Elections

Weber and King Advance to Face Off in November 7th Election

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District 6 City Councilor Kendra Lara was defeated easily by the two challengers in Tuesday's election -- that means that challengers Ben Weber and William King will face each other on Nov. 7. Jamaica Plain's Weber got 4,810 votes, King netted 4,291, and Lara received 2,262. These stats are unofficial, and according to the Boston Open Election Results Portal, a nonpartisan collaborative effort by a number of groups that provide stats from tabulation machines at each precinct. The stats are from crowdsourced photos, and do not include all mail-in ballots.

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Elections

What You Need to Know: Boston City Council District 6 Election

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Three candidates are vying in the Boston City Council District 6 preliminary municipal election on Tuesday. The top two vote getters will face each other in a general election on November 7. This election cycle is quite the opposite of embattled first-term District 6 City Councilor Kendra Lara's first election. In her first election, Lara benefitted from her opponent sending out a racist mailing. This time, Lara is under fire due to a June 30 car accident in which the vehicle she was driving, crashed into a Centre Street house.

1,388 Views
Elections

Here Are The Questions City Councilor Kendra Lara Didn’t Answer

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The Preliminary Municipal Election for the Boston City Councilor District 6 election is September 12. The three candidates were asked to respond via email to questions, and the two challengers provided answers, but the incumbent did not provide answers. The Preliminary Municipal Election is on Tuesday, September 12, and two candidates will advance to the general election on November 7. Any registered Boston voter can vote at any early voting location. You don’t need an excuse or reason to vote early.

1,655 Views
Elections

Ben Weber on Why You Should Vote for Him for Boston City Council District 6

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Jamaica Plain resident Ben Weber is one of the three candidates for the District 6 Boston City Council seat. The Preliminary Municipal Election is on Tuesday, September 12, and two candidates will advance to the general election on November 7. Any registered Boston voter can vote at any early voting location. You don’t need an excuse or reason to vote early. Not sure if you’re registered?

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Elections

William King on Why You Should Vote for Him for Boston City Council District 6

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West Roxbury resident William King is one of the three candidates for the District 6 Boston City Council seat. The Preliminary Municipal Election is on Tuesday, September 12, and two candidates will advance to the general election on November 7. Any registered Boston voter can vote at any early voting location. You don’t need an excuse or reason to vote early. Not sure if you’re registered?

2,394 Views
Elections

At-Large Boston City Council Candidate Virtual Forum on July 13

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The Boston Wards 4 & 5 & 10 Democratic Committees are hosting a virtual At-Large Boston City Council Candidates forum on July 13. The forum will be moderated by Boston Globe opinion writer Abdallah Fayyad. Confirmed participants include Clifton Braithwaite, Bridget Nee-Walsh, and Henry Santana, At-Large Boston City Councilors Ruthzee Louijeune, Julia Mejia, and Erin Murphy. Current At-Large City Councilor Michael Flaherty recently announced that he is not seeking reelection. Jamaica Plain resides in Boston Wards 4, 10, 11, 12, and 19.

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Government

Residents Invited to Testify at Boston City Council District 6 Redistricting Hearing on March 31

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The public is invited to offer testimony during a Boston City Council Redistricting Committee hearing focused on District 6 on March 31. District 5 City Councilor (and Suffolk County District Attorney candidate) Ricardo Arroyo will lead the hearing as chair of the committee. The majority of Jamaica Plain consists of District 6, but there is a little bit of Districts 4 and 7 in Jamaica Plain, too. Public testimony regarding redistricting from residents of Districts 4, 5 and 6 will occur at City Hall on March 31 at 6:30 pm. Read the public notice here.

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Government

Watch: Councilor Lara Delivers Maiden Speech in Spanish & English About Voting Rights for Immigrants with Legal Status

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District 6 City Council Kendra Lara delivered her maiden Boston City Council speech on Wednesday about providing immigrants with legal status to vote in municipal elections. Lara also introduced her first piece of legislation -- restoring municipal voting rights to immigrants with legal status. "Regardless of citizenship status, all our residents deserve control over issues that affect their lives by participating in the democratic process and electing their municipal leaders," wrote Lara in her weekly newsletter roundup of council meetings. "Immigrants represent 29% of our city’s population and serve as an integral part of Boston's social, political, economic, and cultural fabric. Excluding such a significant portion of our city’s population from full political participation threatens the health of our democracy.

1,930 Views
From the Community

Jamaica Plain Resident Jessica Morris Joins Benchmark Strategies

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Jamaica Plain resident Jessica Morris recently joined Benchmark Strategies public affairs team as Assistant Vice President. Morris brings experience in renewable energy and sustainability, intergovernmental relations, public policymaking and execution, and press and media relations. Prior to joining Benchmark, Morris served six years at as the Chief of Staff to former District 6 Boston City Councilor and Council President Pro Tempore Matt O’Malley. In that role she oversaw and managed a team of legislative staff and neighborhood liaisons for District 6. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Morris led a crisis response for the council district with the Boston’s largest population of seniors and created a 100+ member volunteer call system to connect with seniors, identifying their urgent needs, such as food insecurity.

2,272 Views
Government

City Councilor Kendra Lara on Being Socialist: ‘My Politics Are My Philosophy In Action’

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District 6 Boston City Councilor Kendra Lara was scheduled to give her maiden speech about socialism to the council during its Wednesday meeting. But due to time constraints, she was unable to do so. Lara answered questions from Jamaica Plain News about socialism, how it can help her constituents, and more. Lara was elected as Kendra Hicks, but has since changed her last name to Lara. Q: You have stated you are a socialist.

7,323 Views