The TAB’s Jonathan Dame has an update on all this fall’s contests, including this about the Charter Comission…
Six candidates — Tom Sheff, Charles Shapiro, Howard Haywood, Ward 3 Alderman at-large Ted Hess-Mahan, Zoning Board of Appeals Chairwoman Brooke Lipsitt, and Groot Gregory have pulled nomination papers so far. The papers are due Sept. 22.
Anyone care to add their name to that list?
It is the V14 All-Stars.
A very capable and interesting pack – but which one will be able to lead it??
It seems like a conflict of interest to have any Alder or any person from a City Committee as a member of the Commission. If expertise is needed, I would suggest an advisory but non-voting role for these candidates.
@Lynne
Agreed.
Seeing that Brooke Lipsitt is running to be on the Commission may be the motivation for me to run for the Commission. I enjoyed serving with her on the NewTV board of directors, immensely.
Now let the Reibman bullying commence…
I will NOT support any sitting Alderman for the Charter Commission.
I fully understand the concerns that arise if our sitting aldermen dominate the charter commission. But I will not use that as a litmus test for how I vote. I will vote on the merits of the individual and my view of their openness to work with others, understand complex issues and who experience understanding how municipalities work and need to work.
@Greg, I agree merit is important. That does not preclude sitting Alders or Committee members from having a seat at the table. To reiterate, however, I think to avoid any semblance of conflict of interest he or she should only be as an advisor to the Commission and not allowed to vote.
@Lynne: Are you saying that if the choice was between Jar Jar Binks and Yoda, you would vote for Binks if Yoda was a sitting elected official?
How many seats are there?
I am more interested in what issue each candidate supports. If a candidate purports to be open minded, I ask on what issues in the charter are you open and objective about and on which issues one’s mind is already made up?
If no one else runs, then these are the members of the commission, right?
@Colleen, you posed a question to me on another thread about where I stand and frankly I would not be entering the review with any “must do this” ideas. I am a fan of Area Councils and believe that the size of the BOA must reflect what we ask them to do. As I am talking to people collecting signatures, I hear some wanting fewer Alderman/Council members and others don’t want to move more power to the Mayor. I have worked in many endeavors with volunteers where I would like to see their terms limited unless they are doing a good job and I would hate to see them forced to move on. I think the success of the charter review will depend on the commission members’ ability to listen and then find consensus on what improvements would be put forward to the voters. And I really hope there will be several candidates that take the time to gather signatures and learn what folks are thinking along with spreading the word around town about the charter and potential for changes.
@Others, perhaps I am not a good choice in some eyes as a sitting Area Councilor weighing the option of running again for another term in the Highlands. I do think there is a difference between receiving input from advisors and contributing first hand experience so I would like to see a diverse set of commission members from all areas of Newton life.
Greg, I would expect that serving on the charter commission would be a considerable time commitment. When weighing the merits of individual candidates, would you factor in whether a candidate has the time to serve effectively, given any other considerable time commitments he or she might have, such as another paid elected office?
@Rhanna: I absolutely would! Although given that quite a few of our alders don’t appear to have a life beyond their municipal duties they may pass that particular litmus test.
On the other hand, might I consider not voting for a sitting alderman for charter commission because it might lessen his availability to contribute Village 14? Hmmmm.
Thank you very much Groot. I appreciate your honest, straight forward comments. For all other people who take out papers and campaign I will say this. In order to engage the voters and get them to turn out for the election, each candidate will need to make their views on salient issues clear and support those stances with good arguments. Groot has made a good start, I as a voter appreciate this very much.
@ Groot Thank you for your thoughtful assessment.
Rhanna Kidwell, when discussing time commitments, why do you use the example of an elected official? Time commitments are time commitments regardless of the nature of the commitment. Other paying jobs, prior commitments to volunteer work, elder family member care, out of town travel requirements all would have an impact on one’s ability to allocate time for the work of the commission.
Time commitment should not be the reason why BOA or SC members should / could be excluded from the candidate pool. If any of these Newton citizens determine they have the available time, then they should be allowed to take out papers. Let the voters decide if they are the best choice.
It would help if someone could provide a target for the estimated amount of weekly time expected over the 18 months and beyond that if necessary. Thank you.
Colleen, the Charter Commission is a once in a generation opportunity to evaluate and reform the structure of our local government. The ideal composition of a Charter Commission is a diverse group people with varying backgrounds and experience who are interested in and/or have participated in local government at some level and who are familiar with how it functions–or not as the case may be. The scope of review can be as broad or as narrow as the Charter Commission determines, but it is essential that all of the members are at least open to considering and discussing a wide variety of reforms. The Massachusetts Municipal Association has a wealth of information about the charter review process as well as forms of government that ought to be on the summer reading list of anyone considering running for Charter Commission. I highly recommend it.
Rhanna, Charter Commission is certainly a time commitment for anyone who wants to make a meaningful contribution to the process. And for a novice, perhaps, following the open meeting law, doing legal research, conducting a public hearing, reviewing other cities’ charters, understanding how our Charter actually works, analyzing and considering possible changes and writing reports are daunting tasks. But for local elected public officials, it is all in a day’s work. This isn’t rocket science, but it does require thought and effort and a little know-how. Knowing who to call or where to look for information is also a plus. I have been encouraging others who have or do serve on volunteer boards, commission or committees to run (I know of at least one additional candidate who will or already has pulled papers), attorneys who are familiar with municipal and elections law, and others who live and breathe this stuff to run. With a strong group of 9 individuals whose backgrounds and experience complement one another, I am confident that we can get the job done in a timely and effective manner.
Greg, your Star Wars allusion made me laugh so hard I spill my iced tea.
I should say “meesa spill my iced tea.” Or, “spilled my iced tea I did.”
All registered Newton voters can run for the Charter Commission. A number of people are encouraging thoughtful, open minded people who do not have an end in mind, who are listeners, and who don’t have a vested interest in a particular end to run. Newton has many smart, engaged residents who do many of these tasks and more on a daily basis. Just to be clear, no one should consider any candidate a novice. Such language implies that aldermen are better equipped to be on the Commission than others, and that may not be case. In fact, a good number of people have serious concerns that the Commission will be filled with Aldermen who enter the process with an end in mind for the makeup of the BOA.
Oh, Jane, there you go again, twisting my words. I made it pretty clear that the Charter Commission should be comprised of people with diverse backgrounds and experiences. And, as recent experience shows, even veteran elected and appointed officials don’t always know how to follow the open meeting law. And your fears about an army of aldermen filling up the commission with clandestine intentions is totally unfounded. In fact, it sounds a little paranoid. “Weesa got a grand army. That’s why you no liking us meesa thinks.”
Yes, Ted I agree with you about the type of person needed on the C.Comm. Someone that is a good listener, understands gov’t rules and regulations and is somewhat unbiased on controversial issues.
However, these commissioners will not be appointed based on a track record. They will be elected which means they will have to present themselves to the voters in a convincing manner. This also requires them to outline their background in business. politics, etc. Otherwise no one in Newton will turn out to vote for them.
Groot G. made a good start. Now the others should provide some information about themselves and their expectations for the new Charter Comm. process.
My comment stands. Two aldermen have pulled papers for the CC and at least 2 more have told a number of people that they plan to pull papers, and we’re just a few weeks into the process. Those are the facts.
I guess I will have to go down to the Clerk’s office and see which of my colleagues have enlisted.
It is entirely up to candidates to decide if they have the time to serve effectively. Like Patrick said, voters have no idea how candidates fill their days.
What Gail said. And I think reading the Village 14 Blog is an excellent barometer of who has way too much time on their hands.
Ted Hess-Mahan, your barometer is half right. V14 could also be a barometer of those who care about issues impacting their lives in Newton. You will not find me commenting on the Boston Globe and/or the Boston Herald about state issues. I do not consider spending my time trying to affect Beacon Hill as a productive use of my available time; too many lobbyists and politicians with much more influence than me. My vote is my only voice. And the same can be said for the mess in Washington.
Patrick, I was actually taking a poke at myself for spending so much time on the blog. But thank you for caring enough about your community to get involved and comment. I look forward to seeing you again soon at City Hall.
Ted, between my comment to Greg on a different thread and now this one, it appears I am getting worse at communicating clearly and understanding the tone behind the comments being offered on V14. I was fairly sure that you were including yourself in the group you identified, yet I wanted to make sure that participants on V14 understand its value for discussing Newton issues and topics. I clearly do not agree with Greg’s comments on a regular basis; however I do appreciate his passion and efforts, along with the other V14 editors, to make this forum available to Newton’s residents.
I wish more members of the BOA, the SC and the Mayor’s office would self-identify and comment on V14. It would help me, and others I am sure, understand some of their unacceptable (from my perspective) behavior, decisions and votes.
Patrick, I am only too happy to explain my unacceptable behavior, decisions and votes.
My humor can be dry to the point of being arid at times, but I take no offense when people misunderstand.
Greg, I’m still looking for that sarcasm font.
Patrick – You communicate very clearly. I did like Ted’s joke though. Sometimes it does us all a bit of good to lighten things up.
Jane, thank you. It is good to hear that from someone other than that guy in the mirror.
Ted, you do an excellent job of explaining yourself; I understand on which topics we agree and disagree. Perhaps you could teach a class on the subject to your fellow BOA members, the SC and the mayor along with his staff.
I’m going to take a stab in the dark on which aldermen pulled papers. (These are only guesses, except Ted).
Ted Hess Mahan
Lisle Baker
Ruthanne Fuller
Amy Sangiolo
Just guessing, of course.
@Patrick. And give up my edge as master of the social media? Maybe when I retire from politics and need a consulting job. 😉
@tomsheff. You would be 50% correct at this point.
There is no alderman I can imagine desiring a seat on the Charter Commission more than Lisle Baker.
Ted,
I’ll replace Amy with deb crossley
Lisle was at the Library today collecting signatures.
Jane,
I heard that he was collecting only for his alderman seat.
He was collecting signatures for the charter commission.
Hmmmm, a ward alderman (Mr. Baker) with an intense interest in the Charter Commission. Over many years one of the major questions discussed as fodder for a charter commission is naturally reducing the size of the BoA. One of the prime targets for that axe is of course the Ward aldermen, since they are elected by a tiny cadre of voters (often 800 or so) from a single ward, out of a total population of something like 54K registered voters for the City of Newton, and yet they cast a vote on the BoA that counts equally to the At Large aldermen who must run city-wide. It has always struck me that there is something seriously wrong with that scheme – it can hardly be judged to be equal representation. Mr. Baker is a Ward alderman who has run and won from the cloistered, leafy bowers of Chestnut Hill for many, many, many years, without any significant competitive candidates, and might therefore feel quite strongly about any attempts to change that beloved status quo. Just saying, maybe.
Since the cat is out of the bag, there are now nine people who have pulled papers: Tom Sheff, Charlie Shapiro, Howard Haywood, Brooke Lipsitt, myself, Groot Gregory, Gloria Gavris, Lisle Baker, and Anne Larner. There is still plenty of time between now and September 22 for others to throw their hats into the ring.
Just to clarify, I was at the Library yesterday and ran into Lisle collecting signatures. He looked dapper in his straw hat!
@H.L. Dewey. It is equal representation. Your ward alderman has one vote and so does mine.
HL Dewey,
If your point was that maybe lisle is comfortable with the way things are now, I think you have a point.
Lisle, if you read this, please correct my next statement if I am wrong.
Back in 2007 or 2008 when it was just me and 5-6 other concerned people out there collecting signatures, we all felt that the signature drive would go much smoothly if we teamed up with the League of Women Voters. So, at their annual meeting we approached the LWV to add us onto their itinerary for the year. The league had a process and it can be slow. They need to have studies, committee meetings and they are extremely thorough. The problem was that they are so thorough that they didn’t feel like they could help out within that year due to too much prior work, they voted us down the first time (2008-2009, I think).
I heard later that Alderman Baker was doing a lot of lobbying in opposition of the signature drive for the LWV.
Lisle, I hope you can straighten me out on that. Why would people vote for you if you are in opposition of the signature drive??? Please correct me if I am wrong.
Dear lord forgive me if I singled out one elected official for ridicule, scorn, criticism sarcasm or other questioning above others of that blessed group of public servants. All I’m saying is that it does not take a mathematical genius to figure out that if Alderman A (elected at Large) has to win an election in which 54,000 people get to vote, and I admit I don’t recall what the winning totals might be for those races, shame on me, but you can easily check them on the City of Newton web site, but Alderman W, a Ward Alderman, runs in a race in which only the residents of a single ward may vote, say 8,000 give or take, and wins that election with a total of maybe 800 actual votes cast, then that Ward Alderman is exercising the exact same political effect in a body of 24 Alderman as the person who ran city wide. How exactly is that equal representation, please explain sir. It isn’t. No way, no how. No, it is not equal representation, it is an artifact of a political decision somewhere in times past, that needs to be corrected.
It’s equal representation as it ensures that each ward has representation that is chosen by voters from the ward. With at-large aldermen, you can lose your own ward and still win the election. (p.s. a lot more people vote for the senator from N.Y. than the senator from R.I., yet they’re both U.S. senators.)
We’re up to 11 candidates!!! Josh Krintzman and Brian Barash have recently pulled papers. Good Luck to you and lets all educate the public on the charter!!!!
Thanks for noticing Tom. Yes, I’ve decided to run for Charter Commission.
More info on my website, but please feel free to ask me any questions directly, either here or via email. ([email protected])
@tricia – I think we need Ted H-M to put us straight here. No, it is not equal representation, it has to do with the decision some time in the distant past to turn the previously separate (bicameral) Newton legislative bodies into a mashup of different but not equivalent offices. Think of it as having the US House of Representatives and the US Senate all meeting together in one huge mosh pit (ewwe, that sounds really gross doesn’t it!). The end result will be determined by a simple majority vote, or some similar formula, such as (in the case of the Newton BoA) 16 out of 24 votes. Yet 8 of the 24 people voting have been elected by a very small sub-group of the entire population, and can therefore block, obstruct, or otherwise unduly influence the outcome based on having receive roughly 800 votes in an election in which the other 16 Aldermen had to run citywide and were therefore elected by the entire city. Hardly equitable to my mind.
HL Dewey is right, up to a point. The Ward Aldermen are a holdover from a previous era when Newton had a bicameral City Council comprised of the Board of Aldermen and the Common Council. The mixture of ward and at-large elected officials, however, is not unusual. Indeed, Boston’s City Council has 4 at-large and 9 district councilors, who represent specific districts of the city. Does that make it a more parochial body? Discuss.
Incidentally, I have been reading the files for the 1896 and 1970 Charter Commissions, and it is fascinating reading. Back in 1896, a joint committee comprised of members of the City Council and citizen (yes, appointed; this was long before the Home Rule Amendments) met to create a new Charter after several previous attempts had failed to get approval and enactment (approval of the General Court was required at the time). The original 1882 City Charter was already thought inadequate to serve Newton’s burgeoning population of 30,000 souls.
Two interesting notes from the report of the original 1896 Charter Commission (which did away with the bicameral City Council). The committee consisted of 22 members, including the men (only men were allowed to vote at the time) who requsted the appointment of the committee, 3 members of the Board of Aldermen, and 4 members of the Common Council, “these members being so selected, that each Ward of the City shall be reprsented on the Committee by one member of the City Council.” The report of the committee itself for having “labored earnestly, diligently and thoughtfully, giving much time to th work entrusted to it, and it has not lacked the practical knwoledge resulting from long experience in municipal affairs.” The report went on to note that, of its 22 members, 2 had served as councilmen, aldermen and mayor, 1 served as city clerk and alderman, 1 as city engineer and alderman, 8 as councilmen and aldermen, on as alderman, and 7 as councilmen (NB CouncilMEN not Councilors).
The other more amusing side note is a rather snippy letter from the City Solicitor to the Secretary of the Charter Committee. It reads:
A polite but terse handwritten note from Mr. Gore at the bottom of the letter indicates that the copy that was “carried off” was the printer’s last manuscript, and that he was sending the City Solicitor 2 copies of the report ands final draft Charter as presented to the City Council that very day. So put that in your pipe and smoke it!
Awesome note Ted. Thanks for sharing.