Somerville
Journal Endorsement:
“When an incumbent for office cannot turn in enough
signatures on time to get on the ballot, we wonder if she has the ability to
other facets of the job. Our kids deserve more.
Which is why we’re looking around for a candidate for the open seat in Ward 4.
The only person, except the incumbent, to publicly announce his or her
intention to seek that office is Jamie Norton, editor of the
Somerville News.
He has talents that could be put to use on such a board, hamstrung as it is by
the Education Reform Act of 1993, which basically lets the School Committee
hire a superintendent, and that’s it. And since no real damage could come to
our educational system by having one loud advocate for ripping up the whole
system, we feel Norton is the man for the job.
He’s passionate – as part of an entity oft derided in his “news” columns, we
can attest that Norton has great feeling for the city of Somerville. He has
children, so presumably he has an idea of what children need, and he has just
as much or more experience in managing budgets than other School Committee
members when they were first elected.
Unlike running a newspaper, pontificating at School Committee meetings needn’t
be fact-based, so even if Norton isn’t so hot at his day job, we think he might
be just right for this one.”
The Somerville News Endorsement:
“James Norton
– it's a hard thing to write your own endorsement and not look like an ass. It
became easier when The Somerville Journal endorsed me earlier today. How can
you have faith in an elected official who fails to submit the required
signatures to be put on the ballot unopposed? Taking the chance that nobody
gets 100 votes on Tuesday and then having a special election which would cost
the city close to $30,000 is ridiculous. I have the experience and the
dedication to get the job done right - and I will work hard to have the city
charter amended so that the School Committee is changed from an elected body to
an appointed body. I am humbled by the endorsement of the Somerville Journal
and the support I have received from people in the community and of Ward 4 in
particular - I will have stickers available at the polls on Tuesday.”
go jamie!
Posted by: go norton | November 04, 2007 at 11:06 AM