Blogger and award-winning journalist Marjorie Arons-Barron published a glowing piece about Ward 6 School Committee candidate Paul Levy. She stops short of endorsing Levy (I’m pretty sure that she doesn’t endorse candidates), but she had a lot of praise for his experience, leadership qualities and talent.
Here’s a taste:
The man is a natural-born leader, guiding large and complex institutions through periods of turmoil and change. He has led organizations ranging from 40 people to 7,000 and is an internationally-sought-after senior consultant on negotiation. He has also dedicated himself to young people.
and
I have yet to interview Shawn Fitzgibbons, former chair of the Newton Democratic Party, who is also running for that seat. It will take the upcoming campaign for voters to sort out the similarities and differences between the two. When things heat up, residents of Newton will have a chance to consider adding to the School Committee someone with a wealth of experience, talent and wisdom, a man willing to put himself out there at a time when he could be sailing off into the sunset, resting on his laurels.
Wow.
https://www.boston.com/culture/health/2013/02/06/doctor-gets-7m-in-gender-bias-suit/
https://www.casemine.com/judgement/us/59146994add7b049342da966
Really wish Paul would run for Mayor. Many of us are seeking an alternative to Fuller- any alternative- and he’s more than qualified to boot.
Nonetheless… for a School Committee member, I am concerned that he has the wrong focus. He seems overly focused on teacher compensation and overall school budget, whereas most parents I know in Newton are concerned about the slow decline of our school system and the abysmal reaction to COVID. Would like to hear more about his priorities, because penny pinching the school budget isn’t one of them for me. The reality is that people who continue buying homes in Newton with ever increasing prices aren’t concerned about it either. Our taxes are lower than peer municipalities. I hope Paul can focus in his constituent concerns, rather than his own, because he has a lot to offer the City.
Alec,
Those who want to pay more taxes can simply write a check to the city. Don’t under estimate the number of families sacrificing to afford to live here + fixed income seniors
Would love to see Paul run for mayor. But he probably has my vote for SC.
If the biggest negative of Paul Levy’s school committee candidacy is that he may be over-qualified and should be run for mayor instead…I’d say that speaks well to his chances.
It’s really dysfunctional that nobody wants to run against Fuller for mayor because she has so much money. It’s sad that this is how Newton politics has become. But I will take Levy as a school committee member. I’m concerned that Shawn F won’t stand up to Fuller.
Her campaign war chest is no doubt part of why she has no challenger but she’s also a relatively popular incumbent. That’s always an uphill battle for any potential candidate.
I would say there a few more negatives to Paul’s campaign than that he is over-qualified. To be frank and not to rehash what I am sure most everyone is aware of, Paul’s past actions when he was CEO of Beth Israel should not be rewarded with a spot in public office.
@jerry – is she really that popular? While she may win a straw poll today, there have been large number of posts and comments on social media; neighbors connecting on our streets; and friends in living rooms begging for someone… anyone to run against her. Polarizing, may be a more accurate adjective.
Is she really popular? She won by a very slim margin and has lost a substantial amount of support. That poll stating her approval rating seemed to have issues. Good contenders are likely deciding not to run due to her wealth or maybe also her strong relationship with some big name developers.
“Good contenders are likely deciding not to run due to her wealth or maybe also her strong relationship with some big name developers.”
This is how conspiracy theories get started.
As Jerry mentioned above, Fuller has a big head start when it comes to fundraising, but that alone doesn’t win elections. Still, no one has done anything even close. If people like Paul Levy, Marc Laredo, Emily Norton, or the other more popular names on this site felt there was a path to victory, I believe they would pursue it. None of them have done significant fundraising and no one seems to be mounting any kind of opposition. Maybe, just maybe, she’s more popular than the V-14 echo chamber believes.
@MMQC is right on the mark. I voted for RAF last election and would certainly not vote for her again. I would eagerly support a n opponent and had hoped to see someone run but heard that unfortunately her wealth is a barrier for others to run against her. It really is a shame.
Is she really that popular?
At yesterday’s NNHS graduation, with a crowd of over 500 graduates and at least 1000 parents, the principal thanked the superintendent and the mayor for everything, and then waited for applause. No one applauded. He repeated himself a second time and then perhaps five people clapped. If that is any measure, Fuller is not that popular at all.
Honestly no one needs $200,000 to run for Newton mayor (especially unopposed).
Any of the truly talented folks won’t want to give up their lucrative day jobs for this fairly thankless job with an uncertain future.
And then there was the faux outrage in the Tab ad about Lennon and working women that ended Fuller’s last campaign. Who would want to run against someone who doesn’t play fair?
It’s very difficult to unseat an incumbent mayor in Newton. Money is not the obstacle. The problem is that even an “unpopular” mayor begins the race with thousands of votes already in their pocket.
If Fuller’s support right now is around 40%, she only has to add another 10% of the voters to win. An opponent basically starts from scratch, and has to pick up about 90% of the currently disaffected voters to win. It’s a daunting task!
@Chuck “Maybe, just maybe, she’s more popular than the V-14 echo chamber believes.”
I’ve always felt that this site leaned pro-Fuller. But anecdotally I know a lot of people in Newton – between work, people I know socially, and parents from my kids school, she is almost unanimously disliked among everyone I know. Even some of these folks were ardent supporters of her 4 years ago. Some liked her even a few months ago until the gun store incident. The only folks I “know” of that like her are from comments on this very site. And I can’t believe we are going to be stuck with her for another 4 years.
Back to Paul though, he is exactly what the SC needs. Experience, logic, and the desire to better the education for his and all of our children. The SC, and Mayor Fuller as a part of it, failed our children this past year and a half and we must demand change. Paul will fight for our kids and do what is best for them. I have felt like parent voices, and thus the voice of our children, have been ignored by the school committee for personal, political, or other inappropriate reasons. It is time to vote for change within the SC and bring it back to its roots, an elected body that serves to provide the best possible education for our children.
Schools are no place for politics and being elected to the SC should not be used as a stepping stone for a future political career. We need people who are selflessly dedicating themselves to better the experience and education of the children. Paul’s motives are genuine, and this is why he has my vote.