All candidates running for contested seats in the upcoming election were invited to submit a post in support of their candidacy to Village14.  This is Andrea Kelley’s

I’ve been a Newton resident since 1979.  My husband and I first moved to Auburndale for 8 years before moving to West Newton, where we’ve been ever since.  I’m in my 2^nd term and 4^th year as a City Councilor.  

I’m a landscape designer and site planner by profession. My commitment and advocacy in Newton has been strong, having been involved with the Peirce PTO where I served as President,  and then PTO Council where I Co-Chaired the Local Action Committee. I cut my teeth on multi issues as a board member, committee chair, and past president of the Newton League of Women Voters.

I was the city’s first Open Space Coordinator, where the Adopt-a-Space program grew to over 300 public green spaces being cared for by volunteer individuals, neighborhoods and groups. 

Currently I Vice Chair the City Council’s Land Use Committee, and am a member of the Public Facilities and Real Property Reuse Committees. Ive been appointed to several other subcommittees such as the West Newton Square Working Group, the evaluation committee for proposals for the West Newton Armory, the Lincoln Elliot and Newton Early Childhood Education programs, and the Design Review Committee.

I am a thoughtful and civil voice on varied and contentious issues, from climate change, housing, road and sidewalk repair and maintenance, to rats and rodent control!  I initiated a review and update to Newton’s historic preservation landmarking and demolition delay ordinances. 

My Priorities are to immediately and concretely address the post COVID effects that confront us. Simultaneously, broader issues that I care deeply about include

• social justice and equity
• climate change
• housing/open space/economic development
• sidewalks, streets, infrastructure repair and maintenance

We need to maintain and expand the variety of housing choices in Newton, with homes of all sizes, ownership and rental, to provide housing for existing and future workforce, families, seniors, people of all ages, ethnicities and incomes.

As we near to end of this 2021 election season, the gloves are coming off, some PACS and candidates are resorting to dirty fighting, innuendo, and smearing candidates they don’t support. I am one candidate that will not stoop to personal attacks, but rest on my record based on listening and respect.

Please vote for me as one of your two choices in the Ward 3 At-large race.  Bullet voting may help an individual candidate, but we diminish our voting rights by leaving an empty box.   We will end up with two councilors at large per ward,  so make your voice count. As an advocate for voters’ rights, I don’t endorse bullet vote slates and that methodology as urged by some.

As an at-large candidate, I care about West Newton, and all of Newton.  Your issues are my issues.