Newton Candidate Profile: Brenda Noel, Ward 6 City Councilor

NEWTON, MA — There will be several contested races in this fall's election, including for school committee, at-large city council and ward councilor. Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Brenda Noel, 48, who is just finishing off her first term at a ward councilor for Ward 6, is facing off against Lisa Gordon.

Noel moved to Newton in 2010, with her husband, Dean Fairchild, and twins Martie and Ella Fairchild, 15.

For the past 27 years, she's been a social worker and most recently she's the executive director of the NWW Committee. Before that she got her bachelors in social work from Wheelock College and then her masters of social work from Boston University.

She took a minute to answer a list of question we sent her. Here's what she said. Her answers have not been edited.

Previously: Newton Election Calendar 2019: What To Know About Election

Check out Newton Candidate Statements, Candidate Nights

Are you running for office in Newton? Contact Jenna Fisher at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Newton Patch.

The single most pressing issue facing Newton is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Two years ago I would have said housing supply, and the lack of affordable housing in Newton is the most pressing issue. We are still faced with a significant housing supply shortage, specifically affordable units, so it is disingenuous to say one is more pressing than the other, but today Newton is being confronted daily with the impact of climate change. A thoughtful housing and transportation plan can directly impact climate change, positively impact traffic congestion and increase our housing supply in transit orientated locations.

The Administration and Green Newton have both released insightful climate action plans, the Citizen's Climate Action plan from Green Newton provides a road map for how to be carbon neutral by 2050. I would support the data driven approach outlined in this plan, using the tools of zoning redesign and policy implementation to move us to increased housing density in transit orientated locations, encourage fewer car trips, and maintaining existing green space with a goal of being carbon neutral by 2050.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidate seeking this post?

The main differences between myself and my challenger, outside of the big issues, such as housing, the environment, transportation and actually listening to the Ward 6 voters, is the issue of transparency.

I am the first Ward 6 councilor that has had a newsletter, hold monthly office hours and maintains a social media presence to discuss topics of importance to Ward 6. I am committed to running an honest and transparent campaign, I refuse to take money from developers or any individual representing a cannabis organization, with an up to date campaign expenditure page on the OCPF website so that anyone can see who is donating to my campaign and how I am paying for my campaign expenditures. This is required by law.

As of this writing (10/13/19), with lawn signs, campaign materials and 3 weeks to go until the election, my opponent has not listed any expenditures on the state required website which calls into question her commitment to transparency. Adhering to campaign finance law is the minimum threshold for any candidate and is the pinnacle of democracy and transparency.

Environment, transportation and development. My opponent insists she is an environmentalist yet sent repeated emails as recently as this past year, to the entire city council urging us to vote against stage 3 solar. She was a leader in urging for free parking in Newton Center, which we know having the city underwrite parking only encourages driving and traffic and adds to greenhouse gas emissions. 28% of the city carbon emissions is from cars. We need to implement policies that encourage fewer car trips, not underwriting and encouraging more car trips.

Finally- we approach development and affordable housing from completely different places. My view is based on the reality of the landscape before us. My opponent's has yet to share data and analysis to support her position and has mastered the art of creating false choices. The choice of development is not something or nothing, it is something or something. We need to hold developers accountable to get the best possible deal for the city.

We need to use every tool in our tool box to push to mitigate traffic impact, insist upon passive house construction, and demand the highest percentage possible of affordable units. Pushing developers for affordable units is the best pathway to increase affordable housing in Newton. We ignore or refuse to engage with developers at our own peril. I assure you the options developers have by right are often less desirable then working with the developer through the special permit process. Again- it's not something or nothing. It's something that brings value and benefits our city or something that is put upon our city by right. I prefer to take a proactive approach as leaders do to make certain we are able to shape projects that bring value to our city. Learn more about my voting record and values at brendafornewton.com

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)? If you're an incumbent, what's still on your to-do list?

The way I approach my role as the Ward 6 city councilor is based on transparency and community engagement. I will continue to hold office hours and produce a monthly news letter for my constituents, attend monthly Highland Area Council meetings and go to community events. I will continue to seek opportunities to hear from all my constituents, and lead with courage on complex issues that are facing our Ward and our City.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

I am a social worker by training and bring 27 years of experience and perspective to my City Council role. In addition to the aforementioned items, in this next term the city is charged with zoning redesign. This is an important initiative, and has the potential to address and mitigate climate impact, and improve traffic and transportation options. I am hopeful for what can be accomplished.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

My voting record represents several accomplishments including but not limited to passing a stronger inclusionary zoning ordinance that increases the affordable requirement from 15% to 20%, increasing the financial threshold for tax abatement for seniors enabling more seniors to afford to stay in their homes, passing an ordinance to allow the transportation department to adjust the traffic meters to meet on-demand pricing, which will result in an increase in parking availability and decreasing traffic (30% of Newton Centre traffic is folks circling looking for a parking place.) I have worked with DPW to get potholes filled, street sweepers booked, missed trash pick up resolved and a crosswalk installed. I love my job as a City Councilor, my track record proves I can more than handle the responsibility.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

Don't ever take a "no" from someone who can't give you a "yes." I am a tenacious advocate for the folks of Ward 6.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I encourage voters to visit my website to learn more about me at www.brendafornewton.com

Your social media info (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook) :

Twitter: @Iambrendanoel

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Brend...

My favorite aspect of this city is...

The people. I am proud to be part of such a thoughtful, kind and engaged community.

What's your take on all the development happening in the city?

I can’t comment specifically about projects that are currently before the council but I can most certainly tell you how I think about issues related to development in Ward 6 and beyond our Ward. I believe:
Developers need to be held accountable for: mitigating traffic concerns that may be raised in relation to their projects, that can be through limiting parking spaces and creating pooling options, or incentivizing public transportation, retention or creation of as much green space as possible is critical, we need to insist on “green” building practices such as passive house construction, and we need to push developers to create as much affordable housing that is economically feasible- 15-20% minimum of affordable units in larger projects, with a strong push for more. Most importantly, I take the inputs from the dozens of conversations I have with Ward 6ers into account when I contemplate this or any policy. Their words matter.

More on Newton Elections:

• Newton Election Calendar 2019: What To Know About Election
• Ward 5 Residents To Head To The Polls Sept. 10
• Humphrey, Winters Win Preliminary Election In Newton's Ward 5

More candidate profiles:

• Kathryn Winters - Ward 5
• Bill Humphrey - Ward 5
• Rena Getz - Ward 5 (write in)
• Andreae Downs - At Large Ward 5
• Deb Crossly - At Large Ward 5
• Brenda Noel, Ward 6 City Councilor
• Vicki Danberg - At Large Ward 6
• Emily Norton (Incumbent)- Ward 2
• Bryan Barash - Ward 2
• Jake Auchincloss(Incumbent) - At Large Ward 2
• Susan Albright (Incumbent) - At Large Ward 2
• Tarik Lucas -At Large Ward 2
• Ruth Goldman - School Committee

Are you running for office in Newton? Contact Jenna Fisher at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Newton Patch.