With Newton City Council elections rounding the corner, Garry Miller is running for the Ward 5 City Council on a bid founded on his love of Newton, the city he has called home for 25 years. 

Miller emphasized that his original draw toward the suburban city was for its safety and its easy accessibility to Boston. Over the years, he found that Newton was so much more than he expected: a place of immense community. 

“I really appreciate that I live in a community where you can actually meet your neighbors and have that sense of community,” said Miller.

Miller’s decision to take the step to run for city council stemmed from a desire for impact, originally in the form of an unpaved road. 

“I was curious, and I couldn’t find the information about when the street would be paved,” said Miller. “I wanted to know where this information is and why it hasn’t been done before.”

Miller was inspired to speak with Bill Humphrey—the current Ward 5 Councilor who is not seeking reelection—and was directed to the city website. He wrote to the mayor’s office and, eventually, Miller’s request led to the road being paved. 

The outcome of his effort made Miller realize that the system in place could work, but its inefficiency was the root of a much larger problem. Miller understood, then, that he felt called to improve communication between residents and government.

“What I think is a precept of communication is, no matter how much communication you’re doing, it’s not enough,” said Miller.

He knew that advocacy could make a difference, but Miller believed that running for his ward seat would enable that difference to be multiplied and longstanding.

With over 30 years working as software engineer and product manager in healthcare services, practical experience and openness to new ideas are the hallmarks of Miller’s approach to problems, he explained. 

“Problem solving is about taking theory and putting it into practice,” said Miller.

Miller’s history also includes activism for LGBTQ+ rights, which included volunteering on numerous campaigns for marriage equality in the 1990s and 2000s. He also currently serves as a member of the Neighborhood Liaison Committee for the Northland project, ensuring that community voices are amplified as the project continues development.

When working on the Washington Street Pilot project to implement bike lanes, Miller found that few people were happy with the process. This experience gave Miller valuable insight into what engagement and collaboration look like from the perspective of a decision maker. 

 “So how do we make sure that there’s a feedback loop and say, ‘All right, let’s try this out, and if it doesn’t work, let’s make changes and be iterative about it,’” said Miller. 

Miller emphasized that he wants city council ideas, particularly those with community engagement, to be the product of experience and not from a sense of assertiveness that might stem from positions of authority. 

“It’s important, being able to say and admit when you’re wrong, and change your mind, and not be dogmatic,” said Miller. “I want my ideas to be tempered by experience.”

Miller believes a city councilor should address controversial issues and, when they vote on them, there should be deliberate reasoning behind their choice informed by the community they represent. 

“A city councilor has to be in more places than just city hall,” said Miller. “[They] need to be out in the community when there are controversial issues.”

If elected as a city councilor, Miller is passionate about strengthening public services, particularly schools and parks, which are foundational to the community. 

“As the proud son of two native New Englanders for whom curiosity and hard work are foundational values, education is one of my highest priorities,” reads Miller’s website. 

Miller believes strong public schools, and a very strong education, are crucial for Newton’s identity and community cohesion—a fact displayed by his dedication to his own studies. 

A graduate of Cornell University, Miller earned his bachelor of science in industrial engineering, later earning a master of science in health and medical informatics from Brandeis University and an MBA from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 

Miller wants to ensure that services, such as education, remain accessible to all residents by stressing the importance of welcoming younger generations into the community, who are often unable or hesitant due to rising housing costs in an already expensive city. 

“[Being] a welcoming city to people of all different income and racial and ethnic groups is important, but how can we do that when there’s nowhere for people to live who fit those categories?” Miller said. “So, I really feel like housing is central to that question, and we need to work on different and diverse options there.”

Miller aims to be a strong, independent voice for his ward, one that is collaborative and focused on maintaining the promises and core values of the city he is proud to call home.