Write-In Candidate Launches Campaign in Newton

NEWTON—Allison Sharma has launched a write-in campaign for the now open Ward 4 City Council seat. City Councilor Jay Harney recently announced he is no longer running for re-election after the deadline for new candidates to file paperwork with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance.

Sharma launched her campaign on Facebook, where she posted, "Newton Friends, and particularly friends in Ward 4... I'm excited to share that I have launched a write-in campaign for the Ward 4 City Council seat."

Citing Harney's decision and the lack of candidates running, Sharma said, "I believe that our community deserves a real choice in who will represent us for the next two years, and I've been moved to give you that choice by launching this write-in campaign."

Sharma posted a scanned campaign and political finance forms being emailed to the OCPF on her Facebook page. Sharma is a local mother who was featured in a 2010 episode of "This Old House." She has two teenagers, Natasha and Jay.

Sharma posted the following statement on online Newton Forum Village 14:

My name is Allison Sharma I’m pleased to announce that I’m running as a write-in/sticker candidate for the Ward 4 Ward Councilor seat in Newton. I’m a 17-year resident of Auburndale and have loved living here and raising my children here. I served on the Burr School PTO board and am an active member in the United Parish of Auburndale, having served on and chaired several boards and the Parish Council. I am currently serving as a collection point for humanitarian aid for Syrian refugees, an activity through which I have engaged with residents from Ward 4 and across the city to help ease the suffering in what is arguably the biggest humanitarian crisis of our time. I care and I get involved.

Professionally, I’m an enterprise systems consultant. In layman’s terms, I’m a listener and a solver of complex problems. I listen to my clients’ issues and concerns, and work with them collaboratively to find solutions within an often complex and interdependent web of systems.
When Jay Harney announced recently that he was unable to run for reelection due to personal reasons, many in the community were concerned about the lack of a robust and transparent campaign to fill that seat. It appeared that Jay’s successor was predestined. I shared those concerns and felt compelled to do something about it. The voters in Ward 4 deserve a choice, and I think I can offer them an excellent one.
I love Newton because it is welcoming, diverse and vibrant. If I’m fortunate enough to be elected as Ward 4 City Councilor, my goal will be to retain and enhance these wonderful qualities in our city.

Her only opponent is Chris Markiewicz. Former gubernatorial candidate Evan Falchuk rated her Sharma's Facebook page with five stars.