Newton City Councilor John Rice Will Not Seek Reelection

NEWTON, MA — For the past decade, John Rice has served as Ward 5 city councilor. Wednesday he announced he will not seek another term.

His day job is as executive director for the Hyde Community Center, he's also the VP of sales for the Trade Show News Network. On the city council he has served on the Programs and Services and Finance Committee among others.

In a message to constituents, Rice said he did not plan to leave the Hyde Community Center, but that his work was done on the council.

Rice said when he first ran for office in 2009 it was on a campaign to build community in the three villages in Ward 5 and Newton Highlands and on upgrading the ward's infrastructure.

Now, with Upper Falls and Waban all with their own area councils and Village Day celebrations, and with Angier and Zervas renovated along with the Newton Highlands Playground he was ready.

"It is time for me to move on from City Council," he wrote, according to a post on the Village 14 blog. Lest anyone worry that means he's done with all things community in the city. Not so. "But I will stay active in community building activities in Newton,” he said.

Rice was not immediately available for comment.

On the heels of that announcement Ward 5 Bill Humphrey announced he plans to run for Rice's seat on the council next year. He called Rice's position big shoes to fill but threw his hat into the ring.

"It may seem like a long way off right now, but I think everyone in our ward deserves the opportunity to meet potential candidates for their next representative, and it will take some time to get to everyone, even in a single ward," said Humphrey in a statement on Facebook.

Humphrey grew up in Newton and is 2009 graduate of Newton North. Most recently he worked as a former Senior Editor at The Globalist magazine and a senior researcher at The Globalist Research Center. He made a bid in 2016 for Governor's Council.

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Photo courtesy Newton City Hall