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Newton Special Election

Thursday, March 14, 2013

WATCH: Newton Officials: Override Vote 'Historic Day' for City

Mayor Setti Warren, Superintendent David Fleishman, School Committee Chair Claire Sokoloff and other city officials held a post-override press conference Wednesday to thank voters for supporting the override and to talk about the upcoming projects.

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Norman Wirtz

4:13 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013

It was "historic" in the sense that by persauding 17% of the voters to raise taxes on the other 83%, they covered over the real reasons that caused the need for an override - salaries and benefits rising too quickly, ever rising pension costs @ 8% of the budget, longevity bonuses in excess of $1 million per year and $6 million per year for subsidized health insurance for 1,130 retirees. Until the…   more ›

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Newton Override Vote by the Numbers

A few pieces of quick-hit information from yesterday's special election in Newton.

Newton voters passed Mayor Setti Warren's $11.4 million override yesterday, approving of three separate tax override questions.  The three override questions that were decided in Tuesday's special municipal election included an $8.4 million operating override and two debt exclusion overrides for the rebuilding of Angier and Cabot elementary schools. Now that the numbers are in, here are a few items of note from yesterday's election: Information provided by the Newton Election Commission unofficial election results. A copy of the results is included in the .pdf section above. Related stories:

Newton Override Results: Voters Say "Yes, Yes, Yes"

Newton voters supported all three override questions in yesterday's special election, passing Mayor Setti Warren's $11.4 million override package.

Share Your Reaction to the Newton Override Result

Now that the votes are tallied, share your reactions to yesterday's override decision.

Well, the votes are tallied and the results are in: Newton voters passed Mayor Setti Warren's $11.4 million override package.  During a special municipal election held yesterday, voters supported all three tax override questions, including an $8.4 million operating override and two debt exclusion overrides for the rebuilding of Angier and Cabot Elementary Schools.  What is your reaction to the override result? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.  As for his reaction to the vote, Warren told Newton Patch Tuesday night he was "proud" of the Newton voters for the choice they made. "I'm really proud of our community for making an investment in our future," Warren told Newton Patch.  Warren said he was not sure what to expect for…

Martine C.

8:07 am on Saturday, March 16, 2013

As a childfree Newton homeowner, I vote no, no, no. Since so many move to Newton now for the excellent public schools, our schools are now considered overcrowded. I feel personally punished for our schools being so good. It's time for our city to rethink who pays for the school system. There should be an annual fee assessed per child actively going to our schools. My thinking is that the anyone …   more ›

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Newton Voters Pass $11.4M Override Package

The Newton Election Commission says 32 percent of Newton's registered voters turned out for Tuesday's special election.

Updated March 13, 12:15 a.m. The Newton voters have spoken, and they said, "yes, yes, yes." The Newton Election Commission reported Tuesday night that Newton voters have supported Mayor Setti Warren's $11.4 million override package and all three Newton tax override questions have passed. The three override questions that were decided in Tuesday's special municipal election included an $8.4 million operating override and two debt exclusion overrides.  The unofficial vote totals for the three questions: Question 1 Question 2 Question 3 A .pdf with the detailed unofficial results is included in the media section above. According to Newton officials, the $8.4 million operating override (Question 1) will cover additional teacher salaries to …

WATCH: NewTV's Live Special Election Results

Tune in here from 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Newton's NewTV will be broadcasting the override special election results live tonight, and you can catch the live online stream right here on Newton Patch. The live coverage will kick off at 7:30 p.m. and will be hosted by Newton News' Jenn Adams. Panelists include Ron Lipof, School Committee Vice Chair Matt Hills and Moving Newton Forward Co-Chairman Joshua Norman.  Newton Patch will also be posting the results on our homepage as soon as the votes are counted.  If you're looking for election news and results in your email inbox, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletters as well as breaking news alerts. You can also catch the NewTV election coverage on Comcast 9, Verizon 33 and RCN 13. We'll be posting election updates our social media …

Thursday, February 28, 2013

You Ask, Patch Answers

When Are Nomination Papers Available for the Newton Municipal Election?

And when are the Newton nomination papers due?

Although several residents have already declared their candidacy, the races for aldermen, mayor and School Committee will not be official until nomination papers are signed and returned.  You asked when those papers will be available -- and Patch has an answer. According to Newton Election Commission Interim Executive Secretary Peter Koutoujian Sr., the nomination papers for the Nov. 5, 2013 general municipal election will be available starting Wednesday, May 1.  The nomination papers must be signed and returned to the Election Commission by Tuesday, July 30, Koutoujian said.  The city's charter states that candidates running for alderman-at-large and School Committee must collect 150 signatures before the nomination papers are certified. …

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Do You Agree with the Aldermen's Decision to Hold a Special Election for the Ward 1 Seat?

The Newton Board of Aldermen turned down a request Tuesday night that asked to forego a special election for the Ward 1 alderman-at-large seat.

After much debate about whether to hold a special election in Ward 1, the Newton Board of Aldermen rejected last night a proposal to skip the special election and fill the vacant seat in the November municipal election.  Instead, the board will now consider holding a Ward 1 alderman-at-large special election in conjunction with the June 25 special Senate election. For full coverage of Tuesday night's debate and decision, read our story here. The Ward 1 at-large seat was vacated last month following the death of Alderman Carleton Merrill, who passed away on Jan. 23 at the age of 88.  Earlier this month, the Newton Election Commission voted to forego the special election to fill the Ward 1 seat, arguing that it would not be an easy task in a…

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

You Ask, Patch Answers

When is the Deadline to Register to Vote for the Newton Override Election?

Information on voter registration and absentee ballot applications for the March 12 special override election.

  There is just a month left before Newton voters will head to the polls to decide whether to support Mayor Setti Warren's proposed $11.4 million override package.  Voters will consider three questions on Tuesday, March 12, including an $8.4 million operating override and two debt exclusion overrides for the rebuilding of Angier and Cabot elementary schools.  As time ticks down to the special election, so does the time to register to vote. But when is the deadline? According to information provided by the Newton League of Women Voters, residents must register by Wednesday, Feb. 20. The Newton Election Commission will be open until 8 p.m. on Feb. 20 to accommodate any last-minute registrations. Absentee ballot applications are due by noon …

NEIL RONCHINSKY

12:30 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013

We were promised that we could afford that horrible, overpriced high school. The cost of that atrocity could have paid the much needed renovations on ALL of our crumbling elementary schools. Let the lying, fat(not weight) local bastard politicians sleep in the bed they have made. Vote NO NO NO. And if thats not enough, take a page out of the democrats playbook and vote NO NO NO again!   more ›

Thursday, January 31, 2013

You Ask, Patch Answers

How Will Newton Fill Alderman Carleton Merrill's Seat?

Newton Ward 1 Alderman-at-Large Carleton Merrill passed away on Jan. 23, 2013.

It will be a difficult task to replace the kind of dedication and service Alderman Carleton Merrill showed for his consituents, but the city will soon be faced with finding someone to fill the Ward 1 alderman-at-large seat.  So, how does the process work? According to the city's charter [Sec. 2-5 (a)], a special election must be held to fill the Board of Aldermen seat if the vacancy occurs within the first 15 months of the term. The current term started in January 2012.  Since the seat in question is an alderman-at-large position, the special election will have to be held city wide. Newton's Interim Election Commission Executive Secretary Peter Koutoujian Sr. told Newton Patch this week that the Election Commission will be meeting tomorrow…

Harry Sanders

5:51 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013

Traditionally the City website has had an election calendar which would give the beginning and cutoff dates for municipal elections. Where is it? Did Manseau take it with him or did Rick Lipof just borrow it?   more ›

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