Newton Candidate Profile: William Humphrey For City Council

NEWTON, MA — Newton will have several contested races in this fall's election. But this was the only preliminary election on Sept. 10 to thin the field of Ward 5 city councilor candidates from three to two. Newton Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

William "Bill" Humphrey, 28, was one of three candidates running for Ward 5's seat on Newton City Council, where incumbent Jim Rice is not running for reelection. He was a top vote-getter in the preliminary election on Sept. 10 and will move on to compete in the general election on Nov. 5.
The University of Delaware graduate has focused on digital media, radio broadcasting, and political campaigns for the past nine years.

Previously: Humphrey, Winters Win Preliminary Election In Newton’s Ward 5

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 our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The most frequently mentioned issue for Ward 5 voters is the poor state of our roads, and I would seek to continue strengthening the road maintenance program but also to improve communication with the public about the schedule of road repairs.

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

I am a progressive activist on the environment and affordable housing and my views and record are consistently more closely aligned with those of Ward 5 voters than my opponents' views and records have been.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

My platform is ambitious local environmental action especially against fossil fuels, commitment to increasing affordable housing everywhere, and strengthening our city services with the help of our great public employees.

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

I worked for 5 years as a magazine op-ed editor working with retired high-level politicians and cabinet officials from the EU and the US, and I've worked with a lot of local, state, and federal politicians in my campaign work; so I believe I can work effectively with a range of political personalities to build working coalitions to adopt policy and serve my ward's constituents.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

Politics is really about how we collectively decide how we wish to prioritize allocating our resources as a community.

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

As a fifth-generation resident, I believe Newton can be and should be a community for everyone.

Previously:

• Humphrey, Winters Win Preliminary Election In Newton’s Ward 5
• Newton Election Calendar 2019: What To Know

Other candidate profiles in this series:

• Kathryn Winters Ward 5 - City Council

[Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article misspelled the candidate's name. Patch regrets the error]