Parker Maintains Leadership Position on City Finances
Friday, March 27, 2009 at 04:58PM 
Alderman Parker at March Temple Reyim Candidate ForumAt a NewtonTAB/NewTV-sponsored candidates' forum today Alderman Ken Parker maintained a leadership role on city finances, offering tangible, substantive solutions for addressing the city's challenges.
“We need to be honest with people, without a wage freeze there will be significant cuts in services and layoffs,” said Parker during the debate.
According to the TAB, none of the other candidates for mayor support this cost-saving measure which will prevent layoffs in Newton's Public Schools. The current administration has come out in favor of a wage freeze as a means to protect class sizes and preserve jobs during these difficult financial times.
The Newton TAB writes:
At a candidates' forum Friday, only one of Newton’s mayoral candidates came out in full support of a proposed cost-of-living freeze for teachers, while the other three suggested that savings could be found elsewhere if an agreement could not be reached.
For full coverage of the debate, please click here. The Newton TAB and NewTV will offer video of the debate soon on the web. On NewTV the debate can be seen starting Saturday, March 28 at 8:30 p.m. on the Red Channel and Thursday, April 2 at 6:30 on the Blue Channel.