Andrea Kelley

Questions and Answers

Question 1: What in your background prepares you to be effective in the political office you are seeking?

My multi-issue and balanced approach is a direct result of being a liberal arts/English major, which augmented an already analytic and broad reaching perspective. Being a landscape architect and planner further imbedded that point of view, as looking at multiple site and user factors all together leads to the best design solution. The LWV with its balance of study, focus on education and advocacy, further added to being fair, listening, civil and collaborative.

Question 2: If you're elected, what will be your first priority? Why? How will you address your priority?

The most immediate attention is to help all of us out of the effects of the pandemic. The health and safety of our residents, students, and workers, physically, mentally and emotionally is a top priority. Urging assistance for our most vulnerable populations, those in need of rental and mortgage assistance, keeping local businesses afloat, addressing ongoing food insecurity, being sure that Newton offers the services and programs to assist the obvious and more hidden needs in our community. I will continue to work with the relevant city departments (Mayor’s Office, Health & Human Services, DPW, Planning eg.) to advocate for these services.

Question 3: Please explain what diversity, equity, and inclusion mean to you. Why these are important to Newton?

DEI’s three inter-related components need to be addressed in order to create and sustain a welcoming city, work place, school environment. It is not just a business or corporate strategy or policy plan, but applies to all aspects of life in Newton where race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, economic condition, gender identity, age, disability or status result in implicit bias. We are a city comprised of people with differences which offer broad experience and richly textured understanding.