Setti Warren wins!

[wisteria]

Setti Warren, a former aide to US Senator John Kerry, surged to victory over state Representative Ruth Balser tonight to be elected the first African-American mayor in Newton’s history.

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/newton/2009/11/warren_defeats_balser_to_becom.html

[fedupinBushcountry]

1. Yay!!!!!!

I'm going to go congratulate him on his Facebook. I'm so happy for him.

[Luftmensch067]

2. Hooray!

Thanks so much for posting!!!!

[wisteria]

3. I was happy to do it. I just came upon it while checking out other races.

I am very happy for him. He worked hard for this as I understand.

[karynnj]

4. Yay!!

This is really good to hear - why NJ is depressing!

[wisteria]

6. One term of Christie and NJ will be Dem again. Corizine had problems

and was actually giving Dems a bad name. I am sorry he lost though. I just hate the RW/media spin on these races.

[fedupinBushcountry]

10. Virginia is

depressing too. :-(

[beachmom]

11. Yeah, I guess Taliban Bob hypnotized the electorate.

The guy is a nut. You and I know that from our district. I still remember the hate the gays mailers he sent me so many years back. He also doesn't seem to think women should have much in the way of rights either.

Still, I am loving that Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck and the teabaggers flamed out in upstate NY. Still too close to call, but looking good for the Demo. First time in 100 years a Dem will represent that district if he wins.

I really don't care what the pundits say. I don't see all that many tea leaves in this year's off election. The national elections went Dem, the state ones went Republican. And Corzine used to be a Goldman Sachs CEO. That would give me pause to vote for him. And Virginia has a reputation of flipping back and forth between the parties (what was unprecedented was Obama taking the state in '08) in terms of the governorship. Just remember that Warner won in '01.

[wisteria]

14. Yeah, all Republicans won, but VA is a tough state to keep. The people have no patience

and they expect miracles from Dems.
If it is any consolation, my entire county went Repub.-everything except some spots on the school board. Of course, we have plenty of tea baggers and Palin wannabe here so I an not to disappointed. It is like being a Repub in Mass.

[beachmom]

17. Virginia has a record of going back & forth. And since Obama

has the WH, they were more likely to go GOP. And truth is: when young voters & minorities stay home, we get stuck with Republicans. That's what happened in part in NJ and VA.

[wisteria]

18. Yes, the Dem party did not push hard enough to make sure Democrats went out to vote.

There didn't seem to be any Democratic urgency anywhere. That is our problem I think, while the Repubs remain charged up and spewing lies-even in defeat, we become complacent and don't feel a need to defend our territory once we have won it.

[ProSense]

12. There is a

weed in the Garden State. Poison Ivy, actually. LOL!

What have we done? The Party better get on the ball for 2014. Or, can I hope he gets indicted? LOL!

[wisteria]

15. He is a weed and I predict NJ will soon pull him out by the roots. n/t

[TayTay]

5. Ayanna Pressley also won

Pressley, 35, is a Chicago native who came east to attend Boston University and most recently worked as political director for US Senator John F. Kerry, who campaigned with her in Boston this past weekend. In that role, she maintained Kerry's relationships with officeholders and activists at all levels.

Congratulations to Ayanna! She will be the first female African-American city councillor for Boston!

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/11/city_council_wi.html

[wisteria]

7. Yah for her too! Seems like JK's campaigning works like a charm. n/t

[karynnj]

8. Yay!

It seems like Senator Kerry really has developed and mentored some excellent people now in MA offices themselves. It is very nice that he campaigned for both of them.

[ProSense]

9. Wow! Cool

Congratulations to Ayanna and Setti.

Sweet.

[MBS]

16. " " " " n/t

[beachmom]

13. This is wonderful news!

[whometense]

19. From today's Boston Phoenix:

http://thephoenix.com/Boston/News/92463-Menino-again/

Historic developments

The election of political newcomer Ayanna Pressley to one of four at-large Boston City Council seats marks the first time in history that a woman of African-American descent joins the Council...

...Newton, meanwhile, elected its first black mayor, Setti Warren.

The Kerry factor

Warren is a former aide to Massachusetts’s senior senator, John Kerry; Pressley served as his political director.

As Kerry steps into the shoes left by the death of Senator Ted Kennedy, the ascension of two former staffers to such visible positions can only strengthen the weave of Kerry’s local connections. Residents of Newton and Boston likewise will benefit as Kerry assumes his new role as the principal local referee of federal largess.

[beachmom]

20. Setti Warren was on an NPR segment on featured veterans:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120300338

Navy reservist Setti Warren is one of a small but growing number of Iraq War veterans who are seeking elected office. Warren had been thinking about running for mayor of his hometown of Newton, Mass., when he was deployed to Iraq. He served a year as naval intelligence specialist before returning home and immediately launching his campaign. He is now mayor-elect of the town.

[MBS]

21. thanks for posting this

I heard it in my car. . heartfelt comments about how different life at war is from life at home. . . how in the army one has to suppress all emotion in order to do what needs to be done, and at home (especially him, when he started to campaign immediately after his return), you have to relearn how to be open and responsive and empathetic to people.

Interesting, thoughtful guy

Also, story in Globe about his transition team, and positive campaign
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/11/08/new_newton_mayor_names_transition_team_former_rival_at_his_side/

NEWTON - Preparing to take the helm of a city whose voters nearly split down the middle in last week’s mayoral election, Setti Warren announced his transition team with his former opponent at his side.

“We all know that we have very serious challenges here in our city. We are not going to be able to solve all the problems we have overnight,’’ Warren said Friday at his former campaign headquarters, now his command post until he moves into City Hall in January. “This is the beginning.’’

. . . .
State Representative Ruth Balser, who was the top vote-getter in the Sept. 15 preliminary election but lost to Warren by 2 percentage points in Tuesday’s election, said she would support Warren’s efforts. She noted that she and Warren had run positive campaigns and shared many common views on the challenges facing the city.

“There really was very little difference,’’ said Balser, who donned a black jacket instead of the customary red she wore during her campaign. “Even though the vote was nearly evenly divided, the city is not.’’

Warren praised Balser, who will continue in her role on Beacon Hill, during the event. “She has worked tirelessly for the people of Newton,’’ he said. “She ran an outstanding campaign.’’

Florence Mann, the widow of former mayor Thomas Mann, will serve as an honorary cochair of Warren’s transition team, along with community activist Hubie Jones and Joe DeNucci Jr., the son of the state auditor.

. . .. .

Mann endorsed Warren’s opponent, Balser, during the campaign, and Salter stayed neutral. The rest of the transition team supported Warren.

Steve Grossman, a candidate for state treasurer and former chairman of the state and national Democratic parties who endorsed Balser’s campaign, will serve as an informal adviser.
. .. .

During the campaign, Warren promised to unify the city, and that pledge will be put to the test as he tries to win over Balser’s supporters. But some observers said that may not prove too difficult because of the genial campaign and the rivals’ agreement on major issues.

[MH1]

22. Yay!!!!

[MBS]

23. article on Setti's plans for new administration. .

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2009/11/15/newton_mayor_elect_starts_with_staff_review/
first few paragraphs below. . the part I highlighted in bold reminded me of JK. .

Newton Mayor-elect Setti Warren has asked the staff of the mayor’s office and all city department heads to e-mail him resumes and says he plans to interview the employees in coming weeks as he attempts to piece together his administration.

Warren said he hasn’t made any decisions yet on personnel but that he will ideally have everything settled before he takes office after Jan. 1.

“I want to have a fair and equitable process,’’ Warren said. “Doing this right, to me, is more important than doing it quickly. Although I’m mindful, of course, that we’ve got to hit the ground running in January.’’. . .