Village 14 is inviting all candidates for mayor, city council or school committee to submit a single guest column between now and Aug 1.
I’m running for Mayor because there’s a lot at stake for Newton – for our schools, for our neighborhoods and village centers, and for our taxpayers.
Our next Mayor must build on the strong tradition of progressive leadership to ensure all residents have access to the great schools and livable neighborhoods that make this a special place to live.
Our next Mayor must prepare responsibly for the financial and strategic challenges to come.
Most of all, our next Mayor must listen, to give citizens in all parts of Newton – from the Lake to Oak Hill, and all parts in between – a voice in the decisions that shape our future. That’s why I have already knocked on doors in all 13 villages and all 8 wards and 32 precincts.
That is the kind of Councilor I have been and the kind of Mayor I intend to be.
But before I get into my background and my vision for Newton, I want to hear your ideas. Please contact me any time by emailing me at [email protected].
My experience:
For 30 years, I have worked as a strategic planner for the private, non-profit, and public sectors. I first got involved in public service in Newton as president of my local neighborhood association to ensure our community had a voice. Then, as Vice-Chair of the Newton Citizen’s Advisory Group, I worked to create a plan addressing long-term structural challenges facing our City.
That’s why becoming a City Councilor in 2010 was a logical next step – strategic planning has been my focus for years and I wanted to put those skills to work for Newton.
On the Council, my focus has been in three areas – investing in our public schools, modernizing our infrastructure, and serving as a fiscal watchdog for our taxpayers. And I’ve always brought people together to get things done.
I was the only elected official to serve on all three school building committees for the Angier, Zervas, and Cabot elementary school projects, working closely with parents and teachers.
I helped create long-term investment plans for water, sewer, and stormwater systems – work that has and will continue to save taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.
I also serve as Chair of the Financial Audit Advisory Committee and Vice Chair of the Finance Committee, where my job is to make sure our money is spent wisely, to increase our cash reserves, and to protect our AAA bond rating.
My vision for Newton:
• The best schools in Massachusetts
Newton Public Schools should always be a beacon that attracts families to Newton. As Mayor, I will make sure Newton’s teachers and students have the resources to succeed. That includes attracting and retaining the best teachers to Newton, holding the line on class sizes, ensuring every student has the opportunity to learn in a modern classroom, and getting schedules right for every student – from kindergarten to high school.
• The strongest financial outlook
Newton is facing long-term fiscal challenges, including a $1 billion debt to retirees. We must deal with these challenges honestly and responsibly so they don’t threaten our schools or our taxpayers. That means managing the city effectively and giving citizens a real voice in prioritizing investments.
• Livable neighborhoods & village centers
I will preserve the character of our residential areas and improve our 13 unique village centers through zoning reform. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach – it has to come from people like you making your voices heard – but the goal should be walkable, age-friendly villages with a variety of small businesses. This includes affordable housing options for working families and seniors who want to downsize.
I’ll also work to make Newton greener and more sustainable by making sure public buildings are green and energy efficient, by ensuring our parks and playgrounds are well-maintained, and by using planning and technology to reduce traffic congestion.
Also, I will prioritize maintenance to our streets, sidewalks, and City infrastructure.
Want more details? Please visit my website, www.ruthannefuller.com, to learn more.
Together, we can make this vision a reality.
The Preliminary Election is on Tuesday, September 12th and I ask for your vote. I have a clear vision for Newton and the experience to deliver.
But, I also hope you will contact me to share your ideas and opinions – because the more I hear from you, the better Mayor I will be.
Regarding fiscal responsibility.
As you know, cutting services is hard and getting people to agree is even harder.
Are you brave enough to post your top 3 services which you think should be cut or honest enough to say that property taxes will increase by X percentage in 10 years.
We all hope that the commercial property tax will increase over time to cover the shortfall, but without mbta doing its part to improve public transportation it’s unlikely to see much growth.
Would appreciate a public answer to this.
Thank you V14 for allowing the mayoral candidates an opportunity to be heard and have a bit of a Q&A with some Newton voters. This is a very important election. One that may set the direction of our city for the next generation of residents. In previous posts V14 wondered if anyone was paying attention to the Mayor’s race. I certainly hope so! The eight days after Labor Day is not enough time to be focused on the candidates & their positions while at the same time juggling back to school, work and fall schedules. Please remember Primary Day is September 12th.
I’m supporting Ruthanne for several reasons. When I weigh my options, Ruthanne has the business and political acumen, professional experience and personal style that tips the scales in her favor. Quite simply she is super smart and a strategic thinker with vast leadership & management skills in the private and public sector. We are fortunate to have her wanting to serve as Mayor and take on the tough job of building on Setti’s successes but at the same time digging deeper, building a master plan for our future and laying the foundations for fiscal sustainability.
As a Ward 7 resident, Ruthanne is my Counselor at Large. In my past capacity as Chestnut Hill Association President I had the opportunity to work closely with Ruthanne on several occasions regarding traffic congestion / safety concerns, environmental issues at Hammond Pond & Waban Hill Reservoir, the development and construction of BC renovations and two new shopping centers at Chestnut Hill Square and The Street. During those years I had the first hand experience of joining her at numerous meetings and community forums and watched as she listened, collaborated, mediated differing positions and found solutions to a myriad of issues and community concerns. I found Ruthanne always personable, approachable, prepared and extremely knowledgeable as to the issue at hand.
Also, as an “empty nester” this is the time in Ruthanne’s life when she could be enjoying more free time or traveling..….but no…..she is committed to continuing to serve the City she loves by making the tremendous effort and personal sacrifice to run for Mayor. We are fortunate that a person of her caliber, quality and experience wants to serve our City in another more time consuming, difficult managerial role. She is not in this race to run for higher office – she doesn’t have her sites set on the State House. She loves this city , the role of Mayor suits her personal & professional experiences perfectly and I trust she will bring the best practices and people together to move this city forward for the next generation of residents to enjoy. She will be a great Mayor! I’m excited to support her candidacy and hope others are as well.
Fuller knocked on my door and we had an in depth conversation about city services and Newton’s high schools. I was really impressed by her knowledge of the issues and grasp of city finances.
I’m going to wait until the debates to publicly commit, but she’s a clear favorite for my wife and me.
I serve with Ruthanne on the city council. When I tell my neighbors why I’m voting for her, I mention three things:
1) In any debate on the council floor, I look forward to her comments most of all – her judgment is superb.
2) Nobody asks more insightful, more probing questions about departmental budgets and capital planning. If you want to (finally) get the roads paved without cutting into the schools, Ruthanne knows how to get us there.
3) Her colleagues on the council and in the administration enjoy working with her. She knows how to “centralize command and decentralize control”, in Marine Corps terminology – the ability to shape outcomes while still being multilateral in decision-making.
As a resident of Chestnut Hill for 37 years, I have had the honor of working on many projects with Ruthanne as she served as our Alderman for 8 years. There is no other person as dedicated and committed to the residents of Newton than Ruthanne. She understands the issues that are important to all the residents no matter what village they reside in. She is committed to open spaces and infrastructure which is very important to me. How many flat tires must we get until someone fixes our roads? My children went through the Newton public schools from kindergarten through high school. I know Ruthanne is passionate about our public school system being the best it can be, from the brightest students to those who have special needs. Not only is that important for those with children in the system, but school rankings impact property values and that is important to all of us.
@Bugek,
We have real financial challenges ahead. We have $1 billion in unfunded obligations for our retirees for pensions and retiree health care – promises that we’ve made and need to be kept. With inflation rising, upward pressure on compensation is likely. (Remember, 85% of the school budget are wages and benefits.) We have a lot of investments to make in our school and public safety buildings, in roads and sidewalks, and in our recreational facilities and open spaces (e.g., Webster Woods).
How do we move Newton forward in a fiscally responsible way with these challenges?
It’s a multi-pronged approach. We will want to increase our commercial tax base, attracting a wide range of businesses to our commercial corridors and village centers. (Think of all the banks and nail salons in Newton Centre.) I personally worked hard to make sure we shaped developments at Chestnut Hill Square and The Street that increased our taxes and worked in terms of traffic.
I’m going to work hard to preserve services. We have to hold down costs by managing effectively; the use of technology is particularly promising for boosting productivity.
We also have to create a comprehensive plan — so we prioritize the needed investments and make sure we have the funding for our schools, for public safety, our senior services and library, for services and for infrastructure.
I have 30 years of experience doing just that – thinking comprehensively about how education, housing, economic development, transportation and community come together, thinking strategically about how to pay for our services, and managing people to get the work done.
This is the best field of mayoral candidates I can recall in Newton. I have confidence that any of the three certified candidates, including Ruthanne, would do a good job if elected. I do however have a couple of reservations about Ruthanne…
First, I’m not sure she’s tough enough to be the kind of mayor I’m looking for. Will she be able to say “it’s my way–or the highway,” when the situation calls for it? Trying to please everyone is a fatal flaw in politics at any level. Newton has gone down that road before with David Cohen, a very nice person who was simply not tough enough to be an effective mayor.
My other concern about Ruthanne is that she talks a great game. She does a wonderful job with the “vision thing,” but seems to be lacking a road map detailing how to implement her vision for Newton. Ruthanne would have to be more specific in identifying how she would achieve her objectives, in order to get my vote. I’m hoping she starts to fill in some of those blanks.
Ruthanne,
I somewhat understand your reluctance to into details, which is an unfortunate fact of politics these days. I guess we wont hear specifics until very later stages.. “politics these days”
I do agree that the only ‘painless’ way for fiscal responsibility is growing the commercial tax base. The side affect “unfortunately or fortunately” will have to be high density housing to attract companies who have access to large pool of talent.
Ms. Fuller,
You mention Webster Woods as an investment we need to make. I am glad to see that, since the issue seems to have fallen off the radar. Could you elaborate on your plans? What do you think are the city’s options at this point?
Ruthanne is getting my vote. The campaign is early. Let’s not hold anyone’s toes to the fire for not generating a blueprint in 8 point font. That being said, details are close to Ruthanne’s heart. She is the most detail-oriented elected official I have met. She has a laser-focus. She knows the budget inside and out, and she has the ability to see how the pieces fit together. Our number one priority should be electing a mayor to deal with our financial challenges.
Ruthanne is tireless and nonstop. I am on a citizen’s committee that is making recommendations about the city’s rainy day fund. She is not running the committee (Lenny Gentile is), but participates in all of the meetings because she cares. She asks exactly the right questions.
I can’t think of any mayor in Massachusetts who is better qualified than Ruthanne.
bugek and Mike: Hungry for more details? Get much more information from my position papers at http://www.ruthannefuller.com or send me an email at [email protected]. We’ll find a time to talk at length.
Mike: I may be calm and measured & a good listener but I’m strong and talk straight. I will make the hard decisions and act decisively.
Newtoner – You asked about Webster Woods. We need to preserve Webster Woods in perpetuity. The City is doing an appraisal right now. Let’s use that to negotiate with Boston College. If that doesn’t work, I’m committed to pursing other options, including the possibility of eminent domain.
@Ruthanne – Thank you for engaging on this blog.
I have children in schools, and quite concerned about the class size. I am interested in hearing specifically where do you draw the line for class size? 20? 25? or higher?
Also, would you hold approving any big housing projects till voters approve an override for additional elementary school?
Thank you in advance for answering with specifics.
@Ruthanne: Actually – please share your responses online. I do.
@Bugek: I know – I’m a little late to responding to your questions. I will post publicly soon.
@Ruthanne
I’m very excited about the possibility of you becoming the next Mayor, for many of the reasons stated above by some of your supporters.
A question:
The Mayor’s committee on affordable housing concluded that some parts of the city are less practical for new development, noting the higher cost of real estate in certain parts of the city.
Do you agree or disagree with that conclusion?
More specifically, will you pursue affordable housing in Waban village center consistent with your vision described above?
A related question: Do you believe that certain parts of the city have been treated differently than others in the past? Is this still a problem today?
Beyond who she is and the politicization, the visionary inspirations for bettering citywide culture through economically diverse disciplines prominently positions her toosh for corner office seating.
Beyond the race, the charter revisions, the financial challenges, is the opportunity to engage in redefining municipal government function.
Northland is the linchpin of Blue Newton reindustrialization; the digital era encapsulating a renewed spirit for efficient productivity.
Along with Steve Grossman, I’m honored to be serving as co-chair of Ruthanne’s campaign. Here’s why I’m doing what I can to see that Ruthanne is the next mayor of Newton:
Ruthanne listens and connects. I met Ruthanne at a community event years ago–and upon our first encounter she took a keen interest in the Auburndale Community Library. There she was, a then-alderman (now city councilor–snaps for progress!) who lived at the opposite end of the city, making a connection and digging in deep on what we had going on in the ‘Dale. As Ruthanne and I log hours and hours together on the campaign trail knocking on doors, visiting playgrounds, participating in community events, and meeting residents from all 13 villages, I see her asking the questions, taking it all in, and working towards our residents’ shared vision for our city.
Ruthanne has a fierce work ethic. During one of our earliest campaign meetings this fall, Ruthanne was outlining her detailed strategy for how she planned to go about getting out into the community to meet with thousands of residents over the course of her mayoral race. It was early on and I suppose my eyes were widening as the ambitious plan unfolded–but Ruthanne, without missing a beat, matter-of-factly said “I’m not afraid of hard work”. *MIC DROP* For those who know Ruthanne–she not only has the smarts, but also a tireless capacity to plan and execute results. Who wouldn’t want that level of horsepower at the helm of our city?
Thanks to those who have already greeted us on your doorsteps, invited us in for a drink of water, and shared your hopes and dreams for our city! We’ll be seeing you around and about this summer. If we miss you in our travels, I encourage folks to call (617) 738-5311 or email Ruthanne directly [email protected] to have a chat with Ruthanne to get to know her better
I find it hard to support someone who First Statement is about the Newton Public Schools but never had her kids go to Newton schools. Now we all know that you were financially able to send your children to Belmont Hill but I know of actually 2 Newton Billionaires whose kids went thru Newton Public Schools. So I really find it interesting that you advocate for the schools – I know it is a great talking point – same way Setti Warren now that he is running for Governor wants free state school tuition for all yet didn’t even think to make a deal with BC or Lasell to give a certain number of Free Tuition’s to Newton Students similar to what has been done in Boston by BU and Northeastern.
Secondly, I have a hard time supporting someone who on face value will agree to support an issue and then turn around and vote against that issue. Just follows the crowd and doesn’t stand up to what they know is right. As Mike Striar said and I agree – She knows how to talk a great game.
@Joanne – We lived in Brookline when my boys were very young. One of my identical twins has severe dyslexia and the Heath School in Brookline was crowded and taught children with dyslexia out in the hallway. Joe and I were tremendously fortunate that we could keep our boys together and send them to an independent school. I also stopped working for a while and patched together speech therapists, Orton Gillingham and Lindamood Bell programs – driving him during the weekday from schools to specialists. I am absolutely commited to making sure no parent in Newton with a special needs child is saying, “If only I could afford an independent school, my child would be getting a better education.” I will be an advocate for all our students.
I also am only where I am today because of my family’s access to education. My Dad got home from serving in World War II and the GI Bill allowed him to go to law school. (He never completed his undergraduate degree.) If I were 20 years older, I couldn’t have gone to Harvard Business School: they didn’t admit women then.
Our Newton Public Schools are the heart and soul of this city, the moral center. I am passionate about our schools and public education. NPS also happens to be the economic driver of this city, attracting great families here and holding up our home prices.
@Paul Newton should be a diverse and inclusive community and a place of opportunity. To achieve these goals, the City needs a range of housing types and housing prices. Affordable housing, thus, must be an integral part of the broader discussion of our housing plan for the City in all eight wards and thirteen villages. Personally, I worked hard on the B’nai Brith project in Chestnut Hill, and, as Mayor, I will make sure to advocate for affordable housing throughout Newton.
Off to a wedding, but I look forward to answering more questions tomorrow! (@Neil P)
Economic diversity is not just a matter of giving the poor wealth. An urban enterprise zone with a transformational business model, shifting cultural residency toward digital era focus of purpose, and respectful of resident self-worth can create a unique lifestyle.
Harry Hopkins https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Hopkins brought New Deal concept for the people, understanding human need cultivation of respect and self-worth, engaging the goodness, transitioning the ‘me to we’, restoring faith and love in humanity. We are at a similar threshold here in Newton.
Ruthanne, you seem like a good person and a solid candidate. I do, however, have a question. How can you, someone who lives in a giant house in Chestnut Hill and sent her kids to a ritzy private school, advocate for those of us on the North side? I’ve often felt like there are two Newtons and those of us in Nonantum/Newtonville/West Newton/Auburndale often fall by the wayside. For instance, we’re the villages that have residents burdened by the winter parking ban. We’re the villages that raise less money for our PTOs. Thank you for your time!
@Ruthann – I hope you had a good weekend. I wanted to follow up and see if you have specifics around question on school size, and the affect of development.
Thank you in advance,
Neil
@NeilP – Thanks for your question. Sorry for the delay – it has been a busy period on the City Council.
Class size does matter.
My job as mayor will be to provide an adequate number of classrooms and funding to hire teachers to keep class sizes within the school committee’s desired guidelines.
Class size is impacted by two things, space and staff. If we have enough classrooms in a building and money to pay for a teacher, we can take a 75-student elementary school grade cohort and break it into 4 classes of 18 and 19 students each. (At Angier, for example, it was just announced a few days ago that the 2nd grade would have 4 classes for next year for exactly this reason.) If we don’t have a classroom or money for a teacher, NPS breaks this cohort into 3 classes of 25 students each.
But raw class size numbers don’t really tell the whole story, because classroom instruction is not like what it was when we were growing up — beyond the classroom teacher, multiple adults are in each classroom each day offering specialized instruction in literacy, math, socialization and SEL skills, etc. In addition, larger classes often receive additional teaching support from “class size aides” which are just as they sound, trained staff working with the main classroom teacher that allows for more personalized teaching in classrooms with more students. We also have very robust special education supports and this staff can provide focused teaching to individual students within a classroom at different points of the school day.
NPS builds their classroom supports based upon the specific needs of each student cohort. As a result, even the school committee is loath to presume a specific class size cap because this doesn’t factor in the variety of ways that NPS effectively supports students under different class size circumstances.
Regarding housing projects and elementary school enrollment, page 7 of the NPS November 2016 annual enrollment analysis report (the most current) projects our elementary population to peak at 5,853 students in FY19. Enrollment then starts to decline to 5,762 by the last year projected, FY22. Our school building projects currently leave us with sufficient elementary student capacity including a “buffer,” so NPS does not anticipate the need for an additional elementary school. NPS closely monitors developments and does a very complete enrollment analysis each year. (The projections have been quite close to actual.) This means that we do not expect to be caught flatfooted like Brookline has.
That being said, I have 30 years of experience in strategic planning and financial analysis. A key role of the Mayor is to think deeply about what the total population of Newton will be in the coming decades and plan proactively to make sure we have the schools and other resources to meet the needs of our residents and businesses.
@Mary – Thank you for reaching out. My approach to government isn’t based on pitting villages against one another — it’s about bringing us all together and addressing both our shared challenges as a City and the ones unique to specific areas. Priorities like investing in our schools, fixing our streets, creating individual plans for each of our village centers and commercial corridors, keeping us safe, preserving the character of our neighborhoods, and tackling traffic congestion matter to every resident of Newton, regardless of their zip code. Yet, Newton is so special and has not just 13 unique villages but also unique neighborhoods. (I’ve knocked on doors in all 32 precincts so I hear often, for example, that Lower Falls has distinct needs compared to Auburndale). I will pay attention to the unique needs of each of our schools and neighborhoods. And, yes, equity across our schools is critical and must continue to be addressed.
I know a tough person when I see them. Having met with Ruthanne multiple times, in my opinion, she has the capacity to be as tough as they come. More important than toughness, however, is what someone is willing to fight for.
On that note, I’ll be co-hosting a mayoral forum on Saturday, which will include President Lennon, Councilor Fuller, and Councilor Sangiolo. I’ll use this opportunity to ask the candidates tough questions about their specific plans to address the opioid epidemic and challenges facing low-income households in Newton. In doing so, one of my goals is to get to the heart of both what and why each candidate is willing to fight for.
If anyone here has any productive questions that they’d like these distinguished candidates to answer on the record, I’d love to hear from you!
Hi Tom,
I know you’re a tireless advocate for the lower income families of Newton. I think I posted on your FB page a few weeks ago that I was curious about the candidates’ stances on the winter parking ban. This is an enormous burden on families like my own in denser, less wealthy parts of Newton. I’d love if you could address this form of inequity with the candidates. And Jess Barton’s analysis of the ban should be required reading!
@Krissy: I recall your comment on Facebook, and I appreciate your continued persistence on this issue here. Although I only have 15 minutes total with the three candidates, I’ll do my best to weave the inequities of the parking ban into the dialectic.
Re: Jess, absolutely. When it comes to analytical thinking and problem solving, she’s the smartest person I know, and I know a lot of smart people. I’m glad to hear that you agree with her perspective!
Yes, PLEASE invest in schools! Teachers and schools are always last when it comes to being supported by politicians. The truth is, if you don’t have good schools or teachers’ morale is down, it affects everything. Invest in your future by taking care of the schools and teachers teaching your children. :O
Good Afternoon Councilor Fuller and/or campaign chairs Dana Hanson and Steve Grossman, campaign volunteers and endorsers,
I want to be as polite and direct as possible. I have asked on another thread on V14 several times for Councilor Fuller to provide more details on her 30 years of experience as a strategic planner, but have not received a reply.
I’m now posting this here in response to Councilor Fuller’s candidate statement in which she describes her experience this way:
“My experience:
For 30 years, I have worked as a strategic planner for the private, non-profit, and public sectors. I first got involved in public service in Newton as president of my local neighborhood association to ensure our community had a voice. Then, as Vice-Chair of the Newton Citizen’s Advisory Group, I worked to create a plan addressing long-term structural challenges facing our City.
That’s why becoming a City Councilor in 2010 was a logical next step – strategic planning has been my focus for years and I wanted to put those skills to work for Newton.”
I am making a direct appeal to Councilor Fuller and/or her campaign to inform the public about the details of her 30 years of experience as a strategic planner by posting her resume on her campaign website. Currently, voters have no way of knowing the specifics of her 30 years of experience in strategic planning. Voters have a right to know more about the details of Councilor Fuller’s experience since she emphasizes it as a credential which makes her the most qualified candidate to serve as mayor.
I am also making a direct appeal to all journalists (professionals, students, and citizen-journalists or bloggers) and concerned citizens to see if they can find out more about Councilor Fullers 30 years of strategic planning experience and share it with the public.
Thank you for your help.