Letters to the Editor

Letter: Sheff Introduces Campaign for Governor's Council

Newton resident Tom Sheff will be running as an Independent in the District 3 Governor's Council race.

I'd like to thank all the people who signed my nomination papers and those who helped me gather signatures. We did it! I couldn't have done it without your help and support. I'd like to announce that I am running for the Governor's Council seat in District 3 (for a full list of cities/towns in District 3, go to www.tomsheff.com). While many people will be concentrating on the higher profile campaigns, I hope you take the time to learn a little about the Governor's Council. Many active political junkies don't even know what the Governor's Council does.   The Massachusetts Governor's Council provides advice and consent to the Governor of Massachusetts, particularly about judicial nominations, justices of the peace and criminal pardons. For …

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Newton Mayor Setti Warren Officially Endorses Joe Kennedy III

The announcement came yesterday in Newton.

Newton Mayor Setti Warren has officially thrown his support behind Joseph Kennedy III, who is running for the Fourth Congressional District seat.  Warren made the endorsement yesterday afternoon at Cabot's in Newtonville, where Kennedy made a campaign stop.  The event was publicized on the Newton Democratic City Committee website, but the actual endorsement was not made public until yesterday afternoon. Both Kennedy and Warren made statements via Twitter yesterday noting the announcement.  Kennedy is one of several candidates vying for the seat that will be up for grabs at the end of this term when Newton Rep. Barney Frank officially retires. The other Democrats running for the seat include: Former Fourth District challenger Sean Bielat …

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Young Republican to Challenge Lawn for 10th Middlesex Seat

Francis Stanton, 24, says Lawn should have a challenger in the fall election.

A young Republican is challenging State Rep. John Lawn in the coming election for the 10th Middlesex District seat. Francis Stanton, a 24-year-old Waltham native, told Patch yesterday he recently turned his 181 signatures to be certified for the ballot and plans to run for the seat that covers parts of Newton, Watertown and Waltham. A 2006 Waltham High School graduate, Stanton said he wanted to run to make sure Lawn, a Watertown Democrat, did not run unopposed.  Even with the newly redistricted maps, Stanton said he believes the district is structured to keep Lawn in office, and felt compelled to challenge the incumbent.  “There should at least be a choice for the voters in November,” Stanton said. Lawn, who came into office after a …

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Newton Residents Elected as Delegates to Democratic National Convention

The Fourth Congressional Caucus was held Saturday at Mount Ida College in Newton.

Three Newton Democrats were recently elected delegates to attend this year’s Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC, according to a press release issued by the Massachusetts Democratic Party. Susan Heyman, Sharon Stout, and Martin H. Heyman (alternate), were elected at the Fourth Congressional District caucus, which was held in Newton at Mount Ida College on Saturday, April 21.  In September, convention delegates will cast their votes to officially nominate President Barack Obama for a second term. Massachusetts delegates are selected to the Democratic National Convention three ways, according to a press release the Massachusetts Democratic Party: Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair John Walsh spoke about the statewide caucuses…

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John Lawn Kicks-off Re-election Bid for 10th Middlesex Seat

Lawn wants to focus on the budget, child abuse laws and improving the Charles River.

Having been in office for about 10 months, Watertown’s John Lawn is preparing to run for a second term for the 10th Middlesex House seat, which represents parts of Waltham, Watertown and Newton. “I’m enjoying it,” said Lawn, who replaced Peter Koutoujian and won a Special Election last May. “There has certainly been a learning curve. And, I continue to stay involved in local issues, in the district which I live.” The 10th Middlesex District covers Newton Precincts 1 and 4 of Ward 1 and Precinct 4 of Ward 3.  The state budget is among the top priorities for Lawn, a former Watertown Town Councilor. “I am going to continue to work on economic developments,” Lawn said. “I think we are getting positive reports from the house budget on local aid…

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Newton Alderman Swiston Kicks off State Rep. Campaign

Greer Tan Swiston started her campaign for the 11th Middlesex District by running across Newton.

Despite the wet weather, Ward 3 Alderman-at-Large Greer Tan Swiston kicked off her State Representative campaign Saturday with a six-mile run through Newton.  Swiston, who is running for the 11th Middlesex District seat, traveled from Auburndale to Newton Corner in a run across the district. She made stops along the way, including Fire Station #2 and Riverside Station, to meet with supporters.  The Ward 3 Republican officially announced her campaign earlier this month, noting at the time that she felt it is difficult for local officials to have a real impact on larger, regional issues, such as the MBTA budget problem. According to an email from her campaign, Swiston met with supporters at the Uno's in Newton Corner following her run and …

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Attleboro Man Quits Fourth District Race

Paul Heroux says he does not have the resources to compete in what he calls the "campaign-industrial complex."

The field of candidates to fill the Congressional seat for Massachusetts' 4th District has shrunk with the announcement early Thursday morning that Attleboro resident and Attleboro-Seekonk Patch blogger Paul Heroux has withdrawn from the race "I am not seeking the nomination at this time because with limited resources there is no longer enough time to put together the sort of professional organization necessary to successfully compete in what has become a 'campaign-industrial complex,'" Heroux wrote on his campaign site. The 35-year-old Democrat was considered a longshot in a race that includes fellow Democrats Joseph Kennedy III, Newton resident Herb Robinson, Brookline resident Jules Levine, Rachel Brown, Sharon Democrat Marty Farren and…

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House Hunt: Open Houses in Newton, March 18

A look at what's open on the housing market this weekend.

Searching for a new place to call home? Here is a sampling of open houses this weekend in Newton. Flip through our photo gallery to take a peek at the open properties. Details about the property and open house are included in the photo caption.

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Five Things of Note: Super Tuesday in Newton

Here are five quick stats from yesterday's voting here in the Garden City.

1. Paul in second place - barely. Like the rest of Massachusetts, the majority of Newton voters who cast Republican ballots went with Mitt Romney. However, the Garden City differed slightly from the rest of the state in that Ron Paul was the second place finisher, not Rick Santorum -- although it was just a five vote difference (336 votes to 331).  2. Low turnout. According to the unofficial results from the Newton Election Commission, 6,480 of Newton's 54,260 registered voters -- or 12 percent -- showed up to vote in yesterday's primary. During 2008's presidential primary, 56 percent of Newton's registered voters cast ballots. 3. State committee man. Newton voters preferred the hometown candidate for the First Middlesex & Norfolk District…

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