Newton’s schools are struggling — not because we lack vision, but because we lack the right expertise in the right places. The past several years of budget battles over funding Newton Public Schools (NPS) have made it clear: we need more financial acumen at City Hall and more public-education expertise…
Posts published in “Elections”
Chris Brezski, the highly active and vocal Chair of the Newton School Committee, has announced that he will not run for re-election this November and will leave the Committee at year-end. In his relatively brief, two-year tenure as the Committee Chair, he oversaw momentous events such as the implementation of…
Ward 6 (Newton Centre) resident, NPS parent, and Newton native Jonathan Greene has announced his candidacy for School Committee in this November’s election for the 2026-2027 term. Mr. Greene will be in a competitive race in Ward 6 versus Mali Brodt, who announced her candidacy in March. Mr. Greene told…
In a statement sent to friends and supporters, Ward 5 resident and Zervas parent Ben Schlesenger announced his candidacy for Newton School Committee in the upcoming November election. The current Ward 5 representative, Emily Prenner, has announced that she will not run for a fourth term. On his campaign website,…
On May 5, the Newton Election Department made nomination papers available for City Council and School Committee races. As of Tuesday, May 13, twenty-three candidates for City Council and nine for School Committee have taken out papers. Candidates have until July 22 to return nomination papers with signatures to be…
The Newton Public Schools School Committee will experience significant turnover on January 1, 2026, with at least five of its nine members being new. Committee Members Emily Prenner (Ward 5) and Barry Greenstein (Ward 8) have confirmed to Fig City News, after recently sharing the news with colleagues and friends, that…
Newton will hold a city-wide Special Election on March 18 to fill the Ward 7 School Committee seat that became vacant when Amy Davenport moved from Newton last year. Alicia Piedalue is the sole candidate with sufficient certified nominating signatures to be on the ballot. Having moved to Newton two…
On January 21, the City Council voted to approve Mayor Ruthanne Fuller’s nomination of W. David Power to fill the vacant Republican seat on the Newton Election Commission. Despite a recommendation by the Programs and Services Committee to deny the appointment, the vote to approve was 13 to 9 with…
Angela Pitter, founder and CEO of LiveWire Collaborative, has been elected Chair of the Board of the Charles River Regional Chamber (CRRC). Listed twice among the CRRC’s Top 50 Most Influential Business Leaders of Color, she served on the Newton School Committee for six years and is a member of…
On January 8, the Newton Programs and Services Committee met to discuss Mayor Ruthanne Fuller’s nomination of W. David Power for the upcoming vacant Republican seat on the Newton Election Commission (see Fig City News article). Members of the Committee include Councilor Josh Krintzman (Chair), Councilor Bill Humphrey (Vice Chair),…
The Newton Election Commission, responsible for administering and enforcing election laws, has four members: two each from the Democratic and Republican parties, to promote bipartisanship. Current Commission members include Democrats Marjorie Ann Butler (Chair) and Nancy M. Levine, and Republicans Jan Huffman and John P. McDermott. Mayor Ruthanne Fuller has…
After months of speculation about whether Mayor Ruthanne Fuller would run for a third term, she announced on Tuesday, December 3: “I have decided not to run for reelection next year as Mayor of Newton.” Her announcement was in the Mayor’s Newton Update, an afternoon email to Newton residents. The…