Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

September 15, 2013

Cambridge Inside Out (the Sequel): Episode 1 – PR Voting in Cambridge

Our first broadcast of “Cambridge Inside Out – The Sequel” featured PR voting in Cambridge. The co-hosts are Susana Segat and Robert Winters.
The show’s name derives from the show “Cambridge Inside Out” hosted by Glenn Koocher that ran for 11 years from 1989 through 2001 on Cambridge Cable TV.

August 19, 2013

Official Candidate List for 2013 Cambridge Municipal Election

LIST OF CANDIDATES WHO WILL APPEAR ON THE BALLOT FOR THE NOVEMBER 5, 2013 MUNICIPAL ELECTION


CITY COUNCIL

Dennis A. Benzan – 1 Pine Street  
Dennis J. Carlone – 9 Washington Avenue  
Leland Cheung – 157 Garden Street Candidate for Re-Election
Janneke Ann House – 12 Hilliard Street  
Craig A. Kelley – 6 Saint Gerard Terrace Candidate for Re-Election
James Jongsoo Lee – 400 Broadway  
Logan Edward Leslie – 204 Fayerweather Street  
David P. Maher – 120 Appleton Street Candidate for Re-Election
Nadeem A. Mazen – 73 A Magazine Street  
Marc C. McGovern – 15 Pleasant Street  
Gary W. Mello – 324 Franklin Street  
Mushtaque A. Mirza – 843 Massachusetts Avenue      
Gregg J. Moree – 25 Fairfield Street  
Ronald Peden – 25 Aberdeen Avenue  
Lesley Rebecca Phillips – 1643 Cambridge Street  
Kenneth E. Reeves – 340 Harvard Street Candidate for Re-Election
Sam Seidel – 381 Broadway  
E. Denise Simmons – 188 Harvard Street Candidate for Re-Election
Jefferson R. Smith – 134 Tremont Street  
Timothy J. Toomey, Jr. – 88 6th Street Candidate for Re-Election
Minka Y. vanBeuzekom – 20 Essex Street Candidate for Re-Election
Luis Vasquez – 23 Market Street  
Kristen Lane Von Hoffmann – 205 Walden Street  
James M. Williamson – 1000 Jackson Place  
Elie Yarden – 143 Pleasant Street  

SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Fran Albin Cronin – 1 Kimball Lane  
Alfred B. Fantini – 4 Canal Park Candidate for Re-Election
Joyce C. Gerber – 10 Fairfield Street  
Richard Harding, Jr. – 189 Windsor Street     Candidate for Re-Election
John J. Holland – 26 Normandy Terrace  
Elechi M. Kadete – 10 Laurel Street  
Kathleen M. Kelly – 17 Marie Avenue  
Patricia M. Nolan – 184 Huron Avenue Candidate for Re-Election
Mervan F. Osborne – 149 Auburn Street Candidate for Re-Election

NOTICE TO CANDIDATES

If the entry for any candidate does not reflect the correct spelling of his/her name, the correct office for which he/she filed, or is in error in any other respect, please immediately contact Tanya L. Ford, Executive Director, Election Commission, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, Telephone (617) 349-4361, since this list will be used as the official proof for printing municipal ballots.

Printable official version (PDF)

[released Aug 19, 2013]

August 18, 2013

Talking about Cambridge elections and other stuff (Aug 6, CCTV)

Filed under: 2013 Election,Cambridge,elections — Tags: — Robert Winters @ 2:32 pm

Robert Winters with Ann Cowen on CCTV, Aug 6, 2013

August 16, 2013

Suggested Topics for 2013 Cambridge School Committee candidates

Filed under: 2013 Election,Cambridge,elections,School Committee — Tags: , , — Robert Winters @ 10:50 pm

Suggested topics for 2013 School Committee candidates

1) Background [biographical, etc.]

2) Top Priorities [List about three – then elaborate below]

3) Top Challenges Facing CPS today

4) Evaluation of the Innovation Agenda

5) School Department Administration and Superintendent

6) School Department Budget and Capital Needs

7) Achievement Gaps, Meeting the Needs of All Students

8) Meeting the Needs of Advanced Learners

9) Controlled Choice, Student Assignment Policies

10) Curriculum and Programs
a) Elementary School Grades
b) Middle School Grades
c) High School Grades

Other topics:
MCAS and Measuring Student Achievement
Teacher Evaluations and Performance Measures
School Safety and Student Behavior
World Languages
Parent Involvement and School Councils
Enrollment in Public vs. Charter vs. Private Schools

Priority Question: What are your recommendations for meeting the needs of high-achieving/advanced learners, especially in the middle-school grades?


Candidates: Send your responses/remarks on these topics or any other topics of your choice to —- or by mail to 366 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139. All of the information provided is helpful to voters, journalists, and organizers of candidate forums and similar events. You can add more information or change the content of your Candidate Page any time up to Election Day.

Cambridge Candidate Pages – 2013

2013 Campaign Event Listings and Candidate Forums
[Send event listings to —-]

Suggested Topics for 2013 Cambridge City Council Candidates

Filed under: 2013 Election,Cambridge,City Council,elections — Tags: , , , — Robert Winters @ 10:44 pm

Suggested topics for 2013 City Council candidates

1) Background [biographical, etc.]

2) Top Priorities [List about three and elaborate below]

3) Land Use, Planning, Zoning, Density

4) Economic Development and Commerce

5) Housing

6) Energy, the Environment, and Public Health

7) Traffic, Parking, and Transportation

8) Open Space, Parks, and Recreation

9) Municipal Finance (budget, assessments, property taxes, etc.)

10) Quality of Life and Public Safety

Other topics:
Civic Participation
Government and Elections, Plan E Charter
City Manager
University Relations
Youth Programs, Senior Programs
Arts and Public Celebrations
Cambridge Public Schools
Future of the Foundry Building

Priority Question: What is your vision for Central Square over the next decade?


Candidates: Send your responses/remarks on these topics or any other topics of your choice to — or by mail to 366 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139. All of the information provided is helpful to voters, journalists, and organizers of candidate forums and similar events. You can add more information or change the content of your Candidate Page any time up to Election Day.

Cambridge Candidate Pages – 2013

2013 Campaign Event Listings and Candidate Forums
[Send event listings to —]

August 8, 2013

Cambridge Candidate 2013 Match Game

Filed under: 2013 Election,Cambridge,City Council,elections,School Committee — Tags: , — Robert Winters @ 10:45 am

Cambridge Candidate 2013 Match Game (PDF)

Can you match the candidate names, occupations, and birthdates? The list includes all 34 City Council and School Committee candidates.

August 1, 2013

The Rumors Are Flying – Candidates for 2013

The Rumors Are Flying – Candidates for 2013 (originally posted Jan 19, most recent update Aug 1)

Not a day goes by these days without my being asked who the candidates will be this year for Cambridge City Council and Cambridge School Committee. [Why do they ask me?] Anyway, let’s just put all this on the table – rumored candidates, confirmed candidates, rumored vacancies, etc. We’ll update this as unnamed candidates sheepishly emerge and named candidates angrily deny. This way it will all be on the table.


City Council

Incumbents expected to seek reelection: Leland Cheung, Craig Kelley, David Maher, Kenneth E. Reeves, E. Denise Simmons, Tim Toomey, Minka vanBeuzekom.

Verified challengers: Dennis Benzan, Dennis Carlone, Janneke House, James Lee, Logan E. Leslie, Nadeem Mazen, Marc McGovern, Gary Mello, Gregg Moree, Ron Peden, Lesley Phillips, Sam Seidel, Jefferson Smith, Luis Vasquez, Kristen von Hoffmann, James Williamson, Elie Yarden, Mushtaque Mirza

Possible challengers: Eric Macomber, Doug Brown, Dylan Rykerson

Not running: Marjorie Decker (incumbent), Joseph "Slugs" Aiello, Larry Ward, Tom Stohlman, Mike Connolly, Henrietta Davis, Matt Nelson


School Committee

Incumbents expected to seek reelection: Alfred E. Fantini, Richard Harding, Patricia Nolan, Mervan Osborne

Verified challengers: Fran Cronin, Joyce Gerber, John Holland, Elechi Kadete, Kathleen Kelly

Possible challengers:

Incumbent who will attempt to jump to City Council: Marc McGovern

Not running: Joseph "Slugs" Aiello, Emily Dexter, James Lee, Elie Yarden, Alice Turkel


Feel free to submit the names of any other rumored or actual candidates. [If there’s someone you would like to see as a candidate. we can create a category for that too. Maybe we can recruit some good candidates that way!] If you are a rumored or actual candidate, feel free to confirm or deny your candidacy. If you would like to be added as a rumored or actual candidate, just click on my initials and let me know. – RW

You can also just spill the beans in the comments below.

Cambridge Candidate Pages – 2013

2013 Campaign Event Listings and Candidate Forums     [Send event listings to —-]

July 31, 2013

The Candidates – Cambridge Municipal Election 2013

Filed under: 2013 Election,Cambridge,elections — Tags: , , — Robert Winters @ 5:10 pm

The Candidates – updated as candidates pull papers and submit signatures – updated Aug 5) – FINAL

Candidate Office Sought Address Signatures Submitted Certified* Notes
E. Denise Simmons Council 188 Harvard St., 02139 98 (July 12) 87 July 1
Kenneth Reeves Council 340 Harvard St., 02139 100 (July 5) 87 July 1
Janneke House Council 12 Hilliard St., 02138 100 (July 16) 91 July 1
Leland Cheung Council 157 Garden St., 02138 100 (July 19) 90 July 1
Minka vanBeuzekom Council 20 Essex St., 02139 66 (July 1), 34 (July 25) 92 July 1
Jefferson R. Smith Council 134 Tremont St., 02139 100 (July 23) 90 July 1
Marc McGovern Council 15 Pleasant St., 02139 100 (July 8) 97 July 1
Dennis J. Carlone Council 16 Martin St., 02138 83 (July 31), 4 (July 31) 70 July 1
Gary Mello Council 324 Franklin St., 02139 70 (July 3), 5 (July 30) 64 July 1
Lesley Rebecca Phillips Council 1643 Cambridge St. #52, 02138 83 (July 2), 17 (July 19) 94 July 1
Gregg J. Moree Council 25 Fairfield St., 02140 71 (July 23) 61 July 1
Nadeem Mazen Council 73A Magazine St. #203, 02139 100 (July 16) 82 July 1
Timothy J. Toomey Council 88 Sixth St., 02141 100 (July 9) 100 July 1
Craig Kelley Council 6 St. Gerard Terr., 02140 100 (July 2) 93 July 1
David P. Maher Council 120 Appleton St., 02138 100 (July 23) 94 July 1
Ron Peden Council 25 Aberdeen St. #3, 02138 100 (July 31) 86 July 1
Dennis A. Benzan Council 1 Pine St., 02139 86 (July 2) 75 July 1
Sam Seidel Council 381 Broadway #1, 02139 100 (July 29) 92 July 1
Kristen von Hoffmann Council 205 Walden St. #3G, 02140 100 (July 29) 99 July 1
Luis Vasquez Council 23 Market St., 02139 100 (July 8) 72 July 1
James Lee Council 400 Broadway, 02139 64 (July 12), 36 (July 15) 85 July 3
James Williamson Council 1000 Jackson Pl. #45, 02140 46 (July 23), 17 (July 25) 54 July 3
Eric Macomber Council 50 Kirkland St., 02138 July 15
Doug Brown Council 32 Gurney St., 02138 July 16
Elie Yarden Council 143 Pleasant St. #2A, 02139 97 (July 29) 75 July 17
Logan Leslie Council 204 Fayerweather St., 02138 100 (July 30) 86 July 17
Mushtaque Mirza Council 843 Mass. Ave. #3, 02139 100 (July 29) 72 July 25
Dylan Rykerson Council 1 Earhart St. #524, 02141 July 29
Richard Harding School 189 Windsor St., 02139 94 (July 26) 80 July 1
Alfred B. Fantini School 4 Canal Pk., 02141 50 (July 2), 50 (July 3) 100 July 1
Kathleen M. Kelly School 17 Marie Ave. #1, 02139 62 (July 8), 33 (July 24) 91 July 1
Fran Cronin School 1 Kimball Lane, 02140 86 (July 18) 72 July 1
Joyce Gerber School 10 Fairfield St., 02140 78 (July 12) 71 July 1
John Holland School 26 Normandy Terr., 02138 64 (July 30) 52 July 1
Patricia Nolan School 184 Huron Ave., 02138 49 (July 19), 11 (July 25) 59 July 2
Mervan Osborne School 149 Auburn St., 02139 90 (July 17) 77 July 2
Elechi Kadete School 10 Laurel St. #4, 02139 93 (July 18) 74 July 2
James Lee School 400 Broadway, 02139 July 3
Albert Howell School 249 Garden St. #6, 02138 July 5
Elie Yarden School 143 Pleasant St. #2A, 02139 July 26
Alice Turkel is not running for School Committee. The deadline for submitting signatures was Wed, July 31, 5:00pm.

* The deadline to file nomination papers is Wednesday, July 31st at 5:00pm. 50 certified signatures are required and candidates can submit no more than 100 signatures. Signatures are unofficially certified by staff in the Election Commission office, but actual certification is done by the Election Commission during July and possibly as late as Aug 14. When officially certified, the number of certified signatures will be indicated in bold.

Cambridge Candidate Pages – 2013

2013 Campaign Event Listings and Candidate Forums     [Send event listings to —-]


Note to City Council and School Committee candidates (updated June 30):

Please let me know soon if you’ve made any decisions regarding your intention to be on the November 2013 municipal election ballot. If so, please send me any relevant information about your campaign (website, Facebook page, Twitter, e-mail address, phone number, where to send donations). You can also submit any other information relevant to your candidacy (background, priorities, etc.). If you have any ideas on topics that all candidates should be asked to provide statements, please send me those suggestions.

Also, if you (or anyone else) have suggestions on what topics should be presented to all City Council candidates and/or all School Committee candidates in the 2013 election, please let me know soon. Candidates are already submitting responses.

The 2013 Candidate Pages are meant as a resource not only for voters but also for reporters and supporters who may wish to get in touch regarding your campaign. I’m also happy to list any dates for campaign kickoffs or other significant candidate events in the Election Calendar. – RW


2013 Municipal Election: Nomination Papers Available Starting Monday July 1

Nomination papers for City Council and School Committee will be available beginning Monday, July 1st at the Election Commission office, 51 Inman Street, Cambridge. The office will be open on Monday, July 1st from 8:30am until 8:00pm. The deadline to file nomination papers is Wednesday, July 31st at 5:00pm. The 2013 Municipal Election Calendar is posted on the Commission’s website: www.cambridgema.gov/election.

The requirements to run for City Council or School Committee are:

1. The person must be a registered voter in Cambridge. To register, one must be 18 years of age by Election Day, a U.S. citizen and a resident in the City of Cambridge.

2. The person must file no fewer than fifty (50) and no more than one hundred (100) certifiable signatures of registered voters in the City of Cambridge.

The Commission has prepared an information kit for candidates containing important dates, Commission policies, services and publications. The kits will be available with the nomination papers on July 1st.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, 2013.

« Newer PostsOlder Posts »

Powered by WordPress