Letters to the Editor from Kurt Kusiak, Rick Lipof, Rabbi Emily Lipof, Jane Frantz, Ted Hess-Mahan, Gene & Dolly Wallace, Tom Sheff
September 1st, 2009
Why Warren?
Having been an active volunteer in Newton for over a decade and a member of the School Committee for the last two years, I’ve had many opportunities to meet with and/or listen to each of the mayoral candidates. I have also watched and listened to the candidates in several mayoral debates. Ultimately, I decided to endorse Setti Warren for mayor, and here’s why:
1. Setti is an honest, genuine, friendly guy who is open-minded and instantly likeable. More than anything, we need a mayor in Newton who speaks plainly, whose word people can trust, and who can bridge the inevitable divisions that arise when hard decisions are made.
2. Setti is smart and has dealt with large organizations both in the military and as New England Director of FEMA. He fully understands that few people are going to have confidence in a new mayor unless he goes through each one of the city’s departments, gets rid of what isn’t working and builds upon what is.
3. His priorities for the schools make sense: (i) develop and retain quality teachers (by far the most important factor in providing quality education), (ii) keep class sizes small, (iii) modernize buildings in a cost-efficient way, (iv) hire a Chief Financial Officer whose primary function is to eliminate waste and find efficiencies and (v) pursue the cost-saving recommendations of the Citizens Advisory Group.
As the reports of the Blue Ribbon Commission and the Citizens Advisory Group have made clear, our financial crisis is real, and there are no simple or quick solutions to the problems Newton faces. One big step in the right direction, however, is to choose the right mayor.
Kurt Kusiak
School Committee Member, Ward 3
Warren is the right choice
I grew up watching my mother run the campaigns of the great Mayor Ted Mann. Twenty years of observing Mayor Mann’s mastery of human and political relations shaped my understanding of the qualities that make a great leader and politician. Ted loved the people and the city of Newton. His passion was inspiring and instilled pride and hope for our city. Ted was not afraid to make a tough decision when it was in the best interest of the city. He was universally respected for his ability to get things done. This is the type of leader that I, and many others, yearn for, and that leader’s name is Setti Warren. I believe so strongly in Setti’s leadership abilities that I signed on as co-chairman of his campaign to be Newton’s next mayor.
For 12 years I served as your alderman and worked with two mayors and six Boards of Aldermen. I have worked with most of the other candidates and know them to be passionate public servants and capable legislators. From my experience, the job of mayor requires not just legislative skill, but most importantly managerial and people skills. Can you inspire those around you to join in the singular cause of doing what it takes for the betterment of our community? Can you sit down with city employees, department heads and unions and begin anew, with no baggage? Can you really listen to constituents concerns and affect change? Can you bring back the community pride that each citizen of Newton deserves and further our great reputation, both state and countrywide? In my opinion, Setti Warren is the candidate that can do all of this, and more. Please join me in re-energizing our government and our community by electing Setti Warren our next mayor.
Rick Lipof
Former Alderman at-Large, Ward 8
Co-Chairman, Setti Warren for Mayor
Warren’s head and heart are directed toward Newton
There is an age-old question which asks: "Is one born to leadership or do circumstances make a leader?" For Setti Warren, the answer is:"both."
It doesn't happen often. In fact, seldom are we offered the services of a leader who has tremendous knowledge and a wide variety of useful experiences; a candidate with new solutions for old problems and a strong committment to our city and to the work he hopes to do.. But this year, with Setti Warren, we are presented with just such a mayoral candidate.
You can read his resume. From Newton to the White House to regional office, to Iraq and back to Newton, the details are impressive. But to really know the man, you should listen to his requirements for a good mayor and his plans for today's issues.
When I asked Setti, “What is an essential attribute for a successful mayor?" he answered: "Even if he disagrees with you, he will work with you. The people, the cause, the city comes first and last."
When I asked about working with the unions, he responded: “I understand the need for good health care for every employee. I know it is important for the administration and the unions to work together."
Setti Warren has answers but, more important, he is well aware of the questions and the myriad city problems that need innovative, wise solutions.
He is a compassionate, intelligent man with good common sense; a father, a leader and an outstanding candidate for mayor. We would be wise to choose him. We would be privileged to have him lead us. His passion for our city is obvious. His head and his heart are directed toward Newton.
Rabbi Emily Lipof
Hammond Pond Parkway
Warren can bring leaders together to solve our problems
It is with great enthusiasm that I urge Newton residents to vote for Setti Warren for mayor. As a longtime resident and a retired Newton teacher, I believe that he is the candidate who can bring about a sense of renewal to the city. My sense of commitment for Setti has evolved from what I have learned about him as a person and as a mayoral candidate. Throughout his life, he has demonstrated an ability to work with people from different and opposing viewpoints to solve problems.
Again in this campaign, Setti has sought out and listened to people throughout the city and from all political perspectives.
Setti would also bring a fresh approach to solving the issues Newton faces—a fiscal crisis, crumbling infrastructure and shrinking revenues. He understands the need to institute a new managerial approach to city government based on personnel accountability, management by objectives and zero based budgeting.
In addition, I have seen in Setti the personal qualities that will restore trust in City Hall. I have spoken with him on numerous occasions and questioned him closely about his commitment to serving the needs of residents from all walks of life. Each time, he has listened carefully and compassionately to my concerns. He has responded with honest, thoughtful answers that reflect his understanding that City Hall must address the needs of all citizens.
Most importantly, Newton needs a mayor who has the ability to work closely and effectively with the Board of Aldermen and the School Committee. We need a mayor who can bring together leaders from all parts of the community and involve them in solving our serious problems. I believe that Setti possesses the leadership skills and personal qualities to accomplish this difficult task. I hope you will join me in voting for Setti Warren on Sept. 15.
Jane Frantz
Glastonbury Oval
Warren and Decter will bring the change we need
Newton needs new leadership, a new vision and a new approach to governing. Setti Warren is the change we need. Setti grew up here and knows this city and its people well—even better after knocking on over 10,000 doors talking to citizens about their concerns during his campaign. Among the mayoral candidates, he stands out as the only one with experience managing and effecting change at an important governmental agency, raising standards for performance and improving service delivery. In a time of crisis, Mayor Ted Mann called on Setti to mediate the resolution of a racially charged incident at Newton North High School. Throughout his career, Setti has been committed to public service, as liaison for cabinet affairs in the Clinton White House, and as an aide to Senator John Kerry, where he was point man for Massachusetts cities and towns struggling to overcome serious economic challenges. Of all the candidates, only Setti combines the leadership, management and interpersonal skills this city needs to create the kind of Newton we all want.
Margie Ross Decter is another fresh face who brings twenty years experience working with non-profits in health care, human services and education. She has demonstrated her commitment to improving the schools as an active parent in the Memorial-Spaulding community, and as chairman of the board of a Newton after-school program. Margie, too, served in the Clinton White House, where as a policy advisor on health care reform, she focused on health and benefits restructuring, quality improvement and new system reorganization. Her years of experience advising organizations on strategic planning, change management, performance improvement and communications initiatives would be an invaluable asset on the School Committee.
Please join me in voting for Setti Warren for mayor and Margie Ross Decter for School Committee on Sept. 15.
Ted Hess-Mahan
Alderman at-Large, Ward 3
Warren: ‘The one to lead us right now’
By voting for Setti Warren for mayor on Tuesday, Sept. 15, Newton voters can demonstrate that they are ready for a new era in our city’s government. It is time for a new generation of leaders and Setti Warren is the one to lead us right now. Setti’s natural energy, his ability to listen to everyone’s views, and his experience in government is exactly what Newton needs… so we urge you to join us in voting for Setti so that we can best guarantee that our city has a bright, inclusive future.
Gene & Dolly Wallace
Newtonville
Warren brings fresh ideas and perspectives
Several months ago, Alderman Gentile posed a great question. He felt it was unbelievable that Newton could actually learn anything from a city like Somerville. His question was simple; he asked, “How did we get here?”
What he meant was how did Newton find itself in a position where 30 years ago we were in the forefront of every innovation and good management practice, but now Newton is looking towards other cities to fix our problems? It’s a question worth examining.
For the past 20-30 years we have had members of the BOA rubberstamp anything the mayor has put in front of them. They were afraid to stand up and tell truth to power. Now, some of them are running for mayor this year. They are counting on your apathy and their name recognition to get elected.
Many people recognize this election as an important election to get us back on the right track. The hope is that the electorate does its due diligence and comes up with the right person to lead us.
My support is going unequivocally to Setti Warren. The biggest reasons I feel strongly about Setti being the next mayor is that he’s the best leader in the field and he’s not entrenched in local politics. This is important because it means he comes to the election with fresh ideas and perspectives. He doesn’t have the “business as usual” mentality everyone else does.
Albert Einstein once said, “No problem can be solved by the same consciousness that created it.” In other words, how can the citizens of Newton expect the people who created the problems, also solve the problems. If they knew the solution, why wouldn’t they make the solution public before?
Please be proactive with me, vote for Setti Warren on Sept. 15.
Tom Sheff
Dudley Road
