Newton Mayor Setti Warren says he'll run for second term

By Deirdre Fernandes, Globe Staff

Newton Mayor Setti Warren said Wednesday that he will run for a second term, ending months of speculation about his future political plans.

“I love being mayor of my hometown,” Warren said. “I’m really excited about running again.”

Warren will be up for reelection next year and is holding his first fund-raiser and launching his campaign next month.

Until Wednesday, Warren had been vague about his plans. After his aborted bid last year for US Senate, several high-profile speaking engagements earlier this year on behalf of President Obama’s reelection stirred rumors that Warren was still interested in another job.

But Warren said that he wants to continue working on Newton’s capital and operational needs and helping the city move forward. He said he will not attend the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., next week.

Warren drew criticism last year from some Newton residents for pursuing higher office without finishing his first term as mayor. He dropped his bid to challenge Republican US Senator Scott Brown in September 2011 after he was financially outgunned by Elizabeth Warren.

Among the items still unfinished in Newton is Warren’s ambitious multimillion dollar capital improvement program. Warren has recommended more than $240 million in expansions and renovations to school and city buildings.

He is scheduled to outline his proposal to pay for it in the fall. That funding plan will probably include a debt exclusion override of Proposition 2 1/2, which would require aggressive lobbying from a committed mayor to get backing from voters.

Warren said that if reelected he would serve his entire four-year term.

Deirdre Fernandes can be reached at deirdre.fernandes@globe.com.