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Newton Politics

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.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Letters to the Editor

LETTER: 10 Reasons to Vote 'No' on the Newton Overrides

A letter to the editor from Newton resident Janet Sterman.

  Ten reasons why Newton voters may vote NO three times on the proposed property tax overrides this coming Tuesday, March 12: The Pièce de résistance is when we are told - it's only going to cost you "a $1 per day". What would a $1 per day yield if wisely invested over 30 years? Let's stop telling our neighbors how they must spend their hard earned money and be accepting that not everyone can handle the ever growing tax burdens put on us. --Janet Sterman Editor's note: For more stories, letters and blogs on the Newton override, check out our Newton override page.

Liljoe

8:31 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013

Wow! I am being taxed to death!!   more ›

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

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 …

Patrick Maher

5:17 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013

It appears that Scott Lennon will win the seat regardless of when the election is held. I do not know Scott; he seems like a nice, respectable guy By not holding the special election, the BOA is giving the appearance of special treatment for one of their own. If the seat is left open until November, then Scott personally will only incur campaign expenses for one campaign thus saving him money, …   more ›

Letters to the Editor

Alderman Ruthanne Fuller: Join Me in Voting 'Yes, Yes, Yes' on March 12

A letter to the editor from Newton Ward 7 Alderman-at-Large Ruthanne Fuller asking residents to support the three override ballot questions on March 12.

  Please vote Tuesday, March 12. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. There are 3 questions. Here is why I am voting YES, YES and YES.  Newton has an operating budget of $315 million. These three initiatives will add another $11.4 million to it to meet important needs. Setti Warren, our mayor, working with the Board of Aldermen and School Committee, works hard to use the $315 million thoughtfully, efficiently and effectively. We have major buildings that are at the end of their useful life. Voting YES means funding two elementary schools (Angier in Waban, Cabot in Newtonville) and Fire Station 3 and Fire Headquarters (both in Newton Centre).  We have 12,070 children in our schools, an increase of 900+ since 2004. We project another 850+ (7…

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Norman Wirtz

4:59 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013

Here are some additional numbers that also apparently show no understanding of the "complexities" involved. In the absence of a tax increase/override, your average property tax bill will rise by $220/year increasing the total city budget by $9 million. But this increase is insufficient to run the city or fix our streets or keep our schools repaired. So the mayor needs an additional $343/yr or $11…   more ›

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 27, 2013

Allan Ciccone Sr. Running for Newton Ward 1 Alderman

Ciccone previously served on the board from 1991-2003.

After stating earlier this month he would run for Ward 1 alderman-at-large, former Alderman Allan Ciccone Sr. told Newton Patch this week he will now run for the open Ward 1 alderman seat.  The Ward 1 alderman seat will be up for grabs in the November 5 municipal election, as current Ward 1 Alderman Scott Lennon declared his candidacy earlier this month for the Ward 1 alderman-at-large seat. Ciccone, who is the father of current Ward 1 Alderman-at-Large Allan (Jay) Ciccone Jr., previously served on the Newton Board of Aldermen for six terms, from 1991-2003.  During his time on the board, Ciccone was a former vice chair of the Finance Committee and chair of the Public Safety & Transportation Committee, the subcommittee his son heads up now…

Monday, February 25, 2013

Newton Resident Announces Candidacy for Massachusetts Governor

Auburndale resident Evan Falchuk will run as a United Independent candidate.

Newton resident and United Independent party founder Evan Falchuk announced today his candidacy for the 2014 Massachusetts gubernatorial race. The 43-year-old Falchuk, who lives in Auburndale, serves as the vice chairman at Best Doctors, Inc., where he has worked in executive leadership roles since 1999, according to a press release issued Monday afternoon.  Falchuk has a degree from Lehigh University and a JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He previously worked as an attorney in Washington, D.C. and focused on Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement, according to the Best Doctors website. Founded by Falchuk earlier this year, the United Independent political movement looks to shift political focus away from the …

Moving Newton Forward

12:03 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013

It looks like we have found 2014's answer to Tim Cahill.   more ›

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…

Monday, February 11, 2013

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

Lennon currently serves as the Ward Alderman for Ward 1.

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 …

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Adam Maleson

11:40 am on Monday, February 11, 2013

No election in which only one name is on the ballot should be considered vaild. That's not democracy, it's soviet-style sham elections. NO SHOE-IN CANDIDATES! No politicians without incentive to care about voters when there was no alternative candidates to choose from.   more ›

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