Warren defeats Balser to become Newton mayor

By Calvin Hennick, Globe Correspondent

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

Warren, who said during the campaign that he was the only candidate who could bring a “fresh perspective” to the city, defeated Balser by a vote of 11,210 to 10,747 in unofficial results

Surrounded by more than 100 raucous supporters at Union Street restaurant in Newton Centre, Warren reflected on arriving in Iraq two years ago as an intelligence officer in the Navy Reserve, an experience he rarely spoke about in his campaign.

“I saw some of the worst of what humanity can do and the worst of what humanity can be,’’ he said. Warren contrasted that experience with Newton, which he said represents the best of what humanity can be.

“I stand before you humbly as the new leader of this remarkable community.”

Warren replaces outgoing mayor David Cohen, who lost popularity in the city as the cost of the new Newton North High School project ballooned to nearly $200 million.

The results were a reversal from the city’s Sept. 15 preliminary election, when Warren finished second behind Balser.

In her conession speech, Balser thanked her supporters and "all the elected officials who stood with me.'' She said she had telephoned Warren and congratulated him, adding, "We are commited to be partners, to continue working for the best of the people of Newton."

“I think basically it was just a very, very close race,” Balser said later in an interview. “There were two campaigns that were very well organized and had tremendous support, and the voters decided.”

Both contenders said they expect to have a good working relationship with Balser in the State House and Warren in the mayor’s chair.

“I’m deeply committed to Newton, and I will continue to do all I can for the community that I love,” Balser said.

Warren said he plans addres the city’s financial issues by budgeting from scratch each year and implementing a performance management system for the city’s employees. “The absolute first thing is making sure we have the right team in place,” Warren said.

About 41 percent of the city's 55,454 registered voters cast ballots in the races for mayor, Board of Aldermen, and School Committee, election officials said.

Warren captured 50.5 percent of the total, while Balser received 48.4 percent. Another 240 votes were write-in ballots, election officials said. Businessman William Heck ran a write-in campaign after losing in the preliminary election.

Warren entered the race well over a year ago with scant name recognition, but he knocked on over 10,000 doors across the city and won endorsements from eight of the city’s aldermen and four members of the School Committee.

If voters were seeking change in the mayor’s race, the sentiment didn’t carry over to the city’s down-ballot races. Voters returned all three challenged members of the School Committee to their seats, and only one challenged member of the Board of Alderman lost his seat.

On the School Committee, Reenie Murphy, Claire Sokoloff, and Jonathan Yeo were all reelected. The board will see three new members, plus the mayor, as Margie Ross Decter, Matt Hills, and Susan Rosenbaum all won open seats.

Ward 6 Alderman George Mansfield lost his seat to challenger Richard Blazar. Ward 5 Alderman William Brandel, who gave up that seat to run for an at-large Ward 5 seat, lost to incumbent Brian Yates and newcomer Deborah Crossley.

Other new faces on the Board of Alderman will include Ruthanne Fuller, who won an open at-large seat in Ward 7, and John B. Rice, who won the open Ward 5 seat that formerly belonged to Brandel.

Calvin Hennick can be reached at calvinhennick@yahoo.com.