As Newton Special Election Nears, Candidates Vie For Endorsements

NEWTON, MA — Four candidates for the two open seats on the Newton City Council have returned their paperwork into the city clerk's office in an effort to ensure their name gets on the ballot for the upcoming March special election.

After Ward 1 Councilor Jake Auchincloss was elected to Congress, and Ward 2 Councilor Jay Ciccone died unexpectedly in November, the city announced a special election on March 16 to replace them both. In response, the two candidates for each open seat have been campaigning to get the requisite 150 signatures from Newton residents to get on the ballot, in addition to high-profile endorsements to boost their campaigns.

Here's a look at what endorsements each of the candidates are touting on their websites in addition to the 150 signatures of support they must get from Newton residents:

Ward 2 Councilor-at-Large candidate Bryan Barash's website boasts the most endorsements from current and former elected officials. Among those he's collected he's managed to get 14 endorsements from sitting councilors, including City Council President Susan Albright and Council Vice President Rick Lipof. Barash also secured endorsements from five of the eight school committee members, and nine according to his website, in addition to more than 24 former elected officials.

Among the endorsements Ward 2 Councilor-at-Large candidate Tarik Lucas has secured, are endorsements from seven other sitting councilors along with 12 former elected officials including former School Committee Chair Matt Hills and former city councilor Amy Sangiolo.

The two candidates running for the councilor-at-large seat for Ward 1 have also been busy securing support.

Madeline Ranalli —a 20-year-old Harvard University student — has also secured the endorsement of 11 seated councilors, including council president Albright along with 20 community leaders, including activist Nathan Philips and Shawn Fitzgibbons, the former chair of the Newton Democratic Party.

John Oliver, meanwhile has secured eight endorsements among seated councilors and 10 formerly elected officials.

Still, according to Forbes magazine, it's not exactly clear how much endorsements sway voters.

"Endorsements matter, but they matter less than politicians think," wrote Mark Travers for the magazine.

Back in 2008, the Pew Research Center wrote that political endorsements have little impact on voter preferences," after surveying voters about the presidential election. Nearly 70 percent of those surveyed said the endorsement of Oprah Winfrey wouldn't sway their vote.

The last day for a candidate to file nomination papers with the city clerk's office is 5 p.m. Tuesday. The clerk's office said Oliver, Ranalli, Lucas and Barash were the only candidates who had already returned paperwork for certification as of Monday.

Previously:

• Newton City Councilor Hopeful Bryan Barash To Kick Off ...
• Race To Replace Newton City Councilor Takes Shape
• Harvard Student Activist Running For Newton City Council Seat in Ward 1
• John Oliver Is Running For Newton City Council

Jenna Fisher is a news reporter for Patch. Got a tip? She can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a something you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how.