RightSize Newton Endorses 10 Candidates For Mayor, City Council

NEWTON, MA — RightSize Newton, a local nonprofit that advocates for advocates for careful review of proposed developments while promoting a livable, diverse and environmentally sustainable community and protecting Newton's unique aesthetic, has endorsed 10 candidates in contested races for mayor and Newton City Council.

The organization based its endorsements on the candidates' responses to a questionnaire and their public position on the issues.

"On Tuesday, November 2nd, we will elect a new City Council," said RightSize Newton in a news release. "How they vote will affect our traffic, schools, environment, enormous apartment complexes, and city finances."

Here are the candidates endorsed by RightSize Newton:

Mayor

• Amy Sangiolo

At-large Councilors

• John Oliver
• Pam Wright
• Rena Getz
• Lisa Gordon

Ward-only Councilors

• Ward 1 - Kevin Riffe
• Ward 2 - Emily Norton
• Ward 3 - Julia Malakie
• Ward 5 - Deb Waller
• Ward 6 - Barry Bergman

"We object to how receptive Newton's elected officials seem to be to large developments, and for some city councilors, it seems they never met a development they didn't like," said Randy Block, President of RightSize Newton. "

"That's why we look at candidates through the lens of development and zoning," he continued.

Block also noted the divide between RightSize Newton and affordable housing organizations such as Engine 6, with no overlap in the two group's endorsements for the 2021 municipal election.

"You have people who believe the more housing the better no matter what, and you have people like me who don't think thats the case and that there are limits to the additional housing newton should authorize," said Block.

"If we had a dialogue about this we could probably come up with ideas that wouldn't turn newton upside down, uproot our values, but still make progress," he continued.

Newton's 2021 Municipal Election will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 2. For more information, click here