Newton Aldermen Approve Date for Ward 1 Special Election

Newton voters will head to the polls a total of five times in 2013.

After several debates on whether to actually hold the election, the Newton Board of Aldermen Monday night approved the date for a special election to fill the vacant Ward 1 alderman-at-large seat.  The special election will be held Tuesday, June 25, 2013, and will piggyback on the special Senate election held the same day. Because it is an at-large seat, the special election will be held citywide. Ward 4 Alderman-at-Large Lenny Gentile, who has argued against holding the special election, urged his colleagues Monday night to reconsider the Election Commission's recommendation to skip the special election. "As the chairman of [the Finance Committee] and as a taxpayer, I do not think this is a wise way of spending taxpayer dollars," Gentile …

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Newton Board of Aldermen Delay Decision on Ward 1 Special Election Date

The board will take up the special election item at its next meeting on March 18.

The Newton Board of Aldermen Monday night agreed to postpone its vote on whether to hold a special election for the vacant Ward 1 alderman-at-large seat in conjunction with the June 25 special Senate election.  The aldermen will take up the item again at its next full board meeting on Monday, March 18.  After a lengthy debate last month on whether to hold the special election, the full board rejected the Election Commission's recommendation to skip a special election for the Ward 1 alderman-at-large seat, which was made vacant with the death of Alderman Carleton Merrill.  Following the Feb. 19 vote, the Programs and Services Committee docketed an item asking to hold the Ward 1 special election on June 25, piggybacking it with the special …

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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. …

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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…

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