Even without charter change, Newton’s city council is about to undergo a major transformation.
Six long-time city councilors — Scott Lennon, Ted Hess-Mahan, Brian Yates, Ruthanne Fuller, Amy Sangiolo and Jay Harney — plus Dick Blazar are all entering their final few weeks as members of a body that has seen only modest turnover in recent years.
With those departures comes a significant amount of institutional leadership and, of course, a vacancy for council president, who is the person who appoints the council’s very important committee chairs, vice chairs and members.
Cheryl Lappin, Marc Laredo and Susan Albright are all believed to be actively running for council president. It’s also possible that other councilors will vie for the job or else trade their votes in exchange for a plum committee post.
All members of what will be next year’s council will participate in the December caucus vote. So councilor-elects Maria Greenberg, Andrea Kelley, Andreae Downs, Brenda Noel, Becky Grossman, Josh Krintzman and Chris Markowitz, will take their first important vote since being elected a few weeks before being sworn in this January.
@Greg, Josh’s last name is spelled Krintzman.
Also, the next big election is earlier than the one you mentioned in December.
It’s the November 28th caucus for School Committee Chair and Co-Chair. Stay tuned!
Thanks for both corrections.
I vote for Cheryl to lead the city council. Perhaps Marc will be the vice chair. Several of the newly elected women no nothing about their new position and will take their orders from that YES people. God save our city. The new leaders may not succeed so do up your seat belts.
I think however it has been done in the past is how it should be done this time. If there is an appetite with CC to adopt a different methodology, they should debate and decide that but not for implementation this time around. That decision should be made free from the outcome of an immediate election
@Colleen Minaker we don’t get a vote 🙂
Chris’ last name is spelled Markiewicz.
Is the caucus vote done at a meeting to which the public is invited? I’d love to see that sausage being made! In fact, it occurs to me that that deliberation and vote both have to be done publicly under the OML.
I’ll bring the popcorn! 🙂
Cheryl Lappin will make an excellent Council President. She is dedicated, responsive and hard working.
All three are dedicated, responsive and hard working.
@ Sallee, the Board of Aldermen used to hold the election of it’s president / VP in a closed meeting. An OML complaint by the LWVN maybe 15 years ago changed that.
As well it should have! It would definitely be an oml violation. That’s what the League is there for! Does the meeting and agenda get posted?
Cheryl would be a natural.