Representing the 4th- A conversation with Barney Frank, Joe Kennedy III and Jake Auchincloss
LWVN supports mail-in and early voting for upcoming special elections
December 7, 2020
Dear Representative Lawn,
On behalf of the League of Women Voters of Newton, I am writing in support of House Bill H5111.
As you are aware, Newton must hold a special election to fill city council vacancies that occurred with the resignation of Councilor Auchincloss and the death of Councilor
Ciccone. The pandemic is showing no signs of waning, but rather is escalating across the state and country. The citizens of Newton must feel safe voting in these elections. Therefore, we ask that the Joint Committee on Election Laws support Governor Baker’s request, on the City’s behalf, to allow Newton to use mail-in and early in-person voting for this upcoming election.
One of the League’s core beliefs is to build citizen participation in the democratic process. In order for the League and the City to do this, we must ensure that our election processes are accessible, safe, secure, and transparent.
In closing, thank you for taking this letter of support into consideration when the committee makes its decision.
Sincerely,
Marcia Johnson
President, League of Women Voters, Newton
LWV US calls for removal of President Trump
January 8, 2021 letter from LWVUS Board President Deborah Ann Turner
Last night, the full LWVUS and LWVEF boards met to consider the events of this week and unanimously voted to call for the removal of President Trump from the office of the president.
And this afternoon, we issued an action alert for people to call their senators and ask them to support impeachment.
This was an unprecedented decision for our organization. As a respected, 100-year-old nonpartisan institution, the League’s action represents the grave and extraordinary nature of this moment in history. The world we live in is fundamentally different after the events of January 6.
Donald Trump showed himself to be a dangerous agitator with the power and will to upend our democracy by force. He is a threat to our republic and to our national security.
We know that this decision will be controversial, but this moment in history demands we protect and defend our democracy. We cannot stand silent as the actions of President Trump this week have demonstrated he is unfit for office. We will not endure the next two weeks and the potential for further damage to our democracy and the world. It is time to remove him from office by any legal means possible, which is why LWVUS supports both impeachment and the 25th Amendment as viable options to ensure safety of Americans and preservation of our republic.
The statement we issued this morning was not a partisan one. As we made clear in the statement, we support the processes that would remove Donald Trump and install Mike Pence as president for the remainder of the term. On January 21, we are hosting a webinar how our nonpartisan and DEI policies intersect and how to navigate them during hyper-partisan times. We welcome everyone to attend.
All of you, our members across the country and around the world, have joined this organization because you believe in the power of women to create a more perfect democracy. Today, we ask you to stand together in this decision to defend democracy as we have for 100 years.
In solidarity,
Dr. Deborah Ann Turner
Board President, LWVUS
LWVN Scholarship Application now open
The League of Women Voters Newton (LWVN) is offering two $1,000 scholarships to any graduating High School senior who will pursue post-high school education, and is either a resident of Newton, MA or attends school in Newton, MA. Successful applicants will have a strong interest in civic engagement.
For a paper copy of the application please email info@lwvnewton.org.
Happy 100 Years LWV Massachusetts! And Congratulations to our “Formidable Woman” Bonnie Carter!
On December 13, 2020, the LWV of Massachusetts celebrated its 100th birthday with a birthday gala attended by over 250 people.
At that celebration, LWVMA honored the “formidable women” from local leagues. LWVN’s very own Bonnie Carter was recognized as one such “formidable woman” for her over 40 years of work with the league.
We are so proud of you, Bonnie!!
A video montage of the LWVMA’s last 100 years can be viewed below. Read more →