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Meryl Kessler

2021 Candidate for Councilor at Large, Ward 3

Campaign Website: https://www.meryl4newton.org/

Biographical statement

During my 26 years in Newton, I’ve led on schools, arts/culture, and sustainability. I’m now a director of Newton Community Pride and sit on the Sustainable Materials Management Commission. An attorney and non-profit executive, I was Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of MA (2013-19).

Questions and Answers

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

Both my long history of community leadership and professional background have prepared me for this role.
1. Through my 26 years of involvement in our community, I know Newton well—both its challenges and opportunities—and will use this knowledge to build a stronger community.
2. My background as an attorney and non-profit leader has trained me to be analytical, collaborative, and creative—vital skills on the Council.
3. As the executive director of a statewide membership organization, I prioritized frequent, clear communication with those I represented, and I will make communication with constituents a priority as a councilor.

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

My first priority is recovery and rebuilding from the pandemic, including:
•Revitalizing village centers: To reach their full potential as commercial, residential, cultural, and civic hubs, I favor reviewing/updating zoning, permitting, licensing, and parking policies.
•Infrastructure improvements: I support accelerating overdue upgrades to roads, schools, and parks to improve quality of life, advance climate goals, and create a city that is walkable, bike-able, and accessible.
•Supporting seniors and most vulnerable: I support policies to create an age-friendly city, increase affordable housing, and support our most vulnerable residents.

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

DEI in Newton means creating a community that is open and welcoming to people from different backgrounds (e.g., race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability status, socioeconomic status, national origin) and that actively and affirmatively works to remove obstacles to their full and equal participation in civic life (including bias, discrimination, harassment, racism, and other structural impediments). DEI is important because it will advance the goals of creating a safe, fair, just, supportive environment for individuals as well as a vibrant, rich community for us all.

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The State Primary is Tuesday, September 6.  Don't forget to VOTE!

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2021 LWVN Member Handbook

An electronic version LWVN Member Handbook is now available.  Expect an updated handbook for 2022-23 in the late Fall.

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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.

  • The League Presents: A conversation with Carol Moore, Newton’s City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council
  • The League Presents: Zoning Redesign, part 1
  • The League Presents: Newton’s Citizens Commission on Energy
  • The League Presents: What it means to be a League of Women Voters member
  • The League Presents: A Conversation with Three New School Committee Members

All past programs

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Facebook Posts

Ellen Auerbach Grody
Ellen Auerbach Grody

June 28th, 11:33 am

Thank you for the recent letter to the mayor:LWVN Board Concurs with Newton Citizens Commission on Energy’s Memo Rejecting Newton Cemetery’s Tree Removal RequestJune 24, 2022On June 24, 2022, LWVN sent an email to Mayor Fuller expressing our our agreement with the Newton Citizens Commission on Energy (NCCE)’s memo of June 20th stating “We are writing to you regarding the Newton Cemetery’ request for exemption from the Tree Preservation Ordinance. We urge you to stand with the Director of Urban Forestry in denying that request and any waiver of its consequences. We also urge you to ask the City Council to revise the ordinance language to clarify their intent that the Tree Preservation Ordinance not exclude any property owners from its provisions.” ... See MoreSee Less
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League of Women Voters of Newton, MA
League of Women Voters of Newton, MA

June 22nd, 6:26 pm

Breaking News: Governor Baker Signs VOTES Act Into Law - https://mailchi.mp/56363aee24bf/votes_act_update-8901645 ... See MoreSee Less

Breaking News: Governor Baker Signs VOTES Act Into Law

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League of Women Voters of Newton, MA
League of Women Voters of Newton, MA

June 21st, 11:26 am

Newton Public Facilities Meeting: New Pipelines and Gas Valve Safety - https://mailchi.mp/ceafe522986a/newton-public-facilities-meeting-new-pipelines-and-gas-valve-safety ... See MoreSee Less

Newton Public Facilities Meeting: New Pipelines and Gas Valve Safety

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League of Women Voters of Newton, MA
League of Women Voters of Newton, MA

June 13th, 10:33 am

LWVN has launched an important new "Municipal Transparency and Accountability Initiative". Learn more here!: https://lwvnewton.org/2022/06/… ... See MoreSee Less

Municipal Transparency and Accountability Initiative: Mission Statement and Goals - League of Women Voters Newton

lwvnewton.org

Throughout its 102-year history, the League of Women Voters has been a vigorous advocate for transparent and accountable government. The League strongly believes that transparency and accountability i...
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League of Women Voters of Newton, MA
League of Women Voters of Newton, MA

June 9th, 10:12 am

Important Update: VOTES ACT Released from Conference Committee - https://mailchi.mp/6365b29fa297/votes_act_update ... See MoreSee Less

Important Update: VOTES ACT Released from Conference Committee

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Boston, MA — The Massachusetts VOTES Act Conference Committee today released its version of the comprehensive election reform bill, which will now head to the House and Senate for final procedural...
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