• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
    • Board of Directors
    • Vision, Beliefs and Core Values
    • Bylaws of the LWVN
    • LWVN Non-Partisan Policy
    • LWVN Diversity Policy
    • Annual Meetings
    • Newton League Past Presidents
    • Jane Leighton Volunteer-of-the-Year Award
  • News & Events
    • The League Presents…
    • Newsletters
  • Calendar
  • Contact Us
  • New Member FAQ
LWV Newton logo
  • Facebook

Visit us on Facebook!

  • Learn
    • Committees
    • Consensus Studies
    • Topic Meetings
    • LWVN Observer Corps
    • Newton Civics Challenge
  • Act/Advocate
    • National and State Program Planning
    • LWVN Program and Positions
    • Issues We Are Following
    • LWVN Local Action Log
  • Vote
    • How to Register to Vote
    • How to Pick a Candidate
    • How, When and Where to Vote
    • Massachusetts Voters Bill of Rights
    • Your Elected Officials
    • Tips for Contacting Elected Officials
    • Meet the Candidates! Saturday Night at the Races

James Cote

Candidate for Councilor at Large, Ward 3

Campaign Website: http://www.coteward3.com

Councilor-at-Large since 2014. Marines out of HS, Past Board member of Habitat for Humanity, Board member of both the Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center, and Homeless Shelter, Casa Nueva Vida. Works as a Advisor with CWM, and holds an MBA. Jim, and his wife Albie, have 10 children and 6 GC.

Questions and Answers

Question 1: Discuss an experience where you made a decision that you now regret.

A regret that I have is that I did not run for City Council earlier. I say this because the position has proven to be a perfect fit for my personality and natural abilities. Now in my 3rd term, I realize that it takes time to build rapport with the many people in the community that impact the daily lives of all of us. Given these exciting, yet challenging times of people looking to invest in Newton, the experiences that I’ve gained will greatly benefit the residents, and will go a long way in ensuring that Council actions are well thought out and fair.
My colleagues and I work well together and are effective.

Question 2: Do you support the proposal to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions in Newton by 2050? Why or why not?

The goal to eliminate Green House gas is a vision developed by people based upon today’s technology and demands on the environment. I support goals that are forward thinking and will accept this goal within parameters of life. A concern of mine is that we cannot “price” people out of Newton. My hope and thoughts are that new technology, yet to be developed, and driven first by the enormous changes forecast with the arrival of 5G, new materials for buildings, and then overall improvements in transportation systems that we can work towards the goal in an economically painless way.

Question 3: What is your opinion of the current development proposals such as the Northland and Riverside projects?

Newton is fortunate, due to location and other factors, the city is able to attract developers and investors eager to spend their capital. Having said that it’s incumbent upon City leaders and residents to accept these investments in a way that doesn’t change or take away from the quality of life that many currently enjoy. Riverside, a parking lot, and Northland, home to old infrastructure, are two obvious locations that can accept development and add value to the city. As a City Councilor with ongoing discussions on both of these topics, I’m not at liberty to discuss items involved in the Land Use process.

Question 4: There are a number of expenses that the City needs to grapple with: union contracts still being negotiated, tight school budgets, NewCAL (a new Senior Center), the acquisition of Webster Woods, possible rehabilitation of the Armory, etc. What are your priorities and why?

There are many interesting concepts and plans floating around the city in many neighborhoods. The City Council experienced a huge turnover of experience and committee chairs in the 2017 election, and also voted in a new Mayor. Collectively, we are now hitting our stride in taking on all of the many ideas and issues in front of us. We have NewCAL, development, school budget issues, Webster Woods, the Armory, and a host of other concerns. Prioritizing these items wouldn’t do the residents of the city justice as there many different concerns involved in each project, and the timetables and funding options will be different in each case.



Back to Voters Guide

Primary Sidebar

High School Scholarships

High school seniors can now apply for a LWVN scholarship for their continuing education.

Find out more.

Take Action & Contact Your Legislators

  • Potential Cuts to MBTA Service
  • Climate Legislation
  • Economic Development Bill
  • Housing Stability
  • Racial Justice

Support LWVN

Join/Renew
Donate

LWV Mass. & US

LWV MA LWV US

Election Info

Special Election on Tuesday, March 16, 2021

  • Special Election Information
  • Find your polling location
  • Register to vote
  • Absentee Ballots

Upcoming Events

Mar 9
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Representing the 4th: A conversation with Barney Frank, Joe Kennedy III, and Jake Auchincloss

View more

Watch “The League Presents…”

The League Presents... is a monthly program on NewTV produced and directed by LWVN members about issues important to our community.

  • Fun & Entertainment during the Pandemic with Jerry Reilly
  • A Conversation with Susan Albright, Newton City Councilor President
  • The Zoning Redesign Process in Newton with Deb Crossley
  • Ranked Choice Voting

» All past programs

Posts by Category

  • VOTE – Voters Service
    • Elections
    • Candidate Forums
    • Voter Registration
  • LEARN – Topics of Interest
    • Charter Commission
    • Community Preservation
    • Education
    • Environmental Issues
    • Housing
    • Land Use
    • Municipal Finance
    • Transportation
    • Women’s Suffrage
  • ACT – Action & Advocacy
    • Local Action Log
    • Consensus Studies – MA
    • Consensus Studies – Newton
    • Consensus Studies – US
  • City of Newton Info
    • City Council Meetings: Docket Digest
    • Observer Notes

Facebook Posts

January 16th, 1:23 pm

LWVMA Statement on Governor Baker’s Veto of the Climate Bill

mailchi.mp

Governor Baker has vetoed S.2995: An Act Creating a Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy, a truly trailblazing bill, five years in development. The bill represents a bi-partisan...
View on Facebook
·Share

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email

January 9th, 5:01 pm

Call to Action from The League of Women Voters U.S. (LWVUS)

mailchi.mp

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.
View on Facebook
·Share

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email

January 7th, 6:34 pm

League of Women Voters U.S. Statement on Violence at the U.S. Capitol

mailchi.mp

View on Facebook
·Share

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email

December 19th, 12:53 pm

View on Facebook
·Share

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email

December 10th, 8:12 am

Join me and @WBrownsberger
for a discussion next week on the #PoliceReform bill that was recently passed in the legislature! Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkcuGvpz8qGteEnN0SZsY4Aq_oVZ5nCkYY
... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook
·Share

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging the informed and active participation of citizens in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy.

© 2021 League of Women Voters® Newton | P.O. Box 610207, Newton, MA 02461 | 617-383-4598 |info@lwvnewton.org

Site by Tech-Tamer | Log in