Today at 2pm you will have the opportunity to see and hear LIVE on Zoom the five candidates who are running for the two empty At-Large City Council seats in Wards 1 and 2. All Newton registered voters get to vote for these open positions in the Special Election scheduled for March 16.
This Debate, sponsored by the Four Neighborhood Area Councils (Newtonville, Newton Highlands, Newton Upper Falls and Waban) will be moderated by Marjorie Arons-Barron, multi-award winning editorial journalist and blogger,
To accommodate candidate schedules, the candidates for the Ward 2 race will be called upon first, from 2pm to 3:15pm. They are Bryan Barash, Tarik Lucas, and David Micley.
The candidates for the Ward 1 race will participate from 3:15pm to 4:15pm. The candidates running in Ward 1 are John Oliver and Madeline Ranalli.
There are stark differences among the candidates’ visions for Newton. Your vote will help decide how multiple issues are addressed by the City Council. If you don’t know what those differences are, listen to the candidate answers to the probing questions Ms. Arons-Barron will ask. She is extremely skilled at highlighting differences that will inform your vote without influencing it!
Register here for today’s Zoom meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpf-mrqT0tG9ZvrnYqyo-BULJAS3sf1zVX
and don’t forget to request your ballot and return it to City Hall if you prefer to vote remotely.
Great job by Marjorie Arons-Barron!
I too thought she did a great job, even if it was at the expense of asking specific questions from the public. I think that she consolidated the themes into excellent questions
Some takeaway:
Bryan Basash made a pointed effort to refer to his opponent vs opponents. I guess he just wants David Micley to go away
David Milcey continues to present as a more likable option to Barash if your favor the pro-development camp. But he seemed a bit superficial in his solutions. He has potential, but probably not this time around.
Tarik Lucas seems to have been honing his debating skills and was more willing to directly engage.
John Oliver was great at cutting to the heart of issues. He did an excellent job of navigating providing the appropriate respect to his youthful and idealogical competitor while also revealing her as such.
Maddy Ranalli is not doubt convinced with the correctness of her opinions based upon her life experience and is skilled at articulating those opinions
Game Changer Moment: When Maddy asked John why he wanted to deny the next generation their opportunity to serve and John responded that he was doing nothing to deny any one of anything
I also want to say thank you to Margie Arons-Barron. I think she did an amazing job!
@Paul: Margie never fails. She studies the issues and probes beyond vague answers to get insight into candidates’ views and experience. She is a real professional whose expertise the Area Councils have been fortunate to find.
I agree Sallee and Ellen
Just curious- If Maddie believes John is denying the next generation the opportunity to serve (I presume because he’s running against her), does that mean Bryan is denying minorities the opportunity to have diversity on the board?
Well organized event. I wish the LWV would experiment. Their current format is disappointing.
Big picture, I think all of the candidates did a good job. In particular, no one can criticize David Micley. This guy is serious and impressive.
Interesting debate. Thought it was well-run. Not much added to the overall discussion though. I thought Maddie more than held her own, which might help some folks who were troubled by her youth.
As for David Micley, like I’ve said before, seems like a nice, smart guy. But without a campaign, he has zero chance in a special election. I do love how the folks supporting Tarik keep trying to make fetch happen regarding David’s candidacy. I’ve yet to meet an actual David Micley voter (Either at my door, or through friends, or via email, or anywhere else). But I’ve heard from a bunch of folks who are Tarik supporters from previous elections who think David is a terrific alternative to Bryan. Funny that!
It takes a lot of shoe leather and energy to win an election in Newton. I could certainly see either Tarik or Bryan coming out on top, and they’d both do a fine job I think (actually I’m sure David would do a fine job too). But I’m going to give my vote to one of the folks who have busted their butts for Newtonville over the past few years.
I have to say, this is going to be a weird election. I mean, how many folks watch these debates? I’m completely at a loss regarding how many folks will vote. I assume the folks with signs in their yards will vote. Do we think younger folks will vote because of Maddy? I doubt that, but it would be nice to see.
Also, it doesn’t feel like an election without Greg chiming in with some snarky posts that make me realize I don’t understand Newton as well as I thought I did. Jerry, get snarkier in a hurry.
@Fignewtonville – “I mean, how many folks watch these debates?”
There were 300+ people on the Zoom call at the start. No doubt others will see it after the fact but you’re right that’s a tiny drop in the bucket when it comes to Newton voters.
As for the snark. OK, I’ll get on it. I just signed up for remedial snark classes. Once I’m up to speed I’m coming after you Fig 😉
@JHarvey – that is the question that Borash (and Renalli) have avoided like the plague.
They purport to be all about racial justice and everyone having a seat at the table; but they seem to be fine with 23 white city councilors and a white mayor.
It will be very disappointing if Newton endorses their hypocrisy.
It would be as if 2020 didn’t happen in our city.
Peter, from the many times you’ve posted this point, I realize it is important to you. And certainly I’m sure many folks will take that into consideration when voting. But you keep going a step beyond the issue and accuse Bryan (and now Maddy) of being hypocritical because Bryan is running against Tarik. But since Tarik and Bryan don’t agree on everything (far from it), how is it hypocritical to run for office to push those issues? Bryan declared first I believe. Should he have immediate stepped away once a person of color ran against him? Did you propose the same thing for Susan Albright? How about Jake Auchincloss? How about Jennifer Bentley? (Especially Jennifer since she split the anti-incumbent vote in my view in the last election) They all ran against Tarik in the last election. I don’t recall you asking the three of them to clear the field… You also don’t seem to ask the question of David…
Voters can and will weigh many factors when they make their vote. But perhaps the reason why no one is responding to your question, including the candidates, is that there is nothing to say. Bryan clearly believes he has something to add to the city council. So does Tarik. They both are clearly who they are, and they both chose to run. It is certainly possible to advocate for more people of color on the city council and to support Tarik, as well to do the same and support Bryan. It has taken the city council decades to get to this point after all. But this idea that Bryan couldn’t run against Tarik because Bryan is a progressive doesn’t really make sense to me. I can certainly understand it being a reason to vote for Tarik. But I don’t believe Bryan owes you an apology for volunteering to serve the community. Both of them have been volunteering in Newton for years now, and both seem like great people to me.
Fig,
I think MUCH has changed in the City, not to mention the world in the past year or two. Now we need diversity more than ever. The fact is, Bryan has been the first one to celebrate and push racial diversity (rightfully so). What is more important here, Bryan’s voice on the council or his opportunity to ensure that diversity prevails? Sometimes being a leader is difficult.
I’m not sure what the right answer is here. I know that I as a voter, see and hear two different things. I happen to agree with many of Bryan’s policies, and on some subjects I don’t think he and Tarik are that far off from one another. I just think that the opportunity to have a different voice on the Council trumps all of that at this moment.
@fignewtonville – please forgive me for not indulging the tu quoque portion of your response regarding other political races; let’s stick to the matter at hand. And please accept my appreciation for your encyclopedic memory of my previous posts, which number less than 12 (?) total over the past year.
The facts are, 2020 was an incredible year for racial progressiveness in our nation. We made significant strides in law enforcement, criminal justice, the WHITE HOUSE, and other areas of historical discrimination.
Mr. Barash made Racial Justice one of the chief planks of his platform. He writes extensively about making Newton more welcoming to people of color and providing opportunities here for them.
One of the most fundamental and critical facets of racial equality is representation. Tufts released a study last year concerning the disproportionate amount of white elected officials and the importance of equitable representation in local government.
For a city of approximately 90,000 citizens in one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country to have zero people of color on its 23 member city council is more than a little problematic. If Mr. Barash’s positions and influence on the City Council were to be diametrically opposed to Mr. Lucas, that would be one thing. But it seems that they agree on 80% of the issues that the council will handle.
So fignewtonville, I never asked for an apology. Please don’t inject hyperbole in the discussion. I am looking for leadership. Mr. Barash completely avoiding the issue of an entirely white city council and mayor’s office is the opposite of leadership. To be frank, I find it cowardly and hypocritical. he comments on a number of mundane items on this blog. One would think he would also address the most important issue of the day in the United States. However, it continues to be others doing his bidding.
Peter Kay,
If Bryan had not made racial equality a major theme of his campaign then your question should never come up
Unfortunately, he has and representation matters more than just “words”
Jharvey: I think that is a completely valid viewpoint, I just think the race of a candidate is not the only thing I personally look at, and I don’t think Tarik and Bryan have the same viewpoints on some important subjects. But I can certainly understand why representation matters, and how that could encourage someone to support Tarik.
Peter: Love the use of tu quoque. (really, haven’t had the reference since a paper on C.S. Lewis years ago). But I’ll take your response as likely confirming that you didn’t ask Jennifer, Susan or Jake to respond the same way as Bryan. Entirely possible that you weren’t as involved in politics then, or just didn’t pay attention to the election. Also entirely possible that you’ve decided to make this your main issue about Bryan because you are a supporter of Tarik and feel this is the best political path forward to boost his candidacy.
I’ll also note that a tu quoque logic fallacy is really an appeal to hypocrisy as an argument, which is really what you and Bugek are doing… *Bryan SAYS he is a progressive, but here he is, blocking diversity on the counsel, even when he says he supports representation. * All I’m saying, is that Bryan can both be progressive AND run against Tarik for city council. That’s not being a hypocrite, especially when Bryan declared first. And when Bryan clearly has done a lot for the community as well. There are 24 positions on the city council. I hope we have a more diverse council in the future. I just don’t think Bryan needs to step aside to satisfy your sense of righteousness or your belief that he is a hypocrite. I’m pretty sure that is why we have elections, to decide who gets to serve.
But he certainly isn’t a coward, and calling him such just makes folks less likely to pay attention to your arguments, use of latin or not…(and in calling him a coward (or acting cowardly to be more precise I suppose), you probably now do owe him a apology.)
Is there a trend of hypocritical behaviour? This is a question and not a statement or acquisition
– ran for a position he wanted to abolish. (Eliminate ward councils)
– ardent supporter of environment but drove to work when express bus, commuter rail is accessible
– pledges to not take money from developers but only those without a active newton permit (ie the vast majority of developers)
These questions are very fair to ask
Bugek:
I may not agree on the framing or the importance, but I think it is fine to ask a candidate anything on your list.
@Bugek: it’s more than that. Bryan actually claimed in this debate he would be BETTER on racial equity than Tarik would. At least David had the good sense to say that on that one issue he acknowledges Tarik would be better.
I’ve been strongly leaning Bryan, but I was worried about him making claims like that in this election and appearing to whitesplain and be tone dead.
Uhh tone deaf that is.
@MMQC – I like “tone dead”. It’s tone deaf and then some.
MMQC, beyond being tone deaf he also is, in my opinion, divisive and a “flame thrower”. Lucas and Micley seem equally even headed and measured
Greg,
Obama without a doubt inspired POC to become interested in politics. Not just interested but to actual run for offices to be elected.
This has impact for generations. Representation matters.
@Bugek thanks for sharing your list of questions on positions that Bryan appears to have walked away from – https://village14.com/2021/02/21/alert-live-zoom-candidate-debate-today-at-2pm/#comment-124069
One important example for me that is missing relates to a V14 comment Bryan made last June following the tragic death of George Floyd. Bryan eloquently called for more people of color to be elected to the Newton City Council:
https://village14.com/2020/06/07/open-letter-to-marc-laredo-on-black-lives/#comment-115985
This statement contrasts with Bryan’s answer 38 minutes and 28 seconds into Sunday’s Area Council Debate Facebook recording when Tarik asked him why he felt he would be a ‘better voice for racial justice’ than Tarik if elected. Bryan answered that it is about representation and that his experience, shared values and support for the right policies ‘make him the right person to implement them’.
Bryan’s answer raises several questions for me personally about how we as a community want to achieve diversity and racial equity everywhere including our City Council…
1) Is diversity furthered by effectively telling black residents that we know how to best represent your interests for you and extending Newton’s 34 year streak for no black city councilors?
2) If we require any candidates of color to not only support our ideals & vision but also to adhere to policy recommendations for achieving those goals are we creating a litmus test for electing racially diverse City Councilors?
3) Do we believe that welcoming and hearing a broader spectrum of lived experiences will strengthen the City Council’s ability to address Racial justice?
As many have noted, the Area Council debate was excellent and all five candidates are to be commended for clearly stating where they stand on this and other vital issues.
Rich Heald, I was very disappointed with how Bryan handled that question. It is also disappointing that machine is helping him instead of Tarik. It sheds light on some of the other city councilors who have endorsed him.