Marc Laredo for Mayor

Official campaign website of Marc Laredo, candidate to be the next Mayor of Newton, Massachusetts

Marc Laredo for Mayor of Newton, MA

My Personal Story

My Civic Life

My Professional Life

<h2>My Personal Story</h2><img src="https://run.imgix.net/2aaa079f-124b-4998-a27e-e5403420b536/f40b34e8-2114-4b8f-a5f6-c9c102f9c885/f40b34e8-2114-4b8f-a5f6-c9c102f9c885.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C193%2C262&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">My parents were Jewish immigrants from Europe.&nbsp; My father left Nazi Germany as a teenager in 1938, and my mother came to the United States from Czechoslovakia in 1948, after having been a child survivor of the Terezin concentration camp and as the Communist regime was taking power.We moved to Newton when I was a small child, and I attended the Newton Public Schools (Cabot, Bigelow, and Newton North), as did my younger brother and sister. At Newton North, I ran cross-country (where I was one of the captains) and indoor and outdoor track, wrote for the school newspaper, and was the co-business manager of the high school yearbook.Growing up, my parents instilled in us a love of this country, the value of education as a path to success, the need to work hard, and the importance of being involved in our community.&nbsp;As a small child, I remember standing at the polls while my mother held a sign for a candidate.&nbsp; Voting was a sacred obligation, because it represented the importance of democratic government and an especially important right of citizenship for my immigrant parents.I had my first official job when I was 11 years old, delivering newspapers before school.&nbsp; When I was in high school and during part of college, I worked as a busboy, waiter, short order cook (a surprise to my family since I am the worst cook among us) and night manager at the Pewter Pot restaurant in Newtonville. At the same time, I spent several summers working for the City of Newton’s Recreation Department as a playground leader.But I also know from first-hand experience that appearances are not everything.&nbsp; My father was diagnosed with leukemia when I was a teenager and died after my sophomore year of college, and my family had serious financial difficulties during this time.&nbsp; I had to give my paper route savings to help my family get by.&nbsp; Yet, none of our friends or neighbors knew about these troubles.After my father’s death, my mother insisted that I return to college, and my brother, sister, and I earned undergraduate and graduate degrees.&nbsp; I was fortunate enough to attend Cornell University (where I met my wife Roberta) and the University of Pennsylvania Law School with the help of considerable scholarships and loans, as well as full-time jobs in the summer and part-time jobs during the school year.Roberta and I returned to Newton to raise our three children, who are now 34, 31, and 19, and all are graduates of the Newton Public Schools, as is our daughter-in-law.&nbsp; Roberta is a dietitian with a private practice in Newton Centre, the co-President of the Temple Emanuel Sisterhood, and a member of Temple Emanuel’s board of directors. As do many families, we have juggled raising our family with our work and community activities.

As your Mayor, I will always remember that I work for you - the nearly 90,000 residents of this city.

<h3>Fighting for Our Community</h3>These are some of the top issues our campaign is focused on. Learn more about our issues <a href="/issues" target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.

Top Issues

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I am profoundly grateful to have benefited from an exceptional education in Newton, a privilege shared by my siblings, three children, and daughter-in-law. Throughout my two decades of public service, I have consistently championed the Newton Public Schools. In the role of Mayor, which includes serving on the School Committee, I am eager to continue supporting this vital aspect of our community. Together with the members of the School Committee and our outstanding Superintendent, Anna Nolin, I am committed to steering our schools towards a future where every child can achieve their highest potential.An outstanding education starts in the classroom, with the goals of achieving academic excellence and preparing for the future success of all students.&nbsp; It continues with the rich array of extra-curricular activities that we offer, especially at our high schools.&nbsp; And it also means that we are providing the appropriate social and emotional supports for all of our children.&nbsp; As Mayor, I will work to provide our teachers and staff with the tools to do their jobs well, including prioritizing small class sizes, appropriate administrative supports, and up-to-date curriculum materials.Providing an excellent education also requires the right infrastructure within which our students learn, and our teachers teach. My tenure on the School Committee was marked by proactive efforts to modernize and improve our educational facilities, notably leading the initiative to construct the new Newton North High School. It was a difficult task but one that was worth the effort. My support has been steadfast for all subsequent school building projects across our city. As Mayor, I will continue to advocate for the necessary renovations or replacements of our facilities, including the Mason-Rice, Peirce, Underwood, and Ward Elementary Schools.

As the former chair of the School Committee, I understand that providing an exceptional education requires investing in our schools. As Mayor, I will work to provide teachers and staff with the tools they need, and continue to advocate for the necessary investments in our facilities.

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Investing in our schools and students

Enhancing the quality of our streets and sidewalks will be one of my top priorities. Throughout my tenure as a City Councilor, the most consistent feedback I've received from residents relates to the condition of our roads. Though progress has been made, it's clear that our efforts must be intensified to meet the needs and expectations of our community.As Mayor, I will accelerate the process of repairing our streets and sidewalks to make them safer&nbsp;for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. This initiative is not just about infrastructure; it's about enhancing the quality of life for all residents, promoting sustainable transportation options, and ensuring the safety of our community members.By prioritizing these improvements, we will create a more connected, accessible, and safe environment for all who live in, work in, and visit our city.

Enhancing the quality of our streets and sidewalks will be one of my top priorities. I have heard your feedback on the condition of our roads. While we are doing better, it is not nearly enough. I am committed to accelerating the repair of our city's roads and walkways.

Improving streets and sidewalks

The urgency of addressing climate change cannot be overstated, and I stand resolutely with the Newton community in recognizing this critical challenge. Fortunately, here in Newton there is overwhelming support for taking measures to address it and I have been, and will continue to be, fully supportive of those efforts.&nbsp; While our influence on national policy may be limited, the scope of what we can achieve at the local level is substantial. Through thoughtful ordinances and empowering our community members to adopt more sustainable practices, we can make a significant impact.As Mayor, I will be committed to targeted efforts to bolster our urban forest and effectively manage stormwater runoff. Enhancing our tree canopy is not just about beautifying our city but is a crucial strategy in reducing carbon dioxide levels, improving air quality, and creating cooler urban environments to combat the heat island effect. Similarly, addressing stormwater issues is essential in preventing water pollution, mitigating flood risks, and ensuring our community's resilience against increasingly volatile weather patterns.&nbsp; Together, we can foster a sustainable future –making Newton a model for local action on a global challenge.

The urgency of addressing climate change cannot be overstated. We have a responsibility at the local level to address this challenge head on. I have, and will continue to be, fully supportive of those efforts.

Leading on climate change

We cannot stay stagnant – responsible and appropriate development is good for our city. On the City Council (first as the chair of the Land Use Committee and then during my first term as President), I have overseen the approval of significant projects, including Austin Street, Trio, and Northland, and many other projects throughout the city.&nbsp; &nbsp;As Mayor, I will be committed to supporting our local businesses, helping them navigate City Hall and streamline approval processes so they can grow and thrive.&nbsp; In doing so, we will expand our commercial tax base and create a more robust and diverse local economy that can support and sustain our community's needs and aspirations.I will work to implement the new zoning that we enacted under the MBTA Communities Act and promote thoughtful, responsible development that creates additional housing opportunities for current and future residents. Maintaining our current affordable housing in good condition and constructing additional affordable units is an especially important challenge for us to meet.&nbsp; It starts with doing a thorough review of our subsidized housing stock, ensuring that we have an accurate inventory of our units and enough resources allocated to keep them in good condition.&nbsp; It continues with streamlining the process for eligible individuals and families to apply for housing, carefully exploring expansion opportunities, either in existing affordable housing sites or through new development. All of this work must be done in a financially prudent manner so we spend our funds wisely and effectively.&nbsp; Newton must remain a welcoming and vibrant community for everyone.

Responsible and appropriate development is good for our city. As Mayor, I will continue to advocate for development that will help our local businesses thrive and expand high-quality affordable housing opportunities.

Promoting thoughtful development

From a young age, my parents instilled in me a love of the outdoors. Some of my most memorable times with my family have been spent exploring the Appalachian Mountain Club huts in the White Mountains and visiting our amazing national parks.&nbsp; This love for the outdoors resonates with my vision for Newton, a city blessed with remarkable, albeit occasionally overlooked, open spaces. Cold Springs Park, Edmands Park, Bulloughs Pond, and the iconic Charles River, which gracefully borders our city, are jewels in our city’s landscape. Crystal Lake stands out as a gem requiring dedicated care and improvement, underscoring the importance of our natural assets.Athletic fields, playgrounds, and other recreational facilities are critical to the well-being of children and adults of all ages.&nbsp; This need is particularly acute as we seek to increase the population in the city.As Mayor, I will protect and enhance these important assets by engaging closely with the community to devise and execute a comprehensive strategic plan for our open spaces, including athletic fields, playgrounds, and other recreational amenities. This plan will not only aim to preserve and improve our existing natural and recreational resources but also to ensure they are accessible and enjoyable for all residents. By fostering a collaborative approach, we can ensure that our city's green spaces and recreational facilities continue to thrive and serve as a source of health, enjoyment, and pride for our community.

My parents instilled in me a love for the outdoors from an early age. I am committed to protecting and enhancing our city's natural assets, green spaces, and recreational facilities like athletic fields and playgrounds.

Preserving our open spaces

I love to read and have used our library regularly since I was a small child.&nbsp; The Newton Free Library is one of our city’s jewels and I will make sure that it has the resources to continue its excellent work.&nbsp;One of the things that makes Newton a great community is the strong support for arts and culture in our city.&nbsp; I support the creation of a Washington Street Cultural District as an excellent way to promote Newton as a destination for arts and culture.&nbsp; As Mayor, I will work closely with our city staff and our many community organizations to make Newton a place where the arts and culture flourish.

One of the things that makes Newton a great community is our strong support for arts and culture. I am committed to maintaining that investment in our city's arts and ensuring that the Newton Free Library, which I have visited regularly since I was a child, has the resources to continue its excellent work.

Enhancing our arts and culture

The roles of police officers and firefighters have always been challenging, a fact that has become even more apparent in recent years as we navigate the complexities of ensuring community safety and security. My experiences as an Assistant Attorney General, working closely with law enforcement, have given me valuable insights into the demands and pressures faced by these professionals.We have excellent leadership in our police and fire departments, and I remain confident in our commitment to upholding the highest standards of excellence in our public safety departments.&nbsp; We must continue to employ best practices in the hiring, training, and retention of our officers and firefighters and in maintaining public safety in our city.Our police officers and firefighters need the facilities, equipment, and training to do their jobs properly.&nbsp; Our police station is in disrepair and as Mayor I will lead our efforts to build a facility that meets the needs of the 21st century.&nbsp; Likewise, our officers and firefighters need regular replacement of vehicles (purchasing electric or hybrid vehicles whenever feasible) and equipment, and access to high-quality continuing education. Our officers and firefighters increasingly deal with serious mental health issues in our community and I will coordinate efforts among public safety officials, our health department, and our schools to address them in a holistic manner.

Maintaining the safety of our community is of the utmost importance. As Mayor, I will work hand-in-hand with our public safety leaders to maintain the highest standard of excellence across our police and fire departments, and ensure they have the resources and training needed to support our community.

Supporting public safety

Hate has no place in Newton.&nbsp; Everyone in our city should feel welcome and respected and we all have a stake in promoting understanding, tolerance, and pluralism. The rise of surging antisemitism reminds us that we cannot be complacent on this issue. People should expect their leaders to model and support the kind of discourse and behavior that draws us together rather than drives us apart. As your Mayor, I will work closely with our City Council, School Committee, and school and police departments to lead our efforts to fight all forms of bias and prejudice; ensure that every child feels safe and secure in school, free from bullying and harassment; and encourage residents, especially those who might be reluctant to interact with our police officers, to report hate crimes, and then make sure that they are fully investigated and prosecuted.

Hate has no place in Newton. Everyone in our city should feel welcome and respected. As your Mayor, I will work to lead our efforts to fight all forms of bias and prejudice and ensure that every child feels safe and secure in school.

Fighting all forms of hate

We need to work in partnership with other communities throughout the commonwealth to improve our public transportation system and create far more robust local public transit options and expanded rail service to other cities throughout the state and the region. We need to think boldly about these opportunities and not immediately reject them because of the price tag. As your Mayor, our city will be a leader, working in partnership with other communities throughout the state, to make better transportation throughout the state (and the region) a reality. We need to be open and honest about the fact that people want convenience and comfort as they travel from one place to another and recognize that transit alternatives need to be speedy, reliable, safe, comfortable, and cost-effective to encourage our residents to use them. And whether you use public transportation or not, improved public transit will reduce congestion on the roads and help address climate change.

We need far more robust local public transit options, as well as expanded rail service in Massachusetts. As your Mayor, I will ensure our city is a leader, working in partnership with other communities throughout the state, to build more robust transportation options across the region.

Expanding our transportation infrastructure

The Mayor must make difficult choices in delivering a balanced budget each year.&nbsp; We must be clear and transparent about city revenues and expenditures, considering all needs and then explaining funding decisions.&nbsp; There must be an ongoing effort to carefully scrutinize our spending to make sure that we are using our&nbsp;money wisely and efficiently to address current needs, invest for our future with capital expenditures, maintain appropriate reserves for emergencies, and meet our long-term pension and other commitments to our former employees.Under state law, we are obligated to fully fund our pension obligations by 2040, and our city’s retirement board has required us to complete this funding by 2032 (under state law, the retirement board has the unilateral right to make this demand).&nbsp; Meeting this obligation will put a significant strain on city finances for the next eight years.&nbsp; As Mayor, I will consult with financial experts and relevant stakeholders for thoughtful, creative ways to address this issue, including considering issuing a bond to fund these obligations, thereby freeing up more money for operations, especially for our schools.

Delivering a balanced budget requires making difficult choices and carefully scrutinizing our spending. As Mayor, I will ensure we are spending wisely and efficiently so that we can fully address our current needs, plan for unforeseen emergencies, and make investments in our future.

Maintaining sound fiscal policies

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As your next Mayor, I will lead with the following principles:

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<h2>My Professional Life</h2>I am one of the founders and the managing partner of my Boston-based law firm, Laredo, Smith &amp; Kane, LLP, where I concentrate my practice in the areas of business litigation and general business law. A considerable amount of my practice has involved working with small and medium-size businesses, advising them on issues such as the initial formation and maintenance of the business entity, contract and employment matters, crisis situations, and exit strategies. I know how to manage an organization and resolve the issues that businesses face on a daily basis.&nbsp;Early in my career, I served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Bureau of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, where I handled appellate cases and economic crimes prosecutions and wrote the winning brief in a case that was decided by the United States Supreme Court.I am honored to have been selected by Super Lawyers as one of the Top 100 lawyers in Boston. I have also been active in professional affairs, including serving as the Editor-in-Chief of the Massachusetts Law Review, an author of numerous articles, a speaker at many continuing education programs, and a member of the Boston Bar Association’s Law Firm Leadership Forum.

<h2>My Civic Life</h2>I am the President of the Newton City Council and have been an elected member of Newton’s city government since 2002. I first served for eight years on the School Committee (where I served as vice chair and then chair) and then, after a two-year break, as a City Councilor-at-Large from Ward 7 since 2012.In addition to serving as an elected official, I have also been actively involved in other community activities, including at Temple Emanuel, where I served on the Board of Trustees and co-chaired the Nominating and Governance Committee; a member of the Board of Directors of Middlesex&nbsp; Partnerships for Youth; the chair of the Ward 7 Democratic Committee; and a Newton youth soccer coach for many years.

As your Mayor, I will always remember that I work for you - the nearly 90,000 residents of this city.

Highlights from my time serving Newton's residents:

<h2>We need your help!</h2><h3>Fill out your information to learn how you can help Team Laredo, including:</h3><ul><li>Offering your public endorsement</li><li>Having a lawn sign</li><li>Sending emails and/or making phone calls</li><li>Hosting an event</li><li>Canvassing in your neighborhood</li><li>Working the polls on election day</li></ul><h4>Every minute of your time makes an impact. Anyone can get involved. We're grateful for your support!</h4>

Dozens of local organizations and leaders are standing together!

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You can also email us any time at team@laredofornewton.com!

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“I love this city and have proudly served its residents for over 20 years. I am profoundly grateful to have been raised in Newton and to have raised my family here. As your Mayor, I will be transparent, open-minded, and always put Newton residents first.”

Our Gallery

Marc is in the press! Check out the latest campaign news below.

Latest Campaign News

Click the link below to read Fig City News' article about our campaign announcement!

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Fig City News: "Newton City Council President Marc Laredo will run for Mayor"

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Politico: "Newton City Council President Marc Laredo is launching his campaign for mayor today"

NEWTON [September 10, 2024]—Marc Laredo has formally announced his candidacy toserve as Newton’s next Mayor. Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Laredo brings apragmatic approach to issues, combined with a successful private sector career and publicsector leadership roles.Laredo is the President of the Newton City Council, where he is serving his seventh term asa Councilor-at-Large from Ward 7. Before being elected to the City Council, Laredo servedon Newton’s School Committee for eight years, including being elected by his colleagues asvice chair and then chair. Professionally, he has had a successful legal career as co-founderand managing partner at the Boston law firm of Laredo, Smith &amp; Kane, LLP, a boutique firmthat focuses on business litigation, business law, employment law, white collar criminaldefense, and government investigations.Laredo has an extensive history of public and community service, including serving as aMassachusetts Assistant Attorney General in the Attorney General’s Criminal Bureau, amember of Temple Emanuel’s Board of Trustees, a director of Middlesex Partnerships forYouth, Inc., Editor-in-Chief of the Massachusetts Law Review, chair of the Newton Ward 7Democratic Committee, and a Newton youth soccer coach.In announcing his candidacy, Laredo stated that:“As your Mayor, my goal will be to make Newton the best place to live for all of ourresidents, in all thirteen of our villages. I plan to accomplish that goal by following severalcore principles:<ul><li>Work hard, and listen thoughtfully and carefully</li><li>Make pragmatic decisions based on data and analysis</li><li>Build consensus whenever possible</li><li>Seek and accept feedback</li><li>Act fairly and with the highest ethical standards</li></ul>Most importantly, I will always remember that I work for you — the nearly 90,000 residentsof this city.”Laredo grew up in Newton and attended Cabot Elementary, Bigelow Junior High, andNewton North High School, before graduating from Cornell University and the University ofPennsylvania Law School. Marc and his wife Roberta are the parents of three children, ages34, 31, and 19, all of whom graduated from the Newton Public Schools, as did theirdaughter-in-law.More information about Laredo can be found at his campaign website.<a href="http://www.laredofornewton.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">www.laredofornewton.com</a>

NEWTON [September 10, 2024]—Marc Laredo has formally announced his candidacy to serve as Newton’s next Mayor. Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Laredo brings a pragmatic approach to issues, combined with a successful private sector career and public sector leadership roles.

NEWTON CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT MARC LAREDO ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR MAYOR

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Marc's Supporters

Newton residents supporting Marc:

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<h2>My personal, professional, and civic experience shapes my leadership approach and vision for Newton.</h2><h3>I grew up in Newton, raised my family in Newton, and have served our city government for over 20 years.</h3>