Meanwhile in Ward 6: Watch the debate between Blazar and Noel
Incumbent City Councilor Dick Blazar is facing a well-organized challenge by Brenda Noel for the Ward 6 seat. Here’s a video from their debate earlier this month sponsored by the Highlands Area Council.
OPEN THREAD: Newton City Council contests
Have you decided who you will vote for in the various city council contests? Tell us which candidates you’re excited about and why.
Just what is this thing called “Ward representation”?
Here’s one thing that the YES and NO sides of the charter debate agree on: Ward representation is important — so much so that both sides feature the phrase in much of their campaign materials. The YES side says that the proposed new city charter...Lennon leads Fuller in endorsements from colleagues
To date, nine sitting city councilors have endorsed Council President Scott Lennon for mayor (Jay Ciccone, Jim Cote, Jay Harney, Amy Sangiolo, Lenny Gentile, John Rice, Cheryl Lappin, Rick Lipof & David Kalis) while four have endorsed their colleague Ruthanne Fuller (Lisle Baker, Susan Albright, Jake Auchincloss and Deb Crossley). That leaves nine of their
City Councilors, including mayoral candidates, come out against Home Rule petition
A strongly worded letter released this morning and signed by seven city councilors, including the two mayoral candidates, opposes the Home Rule Petition that is docketed by another 14 candidates. This suggests that even if the petition passes the city council, it may run into trouble with the new mayor, no matter who
Majority of City Councilors co-sponsor a plan for downsizing the Council
Today 14 of our 24 City Councilors co-sponsored a proposal to reduce the City Council to 8 At-Large Councilors elected city-wide plus 8 Ward Councilors elected by their wards. The docketed legislation says that if the Charter Commission’s proposed City charter...
Councilor Ciccone a no-show at his debate
Incumbent City Councilor Jay Ciccone was reportedly a no-show at tonight’s Ward 1 At Large League of Women Voters Newton candidates debate, arguably the highest profile debate of the campaign season because it’s shown repeatedly on NewTV and streams...Court overturns Newton’s drone ban
A federal judge has ruled that Newton’s drone ban goes too far, Universal Hub reports.
TAB column suggests Markiewicz knew Harney might drop out
Newton City Councilor Jay Harney has said his surprising Aug. 4 announcement to not seek reelection this fall was made “over the last week” and “the day before I made my decision to withdraw,.” But TAB editor Andy Levin’s interview with candidate Chris Markiewicz (who filed his nomination papers on July 25) this week appears to suggest that Markiewicz, at minimum, knew Harney was
Allison Sharma Announces Campaign for Ward 4 Councilor
Village14 received the following email this afternoon from City Council candidate Allison Sharma: Newton, MA, August 15, 2017 My name is Allison Sharma I’m pleased to announce that I’m running as a write-in/sticker candidate for the Ward 4 Ward Councilor seat in... Allison Sharma to launch write-campaign in Ward 4
Chris Markiewicz’s free ride onto the Newton City Council just hit a speed bump. According to this Facebook page, Allison Sharma will wage a write-in campaign for the seat presently held by veteran councilor Jay Harney, who surprised everyone (except perhaps