To the Editor:

The League of Women Voters values transparency in government and elections and strives to provide voters with information so they can be informed about the candidates running for election. Only with all relevant information can voters make educated choices. Because of Newton’s structure of Ward and At-Large City Councilors with different constituencies, a particular candidate’s physical address is an important piece of information for voters to have.

Before the Nov. 4, 2025, election, Ward 2 Councilor David Micley knew there was a substantial likelihood that he would be moving out of Ward 2 because in October 2025 he had signed a legally enforceable purchase-and-sale agreement on a new home in Ward 6. He did not disclose this fact, or his intention to move when the transaction closed, until after he was sworn in for a new two-year term in January 2026.

While Councilor Micley has legally satisfied the requirements to serve as Ward 2 Councilor during this term, his actions flaunt the value of transparency. Before the election, he should have disclosed his intention to move because it was up to the voters, and not him personally, to decide how to weigh his plans. One reasonable Ward 2 voter might not have been troubled by the candidate’s plans. Another might have viewed them as problematic. And yet other Ward 2 residents might have decided to jump into the uncontested race as write-in candidates and challenge Councilor Micley.

Regardless, in all likelihood there would have been public discussion, debate, and disagreement—the stuff of democracy.

Sincerely,

The Board of the League of Women Voters, Newton