Peter Bruce Running To Represent Ward 2 On Newton City Council

NEWTON, MA — Longtime community leader Peter Bruce is running to represent Ward 2 residents on the Newton City Council, his campaign said in a news release.

Elected to the Newtonville Area Council (NAC), Bruce served six years on the council, three of them as President. According to his campaign, Many Ward 2 residents know him from Newtonville Village Day, his speeches and op-eds, or because he knocked on their door to ask their views about local issues.

Bruce said he believes democracy requires listening to and representing the priorities of one’s constituents. He led the NAC’s massive outreach effort in 2018 to solicit the views of 11,000 adults in Wards 1,2, and 3 on building height, density, affordability, transportation, and traffic in terms of proposed redevelopment along Washington Street. Analyzing more than 2500 responses, Bruce was the lead author of the 42-page survey report “Envisioning Washington Street.”

Speaking on behalf of the NAC, Bruce presented the survey results to the City Council. He explained that the ten-story height maximum recommended by the city’s Washington Street Vision Plan conflicted dramatically with the lower heights preferred by the public.

"Bruce’s persuasive advocacy, along with help from supportive City Councilors andprotests from the public, led to a reduction in recommended maximum heights to no more than six stories along Washington Street," his campaign said in a statement.

Similarly, Bruce lobbied successfully for wider sidewalks and other improvements to Walnut Street and for the creation of the nearby plaza seating area between Starbucks and Caffé Nero. He has worked with staff at many City Hall departments.

“I am ready to help Ward 2 residents with robust constituent services," Bruce said.

According to his campaign, Bruce believes that all Newton voters deserve to have a vote on the city’s village center rezoning, just as they did on the override. He is in favor of development that will enhance the village center without overwhelming it.

"His position is that before we change the character of our villages, we need to investigate and analyze the potential consequences — both positive and negative — of the rezoning plan, consider alternatives, compromise, and obtain approval," Bruce's campaign said.

After serving in the Army, Bruce studied at the University of California, before earning a Ph.D. in
Political Science at MIT. His dissertation won the Daniel Lerner Prize for best dissertation in his
department that year. He later taught political science at the College of the Holy Cross and worked as a researcher at the University of Connecticut.

Bruce moved to Newtonville with his wife and son 28 years ago because of its friendly residents, abundant trees, and beautiful architecture. His son attended Cabot, Day, and Newton North. Peter coached his son’s White Sox baseball team to a Senior League championship.

In his spare time, Bruce likes to bike a 12-mile loop and lift weights.

“I’m retired now, with time to enjoy my family and lots of energy to devote to serving Ward 2 on the City Council if I am so honored as to be elected," Bruce said.

For more information on Bruce's campaign, visit https://peterbruce4newton.com.