<![CDATA[Ben Miller: NNHS Student Rep to the School Committee<br />

<![CDATA[Ben Miller: NNHS Student Rep to the School Committee<br /> - Blog (Home)]]>Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:19:33 +0700Weebly<![CDATA[Mike Capuano]]>Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:09:52 +0700http://benmiller.weebly.com/4/post/2009/10/mike-capuano.html

This is a sort of a 180 degree swing on my part; after mildly supporting Martha Coakley I am switching my support to Mike Capuano.

MA needs a senator who knows how to legislate! And that's Mike Capuano...he has a 10 year record in the House of hard work and good results.

]]><![CDATA[The Ben Miller Cheat Sheet for the Nov. 3 Elections]]>Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:19:34 +0700http://benmiller.weebly.com/4/post/2009/10/the-ben-miller-cheat-sheet-for-the-nov-3-elections.htmlFor Mayor of Newton:

Setti Warren. As a former Ken Parker supporter, I was looking for somebody who a. recognized the need for change in Newton, b. had an analytical mind and was a quick study, and c. had the capacity to lead this city. That's Setti Warren.

He got me and Ted Hess-Mahan; Dori Zaleznik and Geoff Epstein to agree on his candidacy -- polar political opposites are coming together in support of him.

I know he'll be a great new leader for Newton. www.settiwarren.com

School Committee Races:

Ward Two: Margaret Albright.
This race will be very close and was very tough for me to decide. I have great respect for Reenie Murphy and her good work with BC and on the lunch program. In the end, however, I've been swayed by Margaret's good sense, educational and leadership chops, and strong work ethic. www.margaretalbright.org

Ward Four: Dan Proskauer (Newton TAB endorsed).
Dan is an incredibly strong thinker and doer. His website (danforward4sc.org) is chock-full of valuable information, incredible analysis, and detailed plans for the schools. He understands that we need to use data to make decisions and that the status quo is not a good option.

Ward Five: Steve Siegel (Newton TAB endorsed).
Steve is another incredible thinker. A local leader on educational issues, he would bring his engineer's analytical perspective to all discussions. An engineer would be a valuable addition to the SC as it makes critical decisions about elementary- and middle-school construction. www.stevesiegel.org.

Ward Six: Olivia Mathews.
Olivia is an educational and managerial dynamo -- a whirlwind of energy, ideas, and enthusiasm about our schools. In a time when we'll need to make tough decisions about teachers' contracts, her educational background -- she will be the only educator on the SC if elected -- will be incredibly valuable. oliviafornewton.org.

Ward Seven: Matt Hills (Newton TAB endorsed).
Matt has a strong financial background, a head for common sense, a passion for and stake in our schools, and experience serving on corporate and nonprofit boards. He will be a great member of the School Committee. matthills.org.

Ward Eight: Margie Ross Decter (Newton TAB endorsed).
This (along with Ruthanne Fuller for alderman from ward seven) might be the biggest no-brainer race in the city. Margie is intelligent, capable, experienced, and has good leadership skills. rossdecter.biz.

For Alderman:

Ward Five: Bill Brandel (Newton TAB endorsed) and Deb Crossley.
Bill Brandel is one of the best and most effective members of the Board right now. He's worked effectively for real change in the city and for data driven management. He's risked his position on the board to run for an at-large seat to reflect his city-wide focus -- an admirable move. He should be elected to the Board. billbrandel.org.
Deb Crossley is an architect and her experience will be useful on the Board as it redoes zoning. She's smart and sensible. www.debcrossley.org

Ward Seven: Ruthanne Fuller (Newton TAB endorsed) and Jeff Seideman.
Ruthanne Fuller might be the other biggest no-brainer in the city. Her signs are up all over the place and it's easy to see why. As a leader on the CAG, she understands the problems of the city and how to fix them. She's soft-spoken but firm, works well with others, and is easy to see chairing the Finance committee or acting as a future President of the BOA. www.ruthannefuller.org
Jeff Seideman was difficult for me to endorse. He's divisive, brash, and while he's often right on the issues his difficult personality can make it hard for him to get anything done. But his opponent, Sydra Schnipper, is just as personally distasteful -- and she's been wrong on everything from NNHS to the city's finances. www.jeffseideman.org
]]><![CDATA[NEW!: School Lunch Survey, please take it!]]>Sat, 26 Sep 2009 16:16:09 +0700http://benmiller.weebly.com/4/post/2009/09/new-school-lunch-survey-please-take-it.htmlThe future of food service is being decided this year...PLEASE take this SHORT (10 multiple choice question) survey to help me understand what is most important to YOU my constituents...click here to take the survey. Thanks so much!
]]><![CDATA[Are students adequately listened to in Newton Public Schools' decision-making?]]>Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:08:38 +0700http://benmiller.weebly.com/4/post/2009/09/are-students-adequately-listened-to-in-newton-public-schools-decision-making.htmlClick here to vote if reading this on facebook, or if reading this on my site vote to the right. Then comment below!
]]><![CDATA[Setti Warren for Mayor]]>Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:40:50 +0700http://benmiller.weebly.com/4/post/2009/09/setti-warren-for-mayor.htmlHe convinced me at tonight's debate with smart and specific answers to the tough questions. I know he 'gets it' and hope Newton voters will join me in supporting Setti Warren for Mayor of Newton.
]]><![CDATA[Debate TONIGHT!]]>Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:19:06 +0700http://benmiller.weebly.com/4/post/2009/09/debate-tonight.htmlBecause of high demand, the debate has moved to the Lasker Auditorium. Come one and all-- especially students!

The Details:
6PM
Lasker Auditorium
Mayoral Debate: Balser v. Warren
Moderator: Peter Wu
Panel: Brian Goeselt, Molly Kaufman, Jonathan Levine, Ben Miller

See you all there!!!!!!!!!
]]><![CDATA[New URL]]>Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:39:05 +0700http://benmiller.weebly.com/4/post/2009/09/new-url.htmlThanks to Paul Batchelor and his magical website tools, you can now access this website through www.benmillerblog.tk

Thanks to Paul for his help with this and for pointing me to dot.tk, a really cool website where you can get a free domain name at .tk

There appears to be no catch (its a Government of New Zealand program) but if there is I'll say so.

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My Dan Proskauer sign stands proudly on my lawn tonight.
]]><![CDATA[Lots of Olivia Mathews, Matt Hills, Steve Siegel signs.]]>Sun, 20 Sep 2009 17:15:47 +0700http://benmiller.weebly.com/4/post/2009/09/lots-of-olivia-mathews-matt-hills-steve-siegel-signs.htmlThere are so many of them now around Newton.& I support all the above 3 so I think thats great.
]]><![CDATA[Campaign Signs Apparently Being Stolen]]>Sun, 20 Sep 2009 06:48:29 +0700http://benmiller.weebly.com/4/post/2009/09/campaign-signs-apparently-being-stolen.htmlThere are reports in that many of Olivia Mathews' campaign signs were stolen last night.

Making me think: really? We're going to run this election like 13-year-olds?
]]><![CDATA[Campaign Signs Go Up]]>Sat, 19 Sep 2009 16:55:40 +0700http://benmiller.weebly.com/4/post/2009/09/campaign-signs-go-up.htmlThe strongest correlation I have seen so far is Susan Rosenbaum-Ruth Balser.
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