Newton's mayor-elect announces transition team
‘‘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 at his campaign headquarters this morning. ‘‘This is the beginning.’’
The team draws heavily on the Citizens Advisory Group, an influential panel that released a report in April calling for an overhaul of the city’s finances. It also includes city leaders and elected officials who supported his campaign.
Balser, who was the top vote-getter in the Sept. 15 preliminary election but lost to Warren by about two percentage points in Tuesday's election, said she would support Warren’s efforts through her continued role at the State House. 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.’’
Florence Mann, the widow of former mayor Teddy Mann, will serve as an honorary co-chair of Warren’s transition team, along with community activist Hubie Jones and Joe DeNucci Jr., the son of the state auditor.
Steve Grossman, a candidate for state treasurer and former chairman of the state and national Democratic parties who endorsed Balser’s campaign, will also serve as an informal adviser.
Warren praised Balser at today's event. “She has worked tirelessly for the people of Newton,” he said. “She ran an outstanding campaign.”
Five members of Warren’s transition team come from the Citizen Advisory Group, a panel set up to study the city’s operations. The group said Newton is running a “structural deficit,” meaning that some costs, such as employee health insurance, are going up faster than revenues.
The panel also said the city has fallen behind in its commitments to infrastructure maintenance and retiree benefits and recommended that the city cut some services and raise revenues through new and increased user fees.
The chairman of the Citizen Advisor Group, Malcolm Salter, will serve as an adviser to Warren’s transition team, as will group members David Humphrey, Scott Oran, Laura Thompson, and Neil Silverston.
The transition team will also draw on members of other citizen panels. Paul Levy, chairman of the Blue Ribbon Commission, will serve as an adviser, as will Sarah Ecker, a member of that group. Phil Herr, chairman of a 2007 comprehensive planning group, will also have a role.
Rounding out the team are Aldermen Ted Hess-Mahan, Marcia Johnson, and Susan Albright, and School Committee member Dori Zaleznik.
Mann endorsed Warren’s opponent, Ruth Balser, during the campaign, and Salter stayed neutral. The rest of the transition team supported Warren.
Warren said his transition team will focus on human resources, city finances, community involvement, and organizing a policy summit.
He gave no indication of which heads of city departments he will keep when he takes over.
“I have not made any decisions on personnel at all,” Warren said.
Calvin Hennick can be reached at calvinhennick@yahoo.com
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