Newton Mayor Setti Warren Will Not Seek Re-Election

NEWTON, MA – Newton Mayor Setti Warren announced Thursday he would not seek re-election next year.

In a statement, Warren called his decision "difficult" and stressed that he "loved being mayor of this great city." He said he was making the announcement now to give the city ample time to choose his successor.

Warren, a Democrat, was elected Newton's first African-American mayor in 2009 and cruised to a second term in 2013 against City Councilor-at-Large Ted Hess-Mahan, winning 70 percent of the vote.

But after seven years, Warren said he and the Newton community have surpassed the goals he set during his first mayoral run.

"When I ran for mayor in 2009, I pledged to address the city's financial crisis, maintain the excellence of the school system, set Newton on track for long-term financial health, repair the city's crumbling roads and public buildings, and bring honesty, openness, and accountability to city government," Warren said in a statement. "I'm so proud that together, we have accomplished these goals and so much more."

Read Warren's announcement in full below:

Congressman Joseph Kennedy III, who represents Newton as part of the 4th District, reacted to the announcement in an emailed statement Thursday:

“Mayor Setti Warren has dedicated his career to serving his community and country. He is a public servant in the truest definition of the term, and Newton has been lucky to have him in City Hall for the past six years. I am honored to have had the privilege of working closely with him and wish him and his family the very best in their next chapter.”

>>>Photo: Setti Warren (Flickr: desk) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons