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Voters' Guide

Voter Service Update for the Fall 2019 Municipal Election

November 30, 2019

LWVN held 10 Candidates’ Forums this election season, including two for Ward 5 Ward Councilor, both before and after the preliminary election.  All were produced with NewTV, our long-time partner, recorded at NewTV, and made available through the NewTV and LWVN websites.  These were for contested seats on the City Council only.  Although there were also three contested School Committee races, one candidate in each race declined to participate.  Because LWV does not hold ‘empty chair’ debates, we had to cancel the School Committee Candidate Forums.

The LWVN Online Voters Guide did include all candidates for City Council and School Committee, including those in uncontested races and those whose opponents chose not to participate.  This was made available to the public approximately three weeks before the election.  City Council candidates were asked four questions, and the School Committee members were asked five.

LWVN also created ‘Saturday Night at the Races,’ a ‘candidating’ type event for City Council candidates, which was co-sponsored with 7 other Newton organizations.  The event was held at the War Memorial at City Hall, and involved groups of citizens conversing with the City Council candidates by ward.  Every 15 minutes, voters were asked to move to a new table to meet a new set of candidates.  This was quite well-received, both by the candidates and by the voters, who enjoyed an opportunity for face-to-face discussions on issues raised directly by the voters.  Many especially appreciated being able to meet with candidates who did not have challengers, but who nevertheless made the effort to meet voters and discuss important topics.  We expect to continue this event in the next election, but will work to address some issues raised (mainly the noise level and timing).

In an effort to learn more about a new incoming City Councilor, LWVN did also host Ward 8 Ward Council candidate Holly Ryan on our monthly NewTV program, ‘The League Presents’.  Because Holly did not have a challenger, either on the ballot or as a write-in, we felt it was acceptable to meet with her individually and talk about some of the same issues discussed in our Candidates’ Forums. 

LWVN thanks our Voter Service team of co-chairs Bonnie Carter, Sharyn Roberts and Sue Flicop, as well as Lucia Dolan, Lois Levin, Karen Manning, Lisa Mirabile, dozens of LWVN volunteers for the Candidates’ Forums and Saturday Night at the Races, the wonderful NewTV staff, and our co-sponsors for Saturday Night at the Races:  Green Newton,  Mothers Out Front, 350 Mass for a Better Future, Newton Needham Regional Chamber, Newton Conservators, Newton Council on Aging!

Submitted by Sue Flicop

Categories: Candidate Forums, VOTE - Voters Service, Voters' Guide

Send us your questions for candidates in the upcoming elections!

July 13, 2019

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!

Categories: Candidate Forums, Elections, VOTE - Voters Service, Voters' Guide

League Resources for Tuesday’s Election

November 4, 2018

The election is just days away!  Below are resources from the League of Women Voters to help you choose how to vote:

The League Presents…Ballot Question 1

LWVN Topic Meeting October 2018–Q 1 Notes

The League Presents…Ballot Questions 2 and 3

LWVN Topic Meeting October 2018–Marijuana Questions

Categories: Elections, LWV MA, Other Leagues, VOTE - Voters Service, Voters' Guide

LWVMA Online Voters Guide Now Available

October 28, 2018

The LWVMA’s Online Voters Guide is now available for you to read responses from candidates to questions asked by LWVMA.  To use the Voters Guide, please click here:   

Categories: Elections, LWV MA, Other Leagues, VOTE - Voters Service, Voters' Guide

The League Presents: Ballot Questions 2 and 3

September 30, 2018

Watch the latest episode of ‘The League Presents…Ballot Questions 2 and 3’ to learn about the questions and what ‘yes’ and ‘no’ votes mean.  Host and LWVN Vice President Lisa Mirabile and guest Holly Gunner explore both questions and their ramifications.

Thanks to Holly and Lisa for their time and efforts to help us understand!

Categories: The League Presents..., VOTE - Voters Service, Voters' Guide

Still undecided? Let LWVN and LWVMA help you!

September 3, 2018

If you’re still  undecided and looking for information on primary races, here are some helpful sources of information on statewide and regional races:

The LWVMA Online Primary Voters’ Guide is now available to all voters by going to informedvoterma.org! The guide includes candidate information for all federal, statewide, district, and countywide offices that will be on the Sept. 4 state primary ballot.  The Voters’ Guide provides a personalized ballot when users enter a street address and includes information on the candidates’ backgrounds, stances on issues, endorsements, and responses to questions posed by LWVMA.  The Voters’ Guide encourages participation in the election with a “Plan to Vote” tool that shows users where their polling place is, the hours it is open, and a feature to receive text messages reminding them to vote.  The platform is optimized for mobile devices.   Click here for the LWVMA website:  lwvma.org

Middlesex County DA and District 3 Governor’s Council:  Watch the candidates for Middlesex County District Attorney,  Marian Ryan and Donna Patalano, at a recent event sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Arlington, Lexington and Winchester.  The video starts with a short debate featuring District 3 Governor’s Council candidates Marilyn Petitto Devaney and Nick Carter.   http://acmi.tv/videos/middlesex-county-district-attorney-governers-council-candidate-debate/

4th Congressional District:  LWVN and NewTV present a forum featuring incumbent Joe Kennedy III and Gary Rucinski.  The program can be viewed on NewTV by clicking here:  4th Congressional District Forum

Categories: Elections, LWV MA, Other Leagues, VOTE - Voters Service, Voters' Guide

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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.

  • Saying Thank You and Good-bye – A conversation with outgoing City Clerk David Olson
  • The League Presents: VOTE16 Newton
  • The League Presents: The Evolution of Fun & Entertainment during the Pandemic with Jerry Reilly
  • The League Presents: A Conversation with Susan Albright, President of the Newton City Council
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March 2nd, 1:49 pm

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February 26th, 11:16 am

JOIN US! A Discussion with Barney Frank, Joe Kennedy III, and Jake Auchincloss

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For almost 50 years, our Congressional representative from the MA 4th District has been a Newton resident. Join us to hear from the three most recent, whose collective time in Congress dates back to 1...
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February 24th, 9:50 pm

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February 21st, 11:54 am

March 16 Special Election, Crystal Lake Roundtable, MA Dist. 4 Reps Webinar, and Other Reminders!

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February 17th, 2:42 pm

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