vote for Mr. Berman due to his membership in the ADL at a time when the ADL did not recognize the Armenian Genocide. Watertown has a large Armenian population. Later it was found out that Mr. Berman was instrumental in motivating the ADL to change its position. Ms. Devaney then changed the rationale for her ‘no’ vote and accused Mr Berman of lies, lies, and more lies. My sense is her vote was inappropriately political and important information was ignored.
If one watches the recent Arlington candidate debate, it appears the incumbent makes makes it a habit of accusing other of lies, lies, and more lies anytime she doesn’t like what she’s hearing.
The Governor’s Council is no place for this sort of drama. It should be a place for thoughtful well researched, and well grounded discussion with opportunity for public input…especially when there is a variety of opinion.
And I don’t think a lawyer can buy himself a judgeship by spreading $110,000 to well-connected Democrat politicians at all levels of government.
I also felt your remarks about her being endorsed by Mass Pro-Life were misleading. That organization endorsed Devaney even though she’s the bete noire of MassResistance’s existance because at least she’s less likely to vote for judicial activists.
http://www.massprolife.org/diary/301/mcfl-governors-council-your-vote-will-determine-who-are-the-judges-in-the-state
I’m a little surprised you support abortion considering as you said, you were adopted at 11 months of age. I would think you’d support the pro-life & adoption.
Of course I support adoption. I also recognize that individual choices are just that…individual.
I’m going to have to agree to disagree with you about abortion being “a matter of choice”. We’re talking about a child, not “a choice”.