Note: Village 14 has invited each candidate in next week’s special election to post another guest column about their candidacy. This one is from Tarik Lucas, who is running for City Council from Ward 2.
Connections
The best part about running for office is making connections — strengthening connections with people I already know, and making new connections with residents I meet. As I speak with people, I am trying to understand what they want in their City Councilor, and for their City. At the same time, they want to know where I stand on various issues, and who I am as a person.
I posted a video recently of an interview I did with my dad. His parents were an interracial couple – Russian Jewish, and African American. As a result of the racism at the time, they were forced to give up my dad’s older brother, their first born, to adoption. My father and his siblings were subsequently moved to foster care. My father only learned five years ago about his older brother, who had since passed. Yet we connected with his family and are now close. We see each other as much as possible. Making this new connection, after the trauma enacted on us by racism decades ago, is more powerful than I can describe.
So, connections are an important theme for me. I seek to connect with you, at a very basic human level, so that you know I see you, I hear you, and I want to represent you well.
My opponents and I differ on some policy areas, but we share basic progressive values. We agree on the need for more affordable housing. We agree on a goal of a more inclusive Newton. We agree our roads need some TLC.
As your Councilor, I will do my darn best to be available and accessible, to listen to all sides, and ultimately land on a position that makes the most sense, using my best judgment, and applying an equity lens.
In the end, we are all still neighbors, and we are all still members of this community. I promise to continue the quest for connection and building community.
I do not see eye to eye with Tarik on every issue facing Newton, but plan to vote for him because he appears to analyze situations fairly, prudently, and rationally. My family moved to Newton 10 years ago for the reasons many people do, and since then – especially in the past year – we’ve learned a lot about the great things the city has to offer and also what challenges it faces going forward. The world is changing and Newton will have to change with it. I trust Tarik to be one of the decision makers when casting his vote between imperfect options on the issues that will come before the city council. Thank you to all the candidates for being civically engaged.
I haven’t been commenting on the CC race because I’m so appreciative of all five candidates who’ve put themselves out there in the public eye, and it seems that comments here tend to be triggers to various agendas and harsh words. But, really, can any of us read this story about Tarik’s uncle without a feeling of utter sickness and dismay about a society that would force such a result? It sounds more like something we would have expected in the 1800’s than in the 20th century. So many wounds, and so deep.
I’ve dropped leaflets or talked with residents about both Tarik and John at more than 500 homes in my own neighborhood or in other parts of Wards 5 and 6 over the past several months. I’ve also talked them up with people I meet on the street or on ZOOM meetings I regularly attend.
I still have no feel as to how these two races are going to turn out; but I have been surprised at the consistency of one finding that is far from scientific, but still instructive. Tarik (and John) have the support of several voters I assumed would be on the other team. One of these is a neighbor and friend across the street that I didn’t even bother to contact because we’re generally on opposite sides of most municipal contests here. So I was shocked when I looked out the window a few days back and saw signs for both Lucas and Oliver on her front lawn. Her answer was the same combination of factors I have received from the other surprise voters. Tarik had knocked on their door and they were taken by his calm, measured approach, maturity, obvious desire to listen and incorporate new ideas into his own thinking without patronizing a prospective voters. The fact based passion to get beyond the rhetoric to find common ground with would be adversaries motivates Tarik as it does me and I sense that much of the electorate might be looking for the same thing. One candidate I’m backing is a proven referee for tumultuous sporting events and the other’s profession is finding common ground among would be adversaries. Timely additions to our City Council for addressing Newton’s many challenges.
Gail,
Would it have been more fair to post ALL candidates posts at the same time. The last candidate can now tailor their post to any criticism that arose to the previous candidates…
Seems the last candidate has an advantage
Bugek: I gave all the candidates the deadline of 9 p.m. yesterday and told them I would post them as I receive them. None of them saw the others’ posts before sending them in. I am posting them two hours apart today so each one has top billing for a little while. Really, I couldn’t figure out a way to be more fair. They can’t all sit at the top at the same time.
My own vision aligns more with Bryan’s which is why I landed on voting for him, but I think Tarik is a good guy and we’d be lucky to have him.
Hmm. I am pretty sure I posted to this last night. Was it removed for some reason?
I will try again. I posted that I think Lucas is similar in tone, temperament, and approach to Scott Lennon whose is greatly missed on the City Council. I think Tarik Lucas will be a great addition
Gail,
This is very fair. Thank you for all your time setting this up
Emily Norton (assuming you reading this)
I just read your newsletter in support of Tarik. I think you should post what you wrote here because I feel you made some very great points that people not on your mailing list should consider.
@Bugek — Here is a link to Emily’s note:
https://mailchi.mp/emilynorton/meet-city-council-candidate-tarik-lucas-sun-dec-2405930
I met Tarik during this campaign and was impressed by his thoughtful approach to solving and addressing Newton’s issues.
I became a enthusiastic supporter and have reached out to others to vote for Tarik.
1pt for Emily!
@Tarik, one of your endorsers, a senior member of RightSize Newton circulated a homophobic post about your opponent. You made a statement about hate and deleted the senior citizen’s endorsement from your website but did not denounce RIghtSizeNewton. Can you explain why you have not commented on RightSize Newton’s role?
Thanks Tarik, to you and all the others who chose to run. It has been a vibrant and informative campaign, and you’ve all given us clear choices. Thank you all for your contributions to our community.