Ward Councilor
Chris Markiewicz
Chris Markiewicz, first elected in 2017, is unopposed in seeking re-election as ward councilor.
Markiewicz serves as the vice chair of the Land Use Committee and the Real Property Reuse Committee, according to his campaign video. He also serves on the public safety and audit advisory committee.
“Looking ahead, the work of the next two years will include land use review, reviewing the direction of the city’s zoning code, and supporting the implementation of the Climate Action Plan,” Markiewicz said.
Markiewicz said he supports zoning that encourages improvements in the city’s village centers, while encouraging mixed use housing and commercial development. Zoning should help facilitate transit and accessibility, Markiewicz said.
“We should encourage the development of underutilized resources. We need to discourage tear downs, which eliminate our more affordable housing options,” Markiewicz said. “I support and have docketed a resolution that helps create a funding source for the creation of an affordable housing trust.”
Another one of Markiewicz’s priorities is climate, and he plans to aid in the formation of legislation to reduce local carbon emissions and the use of fossil fuels.
Markiewicz said that he talks to residents and business owners everyday to listen to their questions and concerns. He said he looks forward to more opportunities to connect with residents, including during his office hours.
“I work to help inform them as well as to identify solutions,” Markiewicz said. “Government works better with informed participants.”
Markiewicz did not respond to The Heights’ request for an interview.
Councilor-at-Large
Leonard Gentile
Leonard Gentile was first elected in 1989, with a focus on education in his work.
He currently serves on the Finance Committee and the Public Facilities Committee, and is the president of the Preferred Mortgage Group, Inc.
Gentile did not respond to The Heights’ request for an interview.
Josh Krintzman
First elected in 2017, Josh Krintzman is running for councilor-at-large in Ward 4.
“As someone who has been very invested in public service for really my whole professional career, it made sense for me to want to be involved in local government,” Krintzman said during an interview with The Heights in 2019. “I have greatly enjoyed my time on the City Council, and I highly value the ability to impact local decisions.”
A lawyer by training, Krintzman said on his website that he has built his career on public service with a focus on health care. He has worked as the director of government relations for Commonwealth Care Alliance, according to his website. Krintzman also served as chair of the Newton Charter Commission.
Krintzman lists his priorities as zoning redesign, public schools, infrastructure, and parking on his website. Krintzman said that he wants to reduce tear-down vulnerability and facilitate the special permit process for non-controversial projects.
Krintzman grew up in Newton and graduated from Newton South High School, and now lives in the city with his wife and his three children.
Krintzman did not respond to The Heights’ request for an interview.
School Committee
Tamika Olszewski
Tamika Olszewski is seeking reelection to the School Committee, following her election to the council in 2019.
One of the reasons Olszewski chose to move to Newton with her husband to raise her two daughters was because of the strong public schools and the city’s diversity, Olszweski said on her website.
“When I realized that over 70 different languages were spoken within the parent and school community, I knew that the Newton Public schools would give my children exposure to the wide range of racial, religious, cultural and economic diversity that had been missing from my own childhood,” Olszewski said on her website.
Olszewski is involved in the Newton community, including as a commissioner for the Newton Human Rights Commission and a board member for Families Organizing for Racial Justice (FORJ). Olszweski is a lawyer by training, as a graduate from the University of Baltimore School of Law.
“I will continue our work of creating inclusive and emotionally safe school climates for all students,” Olszewski said in her 2019 campaign video. “I ask you to trust in the skills I’ve developed as a collaborator assisting families across all of our schools to boost their ability to talk about race, identity, and culture.”
Olszewski did not respond to The Heights’ request for an interview.
Featured Graphic by Olivia Charbonneau / Heights Editor
