Scott Lennon Announces Bid for Newton Ward 1 Alderman-at-Large

Ward 1 Alderman and Board of Aldermen President Scott Lennon announced Sunday his bid for the Ward 1 alderman-at-large seat. 

In a statement emailed to Newton Patch Sunday afternoon, Lennon declared his candidacy for the seat recently vacated by Ward 1 Alderman-at-Large Carleton Merrill, who passed away last month.

Lennon has served as the ward alderman in Ward 1 for 11 years and has held the board president position for the last two terms.

Ward aldermen are elected only by the voters in their home ward, whereas aldermen-at-large are elected by voters across the city. 

"Although I have been a ward alderman for all this time, I have always considered myself to be accessible and responsive to the entire city, and have consistently weighed how aldermanic decisions affected not just my own particular ward but all of Newton," Lennon said in his statement. "By now running for alderman-at-large, I can more effectively further my goal to be officially accountable to all the citizens of this great city where I was born and raised."

With Lennon joining the race for Ward 1 alderman-at-large, the city appears to have another contested race for November. Last week, former Alderman Allan Ciccone Sr. announced his plans to run for the Ward 1 alderman-at-large seat. Ciccone's son, Allan (Jay) Ciccone Jr., currently serves as the other alderman-at-large from Ward 1.

In other Board of Aldermen political news, Ward 5 looks to have another contested race, as Waban resident Chris Steele announced his candidacy for an alderman-at-large seat last week. 

Former Ward 8 Alderman-at-Large Rick Lipof also announced last week his plans to run again.