Last week, City Council President and mayoral candidate Marc Laredo published a list of School Committee candidates he is endorsing in the upcoming November election.

But these are unprecedented times. Almost every School Committee seat will have a new member—with only Tamika Olszewski and Alicia Piedalue running for reelection, and Piedalue just joined the committee four months ago—making this the biggest overhaul of the committee in recent memory. And it will come with a new mayor, who serves on that committee as well.

It’s been met with a bunch of reaction—from Newton Beacon readers, the general public and candidates themselves—as it was a rare move for a candidate for mayor to issue an endorsement list for all School Committee spots.

“I have not spoken to Marc. He did not respond to me when I reached out to him, nor did he reach out to me before making an endorsement,” Ward candidate Mali Brodt said. “It’s disappointing that he would make endorsements without meeting with all candidates, and I hope that this is not indicative of his governing philosophy or approach.”

In elections, candidates typically reach out to the person they want an endorsement from. But sometimes an endorsement comes unsolicited, if the endorser is particularly impressed with the endorsee.

Laredo said he had met all of the candidates at events at various venues, but his picks were the result of research and past work with each candidate he endorsed.

“I always give careful consideration to whom I endorse,” Laredo said. “I read their written materials. In the case of many of the candidates I endorsed, I’ve known them for a number of years in various different capacities. I am confident that each one of the candidates whom I’ve endorsed would do an excellent job as a member of the School Committee.”

Brodt added that she’s more interested in Laredo’s plans to fund Newton’s schools than his endorsement.

Jenna Miara echoed Brodt’s reaction.

“Marc Laredo has never reached out to me,” Miara said. “I was surprised and disappointed that he made an endorsement in my School Committee race without giving me the opportunity to share with him who I am and how I will use my experiences as a public interest lawyer, a policy advocate, and a nonprofit leader to ensure all NPS students receive the best education possible.”

There are several competitive races for both School Committee and for City Council. And Laredo is running for mayor against Al Cecchinelli. And with so many races and the stakes so high, endorsements get more attention, for better or worse.

“The decision is not mine,” Laredo said. “The decision, as with any election, is with the voters. And each voter will exercise the voter’s judgement as to whom he or she will support.”

Sean Roche, who’s running for one of the two at-large seats in Ward 6, questioned Laredo’s timing, given that the nomination process just closed.

“What does it say that the all-but-certain-to-be mayor releases a full slate of official endorsements, just two days after the campaign season has begun, putting his thumb on the scale before any of the candidates have had a chance to introduce themselves to Newton residents?” Roche asked. “It’s why we need independent voices in city government, to provide checks and balances.”

Other officials have made endorsements before the nomination papers deadline, though, including this year. Candidates were already racking up endorsements this spring.

Newton’s election will be Nov. 4.