Dear Friend,

This fall, we can re-energize our commitment to making Newton a great place to live. To continue providing high-quality services and educational excellence, we must establish priorities and improve how we manage this city. In short, we must build on our strengths and address our challenges. To help foster that change, I am running for Alderman-at-Large so that I can represent all of this city to the Board of Aldermen.

When I ran for Ward Alderman in 2007, I pledged to bring a new voice to City Hall and to work to move this city forward. Whether by taking the lead or working in concert with my colleagues, I have had an impact on various initiatives that include:

• Reforming how the Board functions;
• Introducing innovative solutions to address fiscal challenges;
• Advocating for responsible and transparent fiscal management;
• Working with the Mayor to address road repair and major park and field rehabilitation;
• Preserving library branches as community facilities; and
• Strongly supporting the South fields project and the Crystal Lake park connection.

In addition to these efforts, I also served constituents by getting potholes filled, streets marked, street lights repaired, and school walkways and Blue Zones improved – and by pushing for the long-awaited installation of a new traffic signal for the Avalon Bay crossing on Needham Street.

While there is much more to be done, I am heartened and energized by the progress we have made and by what we have started. With new leadership in store, we must have representation that moves us, together, in a responsible and intelligent fashion. I have worked hard to bring about that kind of change for Newton. I am grateful for your support in my term as ward alderman, and I ask for it again as I seek the office of Alderman-at-Large. I promise to continue to work to restore trust and confidence in city leadership, unite our diversity toward a common purpose, and provide the promise of another generation of greatness for Newton.

As always, I welcome your thoughts about my service, my campaign, or any aspect of making Newton a better city.

Sincerely,