Emily Norton posted the following message in here email newsletter this morning.
Friends, I was first elected to the “Board of Aldermen” in 2013. It has truly been an honor to be your representative in local government, and to be able to respond when you needed help in any way. I am proud of my accomplishments for Newton. But as I noted in a 2016 newsletter, I never planned to be a lifer, and now it’s time to turn over the reins to someone new. I have a wonderful day job as Executive Director of the Charles River Watershed Association, and between that and my three sons ages 15, 17 and 20, I will still be busy. Thank you so much for trusting me with your vote over these last 5 elections – the most votes among all ward councilors in each election since 2015. I am very, very grateful. I will be working hard for you until my term ends at the end of December 2023, so until then, please reach out if there is anything I can do to help you!
* won’t
I wonder if this has anything to do with the infamous security camera footage.
We have certainly had our disagreements, but at no point did I doubt that she was doing what she thought was right for Newton and her ward (and the environment).
10 years of service is a long time. And it is a lot of late night meetings away from loved ones. And it is an often thankless and frustrating job.
I found her to be toxic figure in Newton politics. I hope whoever runs in that ward (and in all wards, really) can strike a more collaborative tone.
I’d love a more collaborative tone. But I give her credit (and Brenda Noel credit too) for not announcing late and trying to manipulate their successors. We’ve seen that done before. Very glad it has not become a pattern.
Ward 2 is really split down the middle on most issues. That isn’t reflected in the Newtonville Area Council, but certainly it has been the pattern on most votes.
The residents in her Ward absolutely love her, and for good reason. Not driven by agenda but by the needs of the Ward. Also super responsive to emails and questions!
I’ll miss her strong independent voice on the council.
On the topic of people not running for re-election, FigCity News mentioned that Paul Levy won’t be running for re-election either.
I celebrate the departure of every election denier on the City Council who voted to overturn the successful 2016 ballot initiative that legalized cannabis in Massachusetts. Voters have a right to expect that elected officials will respect the democratic process and faithfully implement laws passed at the ballot box. I may be old, but I hope to see the day when every last election denier is gone from the Council.
I thanks her for her many years of service, both on the City Council and before that with her activism around the schools.
us italian-americans
are jumpng for joy!!!!!!!
GOD BLESS
CHRISTOFER COLUMBUS!!!!!!!!!
I’m a big admirer of Emily’s spirit, spunk, perseverance, wit and her refreshingly good humored and down to earth common sense. She has the unfailing courage of her convictions and I have never seen her flinch from doing what she thought was right. I was active enough in Newton’s public life to be able to determine in advance how most members of the City Council would vote on several of the important and contentious measures that have been deliberated in recent years. With Emily, however, I could never be entirely certain how she would break on some of the most pressing debates I followed over the years. Occasionally, I was a bit perplexed by some of her positions until I would take time to analyze the thoughtful and measured reasons she would write up for why she did what she did. Emily’s a free spirit and a happy warrior who has won friends from across this City’s contentious political divide. That’s no small accomplishment.
Emily rocks. xx
I loved Emily. I wish she wouldnt leave the Council. Good luck in your future endeavours and stay active in Newton
oh, and I agree, Emily rocks
My favorite memory of Councilor Norton is when the city council had a supermajority vote in favor of scheduling the Northland vote on March 3, 2020, concurrent with the Super Tuesday vote.
And then Councilor Norton, leading a subset of the minority, invoked a parliamentary move, operating under the assumption the minority could nullify this supermajority vote, costing the city taxpayers an additional ~$11000 for a standalone election.
And then Councilor Albright informed them that no, all you have done is cost Newton taxpayers an additional $3000 in rush print fees.
The vote was held March 3 with high voter turnout. I suspect turnout was the game being played.
https://village14.com/2020/01/08/four-city-councilors-stop-colleagues-from-setting-date-for-northland-vote/
Newton will be better off w/o Ms. Norton as an Alderman
No worries Elmo, they got rid of the aldermen a few years back 😉
I’m sorry that Emily will not be running in the Ward 2 race. Although I did not agree with all of her positions, I agreed with most of them. More importantly, she brought a lot of honesty and guts to the City Council. These things that are in very short supply today – and not just in the City Council.