Meet the Candidates: Aldermen, Ward 5

A note for voters: Each Ward has two aldermen-at-large, which are voted on by everyone in the city. The Ward's one ward alderman, however, is elected only by the people in his/her ward. 

This year, the Ward 5 aldermen-at-large and ward aldermen races are uncontested, with Brian Yates and Deborah Crossley running for aldermen-at-large and John Rice running for the ward alderman position. 

Newton Patch posed six questions to all 38 candidates running in this year's election, regardless of whether the race was contested. We will be running the profiles by Ward, starting with Ward 1 on Oct. 26. 

The election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 8. 

Running for: Ward 5 alderman-at-large (incumbent)

Q: Why are you running for re-election? 

A: I have enjoyed an interesting and productive first term and look forward to continuing to serve Newton as Alderman. In 2010, I initiated and led the effort to bring the MA Green Communities program to Newton, which requires us to demonstrate reductions in energy use and emissions, and brought a DOER grant to demonstrate a super energy efficient renovation of Newton's Hamilton Community Center. I will continue to monitor these and related projects closely to see that we are successful and continue this kind of work. Earlier this year I agreed to chair the Zoning Reform Group created by the Board of Aldermen, which will this year recommend ways to make our ordinances more user friendly and align our rules with the objectives of Newton's Comprehensive Plan. In addition, I initiated a resolution which the board passed asking that the administration develop a strategic plan to repair our aging sewer and water systems to a state of "predictable maintenance", and will continue to collaborate with the administration to bring this plan before the aldermen this year. 

Q: What is your background in local government or community involvement and how will it help you in this seat? Do you have other experiences that will help you in the position? 

A: I have a long history of community involvement and activism in Newton  www.debcrossley.org/, including serving on the League of Women Voters Board (20 years); a leadership role on the campaign to adopt the Community Preservation Act in Newton (2001); Newton Energy Commission (eight years);  the mayor's Comprehensive Planning Advisory committee (plan adopted 2007), Newton Housing Partnership (four years) among others. In addition, my professional work as an architect and particular interests in city planning, energy policy, affordable housing and sustainable communities greatly informs my work on the Board.

Q: With Newton facing several tough budget seasons in the recent past -- and likely several in the future -- what do you feel needs to be cut, added or changed in the budget to keep the city's finances balanced? 

A: Although we should always incorporate ways to provide quality services most efficiently, we also must seek additional sources of revenue in order to keep services at the level and quality that residents continue to expect - or face diminishing those services. Achieving operational efficiencies often require investments first- in software to manage various operations, in staff to assure we can get the jobs done, etc..  In addition - Newton's ailing buildings, public ways, parks and underground infrastructure require a more aggressive schedule of repair and care, to meet various city needs and avoid crisis management. I see that in order to achieve large building projects, citizens must agree to pass a (debt exclusion) tax override specific to those projects.

Q: What is the most important issue Newton faces today? 

A: Repairing the structural deficit, both by keeping expenses in line with revenues (living within our means), while taking steps to raise the revenues needed to make the strategic investments in technology, infrastructure and personnel necessary to assure a solid and sustainable future for Newton.

Q: If elected, what is something you are going to focus on in your position for the next two years? 

A: I do not have a challenger this term, and look forward to further collaboration toward building and implementing strategic plans that can bring our community to a point where we can get ahead of our school and municipal building needs, improve building and operational efficiencies and steer us to a point of  "predictable maintenance" regarding city infrastructure. I will also continue to  focus on zoning reforms that will help to clarify our ordinances, simplify enforcement and the permitting process and encourage a healthy mix of uses in our  village and commercial areas that can improve the quality of life throughout the city.

Q: Name one thing the residents of Newton may not know about you. 

A: Favorite pastime: kayaking - especially through lush salt marsh environments, and tidal rivers to the ocean.

Running for: Ward 5 alderman-at-large (incumbent)

Q: Why are you running for re-election? 

A: I am running for re-election because I feel that my experience as an elected official and a neighborhood activist has prepared me to me the problems that city will face in the next two years. I have creative ideas and the capacity to implement them successfully.

Q: What is your background in local government or community involvement and how will it help you in this seat? Do you have other experiences that will help you in the position? 

A: I have served on the Zoning and Planning Committee since it was established, most of that time as Chair. I currently serve on the Public Safety  and Transportation Committee and the Committee on Community Preservation and previously served on the Public Facilities and Real Property Re-Use Committees.  I was a member and eventually co-Chair of the Public Buildings Preservation Task Force that developed plans for the historic Preservation City Hall, the Civil War Memorial. A similar task force should be established carry out the findings of the historic properties survey now underway.

Q: With Newton facing several tough budget seasons in the recent past -- and likely several in the future -- what do you feel needs to be cut, added or changed in the budget to keep the city's finances balanced? 

A: Forty yeas of Proposition 2 1/2 have squeezed out major areas of duplication and overlap. Many services at the village level (branch libraries, elementary schools, etc.) have also been eliminated. We should continue to do energy conservation project and install solar energy at public site and seek additional revenues from motel and meals taxes by helping Newton hotels and restaurants to increase their number of customers.

Q: What is the most important issue Newton faces today? 

A: The most important issue that Newton faces today is maintaining quality services despite costs increasing far more than revenues.

Q: If elected, what is something you are going to focus on in your position for the next two years? 

A: I will continue to focus on preventing further floods like those that damaged properties on Quinobequin Road and other locations and on maintaining safe access to the trails along Quiobequin Road. I will also focus on repairing historic properties using the Community Preservation Act fund.

Q: Name one thing the residents of Newton may not know about you. 

A: Because of my experience in unsuccessfully opposing the first batch of branch library closings,  I knew that maintaining a collection was a vital first step in preserving a branch library  and I introduced the budget amendment that required that the collections of the Waban and Auburndale branch libraries be left in place and enabled the people of these villages to develop the Auburndale Community Library and the Waban Library Center.

Running for: Ward 5 alderman (incumbent)

Ald. Rice was first elected to the Board of Aldermen in 2009 and is running unopposed this year for the ward alderman seat. Rice did not answer Newton Patch's questionnaire. 

Interested in other aldermen candidates? Check out our other profiles:

Want to learn more about the School Committee candidates?

• Note: Ward 6 School Committee member Claire Sokoloff (running for re-election uncontested) did not answer the Patch questionnaire.

Correction: Brian Yates' profile previously had a statement saying he did not respond to the questionnaire, when in fact, he did!