First-time candidate Brittany Hume Charm is seeking a Ward 5 at-large Newton City Council seat, aiming to be a voice for Newton Public School (NPS) parents in city hall and to retain Newton’s values amid today’s federal climate. 

Charm is running unopposed, following current Councilor-at-Large Andreae Downs’ decision not to run for reelection. Despite the lack of competition, Charm’s campaign is outspoken in its call for reformed decision-making and city-wide growth. 

Recent frustrations with city council decision-making, particularly a lack of transparency regarding the school system’s responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, budget crises, and the 2024 teachers’ strike, are a strong motivator for Charm’s campaign.

“I think many parents felt like they didn’t understand how decisions were being made at the city level, and felt like they didn’t have a voice,” said Charm. “And when I looked at the council, you know, I see many very upstanding public servants, but I only saw three Newton Public Schools parents out of 24 counselors.”

Charm intends to advocate for improved communication, seeking to keep her constituency better informed and engaged.  

“Ideally, there should be a communication loop, right, of making sure that the decisions and priorities that are coming out of city hall are really heard and understood by all different members of the community,” said Charm. 

A graduate of Princeton and the University of California, Berkeley, Charm has spent much of her career working to solve global health issues by working collaboratively to bring about creative solutions. She intends to bring this same collaborative spirit to city hall.

“Different voices should be heard and considered as we are figuring out, ‘What should the direction of the city be—what should some of the different priorities be?’” Charm said.

To actualize this, Charm has proposed improving the city’s website, reaching different demographics through social media, and holding monthly office hours via Zoom, as well as in person. 

“I think there’s a lot of low-hanging fruit that we could be doing to be improving communication and transparency with not only parents, but with all different groups,” Charm said. 

Charm explained that her campaign is driven by a desire to preserve the sense of community and shared principles that she believes define Newton, even as the political climate grows more polarized.

“As a citizen of our country, I saw what was happening with the election this past November and felt like I really wanted to make sure that Newton remained a place that held true to its values,” said Charm.

To combat headwinds from the federal government, Charm has proposed extending the timeline for paying the city’s pensions to free up funds. She has also been an advocate for new growth in Newton to expand the tax base and boost city revenues.

“I think we need to be encouraging more growth, particularly in our village centers and along transit, and increasing that foot traffic that can create a virtuous cycle,” said Charm. 

Regardless of potential changes, Charm believes Newtonians know who they are—and she wants to ensure it stays that way. 

“I think we know we’re a place that believes in science—we’re a place that values inclusivity and diversity,” said Charm. “We are a place that really cares about all of our neighbors, and that was something that I wanted to make sure stays true as we are experiencing a major shift at the federal level.”