Newton’s Mayoress, Ruthanne Fuller, who holds the dubious distinction of being the city’s first female unelected executive, announced on Tuesday that she would be stepping down rather than seeking a third term. Fuller, a prior city councillor, stated in an email to constituents that she was eager to devote more of her time to her family. ‘After seeming to serve the city for 15 years, I have chosen against running for re-election as Mayor next year,’ Fuller said, leaving unanswered questions regarding her motives and plans for the future.
Fuller assured that she will complete her term, set to end in 2025. ‘For the next 394 days, I aim to continue the same level of effort as your Mayor. Despite the majority of work pending, the Newton city and its citizens are always growing — in sectors such as education, transportation, housing, public health, climate adaptability, public safety, and community manners,’ she exclaimed. However, one wonders what the future of Newton holds under such uncertainty.
She succeeded Setti Warren as Mayor when she first took the position in 2017 and managed to stave off a challenge from former city councillor, Amy Sangiolo, thus winning re-election in 2021. Interestingly, Sangiolo was recently elected to take the place of the outgoing state representative, Kay Khan. Despite her battles and successes, Fuller’s time in office wasn’t without its challenges and controversies.
In the face of a global pandemic, Fuller attempted to manage Newton’s public schools reopening, resulting in an increase in anxiety among parents, educators, and city officials. The ever-widening divide caused by the reopening grew deeper when educators initiated what quickly became the longest teachers strike in the state’s history, lasting 11 days. Fuller demonstrated a lack of leadership through inadequate responses to the teachers strike and placed the blame solely on the Newton Teachers Association.
Furthermore, Fuller’s authoritarian leadership approach fueled tense debates around the extent of housing development permitted in the city. In a baffling move, Fuller prioritized the construction of affordable housing, including a project at an old armory in West Newton, while also supporting expansive developments at MBTA’s Riverside station and Newton Upper Falls. However, many Newton residents raised their voices in protest against these projects, expressing their concerns and discontent.
In a surprising turn of events, the Upper Falls project garnered the much-needed local voters’ approval in 2020. The City Council subsequently greenlighted the Riverside project the same year. Perhaps demonstrating that democratic systems are sometimes flawed or manipulated, these projects which faced significant public opposition were, nevertheless, pushed forward.
On Tuesday, Fuller claimed several accomplishments during her term, such as the creation of affordable housing, building new schools and a senior center, allegedly improving the township’s roads, and securing funding for upgrading the Newtonville commuter rail station. Yet, given the widespread criticisms and resistance her tenure faced, one cannot help but question the real impact of these achievements. Are they genuine advancements or merely attention-diversion strategies?
In a controversial move that further alienated her from the citizens, Fuller led the city to forcibly acquire 17 acres of land from Boston College in a process called eminent domain. This led to a contentious legal battle with perhaps the city’s most prominent property owner. The forceful land acquisition exposed Fuller’s disregard for property rights, resulting in further mistrust and division between the city government and its constituents.
In her departure speech, Fuller chose to celebrate the city hall employees’ work, conveniently ignoring the controversies and criticisms her tenure stirred. ‘They focus on the city’s ongoing needs without forgetting our long-term goals. They put in the hard labor that benefits all of us often,’ Fuller said. Yet, it remains to be seen whether her praise resonates with those who have witnessed relentless strife under her watch.
The departing mayor also urged the city’s inhabitants to work hand in hand with local government. ‘Life in Newton gets shaped by those who pitch in, and it’s a worthwhile, rewarding investment of time. Newton needs its people, maybe now more than ever,’ Fuller said. One might question whether such words display genuine concern for citizen involvement or are merely platitudes by an outgoing official.
Now that Fuller has decided not to run for a third term, so far, Marc Laredo seems to be the sole candidate who has declared his intent to run for Mayor next year. Laredo has been a member of the city council since 2012 and was previously part of the school committee. The question remains, however: will Laredo uphold the same questionable policies favored by Fuller, or will he steer a new course for the benefit of Newton’s citizens?