I have collected nomination signatures before for Area Council where the number needed is low enough that I can generally get them from folks I know. On Friday I started to collect signatures for Charter Review Commission and am now seeing the Good, Bad and (not really) Ugly of the process.
Here are some of my initial observations for potential Newton Candidates. (I am sure this is not news to anyone who has run for office but new to me).
- One in Ten folks knows that Newton has a charter and a bit fewer know that a review may be a forthcoming possibility.
- Collecting signatures from persons you don’t know and don’t know you is an interesting experience in rejection.
- Asking people for a moment of their time in a relaxing atmosphere allows them to become engaged in lengthy conversations about the process and one’s positions.
- But long conversations can frequently lead to no supporting signature.
- Make sure your elevator speech is ready for when you get the question of “Why..”
- Newton has lots of visitors and customers that vote elsewhere.
- Those that offer a signature in support can be very gracious and helps to keep the smile for the next stranger who approaches.
Oh and by the way, I am planning to run for the Charter Review Commission with a platform of keeping an open mind as I undertake the nomination process and if elected plan to understand what we do well, listen to what we can improve upon and take the effort to present a thoughtful proposal to the voters come November 2017.
Thanks Groot for your commitment to this endeavor, not an easy decision. I am glad you have an open mind about critical issues. Could you outline for us the main issues that concern you about the present Charter?
Thanks, Groot! You’ve done a great job of illustrating the challenges of collecting 8,481 certified signatures to get this question on the ballot. It took roughly 70 volunteers and 500 volunteer hours to make this happen.
From my own experience, I think your 1 in 10 estimate of how many voters know what a city charter is (or know how many aldermen we currently have) may be a little high!
This is truly a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Newton, and we need to take advantage of it by electing the right people. We need people who, like Groot, are open-minded and committed to a thoughtful process.
Run Groot Run!!!
Can someone answer this question for me? On the City website it states that the BOA has six standing committees but does not include the Real Property Reuse Committee, is it a standing committee?
Real Property Reuse is an “ad hoc”committee. Several years ago,the board dissolved the Post Audit, Community Preservation and Real Property Reuse committees as standing committee because there was little for them to do that could not be handled in other substantive committees. Then, the city surplused several properties, which required that an ad hoc committee be appointed to take them up.