I’m sure slates of candidates, both formal and informal, have been around since the second election ever held.
It seems though that in our local election they have risen in prominence this time around. This election we had two competing slate of candidates each with their own PAC – Newton Democracy and Voters for a Vibrant Newton.
I view it as somewhat disturbing phenomenon, Our elections in Newton are non-partisan, i.e. candidates don’t run as candidates for a political party. The rise of these formalized slates of candidates push us closer to what’s ailing our national politics. i.e. you’ve got a be on someone’s team and if you’re not on my team, you’re on my enemy’s team. These slates are more or less organized around development issues. The problems come once you move to other issues. If the ‘competing teams’ model for politics take root in local politics it tends to lead to the teams always having to pick the opposite side of each issue that comes up – something that’s plaguing our national politics in recent years.
This phenomenon seems to have risen to an absurd level with this week’s Newtonville Area Council election. The Area Council’s have virtually no legal authority of any kind. Their primary purposes are to be a communication conduit of village concerns and issues to the City government and to foster community cohesiveness (e.g Village Days, etc).
There are nine seats on each Area Council. This time around there were 14 people running for the nine seats in Newtonville. Rather than running as individuals they ran as two opposing slates of 8 and 6 candidates – the ‘Slate of Eight‘ and I’m not sure if the opposing group of 6 had a name. As it turned out, the Slate of Eight all got elected.
The problem here is that it almost guarantees that the Area Council will not be representing the views of all Newtonville residents no matter what slate got elected.
I really hope that doesn’t mean we’re heading down a path where if you’re supporting the Riverside development then that means you must be against expanded dog parks and for preservation of Webster Woods.
I’m not a big fan of our unwieldly 24 member City Council but one of its virtues is that it encourages ever changing coalitions as each different new issue arises. Calcifying our elected officials into two permanently competing teams, regardless of the issues before them, isn’t something I look forward to.
I was wondering if the slate of eight made it. Congrats to them. I’m not quite sure why a slate is needed for area councilors though. What power do they have?
I’m not being disparaging, and I’m glad Newtonville has an area council, but I’ve thought of it as a sort of beautification and activity group…flowers, Village Day, etc. Emily, Susan, and Jake are strong voices for the various issues and they actually can vote. They did do the poll a while back, and there have been some very nice people on it over the years. I was very curious if the slate of 8 would all make it, or if it would be a split. Looks like it was a clean “slate”…
I wonder if the 9th person will actually want to show up to the meetings?
I just hope they continue to do village day, I really like that activity.
@Jerry
I was loving this post- I agree with the sentiment- up until the point that you decided to use an example that deligitimizes candidates that are contrary to your own views. So the non-partisan post becomes a partisan one.
The reality, as you point out, is that the NAC has little actual ability to affect change. On the other hand, Vibrant Newton had an extremely high success rate with their candidates populating a third of the City Council.
Neither are good, but disappointing for you to only choose an example from one side, when it really should be pox on both houses.
PS the growing money in Newton politics is a problem too.
@William Berkman – I’m not sure I follow.
If you’re talking about the NAC, I said ” the Area Council will not be representing the views of all Newtonville residents no matter what slate got elected.” Besides I live in Upper Falls so I don’t really have any stake or interest in the NAC elections nor do I know anything about any of the candidates.
.. and yes I happily cast a pox on both houses. “pox to you all”
Slates have happened in every election I’ve voted on in newton. Every one. Like minded candidates campaign together. Like minded organizers and voters do too.
Good on the Slate of Eight for banding together. Good on Vibrant Newtonville. The slates at the city council level break upon all the time on issues that divide the council in different ways.
I think they are a bit more powerful now since the Tab is no longer a real paper. endorsements used to matter. There is a vacuum and slates filled it.
Absent that, what do you want? More ignorance? If a person only votes via a slate what makes you think they will do any other research absent the slate? And isn’t it a bit patronizing to say it wasn’t a knowing choice?
Now money in local politics is a separate topic and much more complicated one.
The NAC does good work, and I’m sure the slate of 8 cares deeply about the community. But I also think that the only time I think of them is when they have a village event. We have such active councilors that I feel both sides are already well represented. Not a slight, but I wouldn’t think to call them with an issue. I don’t think they got involved with Cabot and I barely heard them speak up on the Village walnut improvements. I do remember the charatte and the poll. I think that sucked up a lot of their time.
I can assure you that one of the ‘Pick 6’ slate who was elected to NAC will be active in the group. Ward 2 seems unique in the level of dichotomy amongst the specific precincts. As has been pointed out, the NAC is supposed to represent all residents of Newtonville, but in fact they have taken on an advocacy role that clearly does NOT represent all residents as witnessed by the results at the Councilor level.
From my experience with the Newtonville Area Council the people who garnered the most votes were the ones who worked
hardest knocking on doors to get out the vote. Those who lost may not have campaigned as well as those who got their message out to village residents.
Dave Bronstein you are not correct about the members of the NAC. All the councilors work diligently to be a voice for all the Newtonville residents. Both the Charrette and the public survey encouraged everyone to express their concerns about our community’s future growth. The majority consensus clearly opposes out of scale growth. This is reflected in all four Ward precincts.
Dave Bronstein is correct. I was elected as the 9th member of the NAC and I am ready to bring enthusiasm to my attendance and involvement.
The reason why I ran with a slate of others is because it was suggested to me. Also, it was important to already have the support of others in Newtonville, as this was my first time running as an official candidate for city government. I’ve already been involved in other groups and committees in Newton, but never in an official capacity.
As a young professional and someone who has lived in the Newton/Watertown area for about 9 years, I want to bring a different perspective to the NAC. But this does exclude me from being able to have honest and meaningful conversations with anyone who may have different views. I have, and will always be open to debate and compromise, but also will fight for the issues that are meaningful to myself and to others.
I hope to be a strong voice for all Newtonville residents.
Dave Bronstein is correct. I was elected as the 9th member of the NAC and I am ready to bring enthusiasm to my attendance and involvement.
The reason why I ran with a slate of others is because it was suggested to me. Also, it was important to already have the support of others in Newtonville, as this was my first time running as an official candidate for city government. I’ve already been involved in other groups and committees in Newton, but never in an official capacity.
As a young professional and someone who has lived in the Newton/Watertown area for about 9 years, I want to bring a different perspective to the NAC.
But this does not exclude me from being able to have honest and meaningful conversations with anyone who may have different views. I have, and will always be, open to debate and compromise, but also will fight for the issues that are meaningful to myself and to others.
I hope to be a strong voice for all Newtonville residents.
@Jessica Archer – Congratulations on your election and thanks for volunteering your time.
As I said above I don’t live in Newtonville or know any of the candidates, so my comments are general rather specifc to NAC or any individuals.
I’m happy though that it was a “slate of eight” rather than a slate of 9 (aside from the fact that it rhymes) so that there is at least one of the seats held by someone not on the same “team” – particularly because the Area Council’s role is to listen to all the residents and their views, not just like-minded ones.
Sounds like you’re ready, willing and able to do that and I hope all the other eight are too.
@Jerry Reilly
Thank you so much!
The plan is to show up and be engaged, and I think that’s everyone’s goal.
Even though you don’t live in Newtonville, I’m always happy to hear from other Newton residents as well. It’s good to connect and see how Newton as a whole is trending so we can make good decisions for each neighborhood and the city as a whole.
The role of each village area council is to provide a direct link
between residents to the city council. There are monthly meetings
where people can attend and express their concerns about their
community. Members of the area council are receptive in a non political way to any issue. All members hold a diverse range of views on the salient issues within the Newtonville community.
The task of the area council is to provide a neutral arena where
all views can be heard.