Incumbent City Councilor Jay Ciccone was reportedly a no-show at tonight’s Ward 1 At Large League of Women Voters Newton candidates debate, arguably the highest profile debate of the campaign season because it’s shown repeatedly on NewTV and streams online.
Candidates Nicole Castillo, Alison Leary and Janet J. Sterman participated.
According to the League, Ciccone never responded to its invitations to participate.
Voters city-wide can vote for two candidates in this four candidate contest on Nov. 7.
By the way, what’s the deal with guys from Ward One declining to debate the women they’re running against?
Franco Cedrone who is running against Maria Scibelli Greenberg also won’t be taking part in a League debate. And two years ago, Jay Ciccone’s dad, Allan Ciccone Sr. did not debate Leary in the ward contest.
Sounds like it’s not gentlemanly to debate ladies in public.
This is just a horrible precedent to set.
Sorry Jay. That just disqualified you for consideration in my book.
I won’t vote for anyone who refuses to participate in a debate.
Did I mention in the “Home rule” thread that single transferrable vote offers no safe seats for incumbents?
Politicians should earn your vote every action, every day, every election.
(1) First page of the Newton November 7, 2017 Municipal Ballot – ELECT JANET! 😀
(2) Refuse to engage? I speak frequently with Councilor Ciccone, and in fact spoke with Jay for over 30 minutes on Monday. For crying out loud, can’t we allow candidates to their campaigns as they wish? Threads like this indicates candidates must cowtow to Greg Reibman (V14-the Village Idiots Blog), the LWVN, and to Newton special interest groups.
Ironically, the so called non-partisan LWVN are embracing Allison Schwarma as if she is a qualified candidate. This person had not bothered to file an interest for a seat in public office in a timely manner nor bothered to obtain the mere 50 signatures needed to get on the ballot. Nonetheless “the league” leadership is including this woman in a public forum with the only actual candidate for Ward 4 City Council, Chris Markiewicz.
This is a more than adequate reason to not participiate in these monotonous forum(s).
Preferential treatment associated with the Ward 4 Councilor seat by any Newton institutions is clearly biased.
“Policies and practices such as these only serve to diminish the value of the League of Women Voters, a once respected voter service organization.”
@Janet Sterman – Absolutely, candidates can always campaign as they wish. Voters too can vote as they wish.
As a voter I have a problem with any incumbent elected official who avoids engaging in public debates with their opponents during an election. Maybe that’s just me but I don’t think so.
Alan Ciccone Senior did in fact participate in a debate with Alison Leary in the basement of Post 440 in the last campaign.
@Janet Sterman – Just to clarify in case you missed earlier discussions describing how my campaign came about…
I am running as a write-in for the Ward 4 seat not because I ‘couldn’t be bothered’ with obtaining the signatures required. Rather, I am running as a write-in because when Jay Harney announced his decision not to run again (effectively ‘opening’ the Ward 4 seat), he did so AFTER the deadline for submitting signatures to get on the ballot. The optics weren’t good — when Jay announced that he wouldn’t be running again and in the same breath enthusiastically endorsed my opponent, it appeared that the next Ward 4 candidate had been hand-picked. Like many others in Ward 4, I was upset that we might have no real choice in who was to represent us, and thus I decided to step up and run for the seat. I’m running as a write-in only because the traditional path of getting on the ballot had been blocked at that point.
What I know to be facts (not feelings) is
Nomination papers for all elected seats in Newton beginning May 1, 2017. By virtue of having his name on the ballot, I conclude Chris Markiewicz followed the guidelines set forth by our city charter/ordinances – getting the right amount of signatures and filing on time with the Newton Elections office. These deadlines were available to ALL REGISTERED VOTERS at http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/elections/default.asp.
I am running for the seat being vacated by long-time City Councilor Scott Lennon, who is runnig for Mayor. My name is actually on the ballot in November. The day before I went to submit my papers, they got wet, and all of the signatures made with a gel pen were gone. I had to scramble to get this done. I am not physically able to walk the city, so I went to some of Newton’s outdoor hot-spots and collected signatures. Many people I had emailed came to meet me and sign, as well.
So if a disabled woman can collect 150 signatures within 2 days, one would think an able-bodied person could collect 50 signatures within 1-2 days. Meeting the requirements to run as well as the deadline dates (which are publicly posted by the Newton Elections Commission) is responsibility of the individual.
On behalf of LWVN, I’ll repeat the statement below we released when we decided to include Allison in our voter service activities for the election. We thought very carefully about this and tried to use objective criteria from the national LWV policy on write-in and sticker candidates.
The League of Women Voters of Newton (LWVN) will include Allison Sharma, write-in candidate for Ward 4 Ward Councilor, in its candidates’ forums and voter guide. Although Ms. Sharma missed the deadline to be on the ballot, she has demonstrated that she is a serious candidate by making a public announcement of her candidacy, having a presence on Facebook, establishing a website, and most importantly, filing as a candidate with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF). The LWVN Board has determined that these actions meet the threshold for inclusion in our voter service activities for the upcoming municipal election, in accordance with LWV policy.
I used to think that the League of Women Voters was an organization which presented us the voters with all the information necessary to make an informed decision. By that I mean presenting both sides of the story, and giving an unbiased view of both the pros and cons of any proposed piece of legislation, development project, candidates up for election etc. I don’t understand how the organization became such a one-sided power-hungry organization. Maybe it’s always been that way?
@Peter: Most people assume we are just a bunch of little old ladies registering voters. BUT…the League has two parts to it: first we are about registering voters and educating them–absolutely! We also, though, have an advocacy side based on studies that we undertake. We have a lot of positions at the national, state and local level. For example, locally we have for decades supported a sidewalk snow clearing ordinance and a reduction in the size of the City Council. The latter position was reinforced in our 2010 study. We also review every application for community preservation money and comment on them publicly.
Nationally, for example, we support expanded voting rights and a strong EPA; in Massachusetts we worked really hard for the expanded bottle bill and have advocated for/against statewide ballot questions (such as against more casinos). I think you’re hearing a lot this election season because we are advocating for a yes vote on the charter.
Check out our website–lwvnewton.org–for all our positions.
@Sue – Thank you for taking the time to respond. I was mainly thinking the league’s position on development.
@Brian that debate in the basement of the post 440 was in 2013. Al refused to debate me at all last election. I offered to hold the debate again at the 440 to no avail. I guess the Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
I find it difficult to understand why a candidate running for public office would not want to debate their opponent. The only reason that makes sense is that they think they would give a poor performance. A candidate should be proud and eager to express their views and positions and willing to compare and contrast them to their opponent’s views.
How else do voters make en educated decision? This is a real disservice to voters.
It is curious why these men are unwilling to participate in debates against women.
Any theories?
Today’s combined area council’s at-large candidate forum at Angier was well attended, and moderated by the intelligent lively Andy Levin. This venue was an exceptional opportunity to engage in a multitude of viewpoints on numerous issues. Although intended to start at 1:30, people arrived at 1 pm to socialize with citywide folks.
I was asked by many of the WGC comments made on this blog in reference to the LWV. Recognizing that folks believed I was attacking certain individuals, I wish to go on public record with an apology . I actually like Sue Flicop and respect her efforts on behalf of the League. Never did I ever mention her name in a personal attack or ever intended to devalue her or her efforts in any way.
In that apology I would like to clarify the idea of the Women of the Golden Circle, as meant to be a cultural construct, seated in the abundance of affluent cultural diversity, rallying an ingrained spirit in the matriarch energies so abundant in Newton.
Please accept my apology.
My comments
Councilor Ciccone participated in today’s 4 area council debate in Waban. He made his position clear on a number of Ward 1 and citywide issues with passion and conviction. His love and passion for the Nonantum/North side neighborhood he grew up in was strong and palpable, I’m a bit puzzled as to why he skipped earlier debates.
Harry Sanders is correct. It was a gala affair and I think people learned a lot while also having a good time.
‘ and articulated his positions with passion and conviction.
@Bob Burke – When I read the post above, that he blew off the debate, I made the comment “Sorry Jay. That just disqualified you for consideration in my book.“.
I was contacted by Councilor Ciccone this week. He was emphatic that he spoke to Sue Flicop from the League a week before the event and clearly let her know that he would not be attending the debate. His concern was that one of the candidates was an officer of the League of Women Voters and the League was the host for the debate.
Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with councilor Ciccone’s concern, the post above appears to be a only half the story. Calling him a “no show” with no mention that he informed the League that he wasn’t attending and why, was a bit misleading.
Just to clarify, the LWVN rules preclude LWVN board members from running for elected office, and for sitting elected officials from sitting on the League board. Having volunteered for the LWVN in that capacity in the past does not. No one in any of the current city council or school committee races is currently an officer or board member of the LWVN.
@Jerry: The League serves as a training camp for candidacy in Newton Municipal elections. I find no basic fault with that. The more citizens interested in our local government, the merrier! As such, however, friendships, personal endorsements and a bias for promotion of League positions goes with those candidacies! Many candidates in the last two or three elections were League Board members who were required to resign in order to run for office. Some even resigned to run for the Charter Commission.
I heard from Councilor Ciccone last week when he stated to me that he had contacted the League in advance of their debate and explained to them that that he didn’t feel the battle ground was fair. He did, nevertheless, accept our invitation to attend the Four Area Council sponsored At-Large Candidate Showcase yesterday and went happily into battle with the three other contestants! If you missed it, we video-recorded it and will have it online asap!
@Salle Lipshutz – That being said, I’ve never seen an inkling of favoritism for any candidate in any League sponsored debate that I’ve seen. From where I’m sitting, they’ve always done a good job.
Wow–didn’t realize this thread was revived. Just to be clear…Jay did tell me on September 18th that he wouldn’t attend the forum. There was no discussion of why–I merely asked whether he was planning on being there. If there had been, I would have said that Alison hasn’t been a League Board member since she announced her candidacy in 2013. LWVN by-laws specifically prohibit candidates and elected officials from serving on the Board.
And to Harry–no need to apologize. I didn’t take anything personally…and I like you, too!