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Candidate Forums

Update on Candidates’ Forums

LWVN and NewTV have finished taping Candidates’ Forums for all the City Council races, including a second round with the Ward 5 Ward candidates.  We chose to include write-in candidate Rena Getz with the winners of the preliminary election, Bill Humphrey and Kathy Winters, as she met League criteria used in the 2017 Ward 4 Ward Councilor election.  Look for the programs to all be released over the next couple of weeks!

We did not record any forums for the School Committee races, as one candidate in each race declined to participate.  League rules do not allow for ’empty chair’ forums with only one candidate.  The candidates who were willing to participate were Tamika Olszewski in Ward 4, Emily Prenner in Ward 5 and Ruth Goldman in Ward 6.  Those who chose not to participate or who did not respond to a phone call and multiple emails were Alex Koifman in Ward 4, Lev Agranovich in Ward 5, and Galina Rosenblit in Ward 6.  

LWVN will be producing an online Voters Guide in October, so be sure to check the website lwvnewton.org.  NewTV has produced Candidate Messages, 3-minute messages which all candidated were invited to create, available in October at NewTV.org/Decision2019

Update on Candidates’ Forums for 2019 Municipal Election

  • The Ward 5 Ward Council Candidates’ Forum is already available on NewTV (schedule below) and online here: Ward 5 Ward Council Preliminary Candidates Forum
    • Candidates are: Rena Getz, Bill Humphrey, and Kathy Winters
    • TV Schedule on NewTV’s Government Channel (Comcast 9 • RCN 13, 581 (HD) • Verizon 33) on the following dates/times:
      • 8/21- 9:30 AM & 10:00 PM
      • 8:22- 10:00 PM
      • 8/23- 8:30 AM & 9:00 PM
    • The Ward 5 At Large and Ward 2 Ward Councilor forums have already been recorded and will be available after Labor Day.
    • We have scheduled the following forums to be recorded on dates through mid-September:
      • Ward 1 Ward Councilor
      • Ward 2 At Large Councilor
      • Ward 3 Ward Councilor
      • Ward 3 At Large Councilor
      • Ward 6 Ward Councilor
      • Ward 6 At Large Councilor
  • We will also tape another Ward 5 Ward Councilor Forum with the two candidates who win the preliminary election on September 10.

Regarding the School Committee races, we are still hoping to schedule the Ward 5 candidates, but have not yet received confirmation from one of the candidates. There will be no Ward 4 School Committee forum, as we could not get confirmation from Alex Koifman, though Tamika Olszewski had planned to attend. There will also no be a Ward 6 School Committee forum, as candidate Galina Rosenblit has chosen not to participate in a forum, though Ruth Goldman had planned to attend.

Please note that the tapings of the forums are not open to the public, though all are encouraged to view the programs on NewTV or online as they become available. We also encourage you to send us your questions using the form available on the lwvnewton.org site, at Questions for Candidates 2019.

Send us your questions for candidates in the upcoming elections!

We are preparing for upcoming LWVN/NewTV Candidates’ Forums and the LWVN Voters’ Guide and need your help!  Send us questions YOU would like to ask candidates for At-Large City Council, Ward Council and School Committee seats.  We can’t guarantee they will be used verbatim, but we will try to address as many topics and questions as possible.  We especially appreciate questions that are direct and about 1-2 sentences long–these tend to mean more direct and focused answers. Please use this form to submit your questions:  Questions for Candidates 2019.

Our forums will be taped at NewTV, to be shown on NewTV at a later date and available online.  Check our website in mid-August for viewing information!

LWVMA Moderator Training on June 12 in Beverly

LWVMA is recognized locally and statewide for our work moderating informative, respectful, and inclusive candidate and issue forums. The competence and fairness of League-trained moderators has contributed to the high level of public trust LWVMA has earned. This work is essential to our mission and identity as a nonpartisan political organization working for good government.

In Fall 2019, cities will be in need of moderators for forums for many city council races! They will count on neighboring Leagues to help them. This is a great way to gain skills and get involved.

LWVMA and the League of Women Voters of Salem are co-hosting a moderator training on June 12. Acton League member and expert moderator Jo-Ann Berry will lead this training.

 Details:

  • Who should attend:  Whether you have never moderated before or are an experienced moderator looking to refresh your skills, this training is for you!  (This training is only for current League members)
  • Date and Time: 7-8:30pm, June 12, 2019
  • Location: Sohier Room at the Beverly Library (32 Essex Street, Beverly, MA 01915)
  • Registration: Space is limited so please register today!
  • Questions: Call (857-452-1715) or email lwvma@lwvma.org

4th Congressional District Forum featuring Joe Kennedy and Gary Rucinski

LWVN and NewTV, along with the Leagues of Brookline, Needham and Wellesley, held a Candidates’ Forum for the 4th Congressional District featuring two candidates:

  • Joe Kennedy III, a Newton resident and the current representative for the 4th Congressional District, and
  • Gary Rucinski, a Newton resident who works in software project management

The program can be viewed on NewTV by clicking here:  4th Congressional District Forum

Thanks to the candidates, our partners at NewTV, the Leagues of Brookline, Needham and Wellesley, and all the volunteers who made this happen.