Deb Crossley retains her Ward 5 at-large seat by a comfortable margin, with 10758 votes, unofficially. Andreae Downs unseats long-time incumbent Brian Yates with 8383 votes to his 7343.
Crossley and Downs in Ward 5 at-large race
by Sean Roche | Nov 7, 2017 | Newton | 8 comments
No surprise here. I called this one a while back. Once Brian got on board with the NVA during the last election
cycle, i felt like it was only a matter of time before he would join them on the sidelines.
Paul:
Agreed. I do think that hurt him. Brian did a lot to be proud of during his time on the council, and I do want to thank him for his service. Happy for Andrea though.
Andreae’s going to be an awesome councilor.
Newton might actually move the dial on transportation now. Congrats, Andreae!
Congrats to Andreae Downs on her election. I think she’ll be a great Councilor.
Thanks to Brian Yates for many years of service to the city at large but most especially for his service on behalf of Upper Falls.
Today when I went to vote I met Paul Coletti. Mr Coletti lives in the neighborhood and was (I think) the 2nd longest serving Councilor ever. Though I had not met him before today, I had heard lots of stories about him and his contributions to our local community and the city at large.
Brian Yates is currently among our longest serving City Councilors. He has unambiguously been a great contributor to our city and most especially to Upper Falls over many years.
Thanks for all you’ve done for our neighborhood and the city Brian Yates.
Andreae Downs, I think between Paul Coletti, and Brian Yates, two of the longest serving councilors in the city, you’ve got some big shoes to fill. I hope and think you’re up for the challenge.
Brian has done a great job. The whole city is better because of the many years he has served. Thanks for all your work Brian.
@Jerry—you are absolutely right.
My door knocking started in Upper Falls and ended near Oak & Christina Streets. Along the way, hundreds and hundreds of voters expressed their loyalty, deep gratitude and fondness for Brian Yates.
You may know that while we officially live in Waban, we are so close to Upper Falls that Hemlock Gorge is our go-to walk after a big feast. My heart is as rooted there as in our first neighborhood—Newton Highlands.
The legacies of Paul and Brian are indeed huge. It’s an honor to be granted a chance to try to fill them. I’ve pledged to work hard and to be responsive, but know that it will take much more than that. (My poor husband doesn’t know how much his life has just changed.)
It’s become clear over the course of this campaign that Brian has a lot still to contribute to Newton and the Falls (Upper and Lower, frankly). Looking forward to that new chapter, and to working with Brian on Echo Bridge, Hemlock Gorge, preserving what is unique in Newton and yet, still, moving us all forward to meet the new challenges we face.
Thanks for the kind words, particularly from Andreae. I do look forward to working with you to raise the money to replace the railings on Echo Bridge and to get this magnificent structure formally designated as a National Historic Landmark.
I learned from Paul Coletti that I was the third in continuous service after him in second place and of course Wendell Bauckman in first place. I obviously won’t pass him with another term, but I’m very proud to be in third place behind such distinguished company and very grateful that the citizens of Newton trusted me with a small portion of the governance of our city for so long.
The title character in George Bernard Shaw’s “The Chocolate Soldier ” stated that he held the highest rank in his country; he was “a citizen.” I’m proud to retain that rank.
As to the general results of the election, I’m reminded of the reminded of the words of Alfred Lord Tennyson in his “Idylls of the King”:
The old order changeth, yielding place to new,
and the Lord fulfills his will in many ways
lest one good order corrupt the world.
Brian Yates, elected Alderman November 1987, completed term as Councilor December 2017.