This is an interesting one: Eve Tapper from the Planning Department quit her job to run for the ward alderman seat in Ward 2. Press release follows:
Newton resident Eve Tapper officially announced today that she will run for Ward Alderman from Ward 2. Eve’s background uniquely prepares her for service on the Board, as she has spent the past six years employed in the City of Newton Planning and Development Department and is the mother of two Newton Public School students. She resigned her position as Chief Planner for Current Planning on May 24th to enter the race for Alderman.
Eve’s priority as Ward 2 Alderman will be to provide strong representation for her constituents as the city works to implement major changes associated with the reconstruction of the Cabot School and the revitalization of the entire Newtonville neighborhood. She will also focus on refurbishing other school and municipal buildings as well as ways the Board can be supportive in helping the school system maintain and improve the quality of education students receive.
Brooke Lipsitt, a Ward 2 resident who is the former president of the Newton Board of Aldermen, and current Ward 2 School Committee representative Jonathan Yeo are serving as Eve’s campaign co-chairs.
In making her announcement, Eve said, “In my City Hall tenure I’ve worked with homeowners, business owners, and commercial property owners to help them pursue the highest and best use of their properties while preserving the character of our neighborhoods and enhancing the vitality of our village centers. Now I’m running for Alderman to put that experience to work making a difference on behalf of the residents of Ward 2. Having looked at city government from both inside and outside, I am well positioned to suggest and support efforts to make city government more user-friendly.”
In addition to helping hundreds of stakeholders with their specific projects, Eve has also advised the Board of Aldermen on land use and zoning matters throughout the City. Before accepting a staff position with the Newton Planning Department, Eve was an active member of the Newton Centre Task Force, serving as chair of the Design Subcommittee. She also served on the Newton Economic Development Commission.
Eve and her husband Adam Ochlis are long-term residents of Newton. “As the parent of an elementary school and a middle school student, I will be a strong voice on the Board in support of our city’s school children,” she said.
Eve holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Math from Drew University and a Master’s Degree in Planning from the University of Virginia. Her previous work experience includes more than six years working for Congressman Sam Gejdenson (D-CT) in Washington, DC as a Legislative Aide.
Are city employees not allowed to run for city office?
Why didn’t one of these terrific Ward 2 Candidates get an apartment in Ward 3 this year? Then we could have had more new talent on the BoA.
Why would you quit a job to run for BOA – doesn’t make any sense to me. The BOA is not a FT job.
Maybe she didn’t want a full time job.
Maybe she doesn’t need a full time job and then can she really understand about the struggling middle class who really do live in Newton and alot of them live in her ward?
Will she be pushing for more overrides, increasing our water bills ?? IF she and her husband both needed to work I would be more convinced to vote for her because she might get it – but not when you quit what seems like a good job for the city unless there is more to the story than is what is written here.
And alot of the issues that she wants to help the neighborhood with – ie Cabot, revitalization of Newtonville – wouldn’t she serve the city better by staying in her present position in city Hall?
Is there anyone on the BOA that doesn’t work another job – either full time or part time?
Joanne –
Maybe she’s looking for another full-time job outside the city because she thinks she can be more useful on the board. Or maybe she was going to quit anyways for personal reasons. Or maybe she has struggled to make ends meet but her luck has turned and she wants to give back to the city. Or maybe the city’s processes drive her so crazy that she’s willing to make this sacrifice in order to eliminate some of the boondoggle.
I don’t know Eve Tapper and don’t know a thing about her. I just think there are a lot of possibilities behind her motivations and intentions that aren’t all negative.
Maybe Eve will come on this blog and answer Joanne’s questions directly!
This is the oddest reaction to an candidate’s announcement. It’s certainly Eve Tapper’s right to make personal decisions about her life. I suggested just one of the top of my head; Gail was clearly more thoughtful in thinking through the possibilities. But frankly, these issues are none of my business, so as much as Greg likes to encourage candidates to participate on Village 14, I hope that Eve Tapper (or any other candidate) will not respond to questions about their personal life.
@Jane: I’m not looking for to probe into Tapper’s personal life. I’m thinking lots of folks would like to know why a city employee would seek elected office. Judging from her website and press release, this is not something she’s trying to hide, in fact she’s rightly promoting it as an asset.
This connection makes Tapper a very intriguing candidate for many reasons. On occasion, I’ve heard city employees comment on the volume of unreasonable requests they get from at least some aldermen. Having a board member with this unique experience could be an asset.
Jane – she already stated a lot of personal information – kids ages, husband, time spent in Newton – why is socio-economic background not a valid question? We value diversity, I’d argue that socio-economic diversity is something greatly lacking in politics to our detriment, especially above the local level. And many state politicians start local, Creem, Balser, etc.
As a specific example – no State level politicians use mass transit but many low income workers do. MBTA funding is always under pressure. People care about what is vital to them.
In the Boston Metro Area roughly 70% of low income employees use mass transit. http://www.newgeography.com/content/002666-how-lower-income-citizens-commute
Personally, I’d love it if a strong transportation advocate like Robert Solomon ran for Alderman.
Don’t you just love when political haks run someone’s campaign? If anything, at least Leah Fahey is a fresh voice for Newton!