What the Mayor's Race is Really About
Three reasons to vote for Ken Parker this Fall
1. Parker Will Control Costs - Focused on Newton's long-term fiscal health
Ken Parker is the candidate most focused on controlling costs in Newton. His opponents have repeatedly proposed increasing revenue by increasing fees for trash pick-up, community education and more. Ken Parker has consistently maintained that the City must control costs and improve efficiencies to address the structural deficit.
Ken Parker:
- The only candidate to advocate for a pay freeze in FY10 to avoid layoffs.
- Called on Mayor Cohen to implement badly needed capital improvements that will save money in the long run, and to designate $2.2 million in back taxes from Verizon to these improvements.
- Identified over $20 million in savings and new revenue in recent years through creative thinking.
2. Parker Has A Plan - The Blueprint for Newton's Future.
Ken Parker is the only candidate with an innovative vision and detailed plan for reforming local government in Newton. His campaign is based on ideas and issues that matter to Newton residents, addressed in a Blueprint for Newton's Future, a comprehensive plan for reinventing local government in Newton. The document was created with the help of over 100 citizen volunteers and contains exciting ideas with specific implementation time-lines.
3. Parker Gets Results by listening and working with community members.
Ken Parker's record of working with people and getting things done speaks for itself. On issue after issue Ken Parker has always fought for the common-sense solution and has succeeded in getting results that improve our City. How? By listening and engaging community members to achieve change.
As an Alderman Ken has achieved:
- A beautiful expanded beach at Crystal Lake;
- Smoke Free Newton, a groundbreaking ordinance at the time it passed in 1993;
- The Finance and Management Working Group, which recommended reforms that were adopted by the Blue Ribbon Commission and the City of Newton;
- Over $20 million in savings and new revenue identified for the City by pushing through many new initiatives;
- Newton's adoption of the Community Preservation Act; and
- Much more...