Rena Getz To Run As Write-In Candidate For Ward 5

From Rena Getz: I am delighted to announce that I am staying in the race for Ward Councilor for Ward 5. The issues at stake and the differences between the candidates are so pronounced that it would be irresponsible of me not to stay the course and give voters a real choice in this Ward 5 race. I have been humbled and motivated by the many people who have encouraged me to keep running, and to run to win.

For a number of reasons, I didn’t get into this race until pretty late in the campaign season. When I did enter, several people told me that I had absolutely no chance against two able candidates, each of whom enjoys support from parts of Newton’s political establishment. They told me to expect few votes in the Preliminary Election on Sept. 10.

Instead, we came amazingly close on Sept. 10. There was a difference of less than 50 votes
among the three candidates. My campaign gained great momentum in the weeks leading up to the
Preliminary. It’s clear to me and to those working on my campaign that, with a bit more time, my
results would have been even stronger. Since the results were so close, it makes sense that Ward 5 voters be allowed more time to consider all three candidates. I’ll use that time to knock on doors and make my case to all of them. My goal is simply to represent what I am hearing from Ward 5 residents. That is the job of an elected representative.

I’ll continue to ask Ward 5 voters about their concerns and priorities for our ward and for Newton as a whole. Here’s what I’ve heard so far about what their priorities are:

• Transparency and meaningful resident participation in our local government and land use planning
• A greener Newton, with strong climate change resiliency
• Resident approval of any proposed overhaul of our zoning code
• An improved senior center, more senior services, and means-tested property tax relief for seniors
• Policies to help working and middle-class families and local businesses to be able to afford to remain in Newton
• Genuine affordable housing, both natural and subsidized, without reliance on the high-density
• luxury units that are driving up housing prices
• Limits on wasteful teardowns and resulting high-priced overbuilds
• Protection of, and additions to, open space, parks, playing fields and tree canopy
• More information for residents about the increasing burden of Newton paying down its unfunded debts, and what that will mean for the City’s budgets and services
• Preservation of historic assets and human-scaled villages and neighborhoods
• Safer streets and improved public transit for all

Upgraded facilities for Newton’s students and teachers, and contracts for city workers I’m now waging a write-in campaign, although my campaign volunteers will be handing out easy-to-use stickers for voters to use at polling places on November 5th. I want to thank my supporters and campaign workers and everyone who voted for me on September 10th. I also want to thank my two opponents, Bill Humphrey and Kathy Winters, for reaching out to me after the Preliminary. We’ve enjoyed a respectful and cordial campaign thus far, and I look forward to that constructive tone continuing as the three of us take our respective campaigns forward to Election Day.

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