Scott Oney, Ward 4 Candidate for Northfield City Council

Three candidates are vying for the Ward 4 seat on the Northfield City Council during this year's special election on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Jessica Peterson White, who was appointed to the seat after Councilor Patrick Ganey resigned to accept a position at Middlebury College in Vermont, is hoping to get voter approval to finish the last year of Ganey's term. Rick Esse and Scott Oney are the other two candidates. 

Patch asked all candidates to fill out a questionnaire to aid voters in their decision this November. See what Oney had to say below:

Have you ever held an appointed or elected office before?

No.

What relevant experience do you have?

I’ve lived in Northfield for 26 years and followed local politics closely, but I’m not a part of any special interest group. Ward 4 is perhaps the city’s most diverse ward, and my lack of allegiance to any particular faction should allow me to represent all residents of the ward with fairness.

What is your occupation?

Freelance copy editor and proofreader. I have an office in the Nutting Block on Division Street.

Where did you go to school?

New York University

How old are you? 

58

Do you have a spouse, children or any other family members you’d like to tell voters about?

Wife, Susan, and three adult children.

What are your campaign goals?

I would like to bring some fairness and common sense to the council. The current council seems to be divided into two factions, and it’s no secret that they haven’t been getting along well lately. I am not locked into either of these camps, but I would like to work with members from both.

What issues are you most focused on?

Local government should focus on providing basic services and infrastructure for the community. I would like to see the council focus more on operating and maintaining the city we have, for a fair price. Before undertaking any more ambitious projects, we should always ask: How much will it cost, and how will we pay for it? Do we really need it? Is there a better way?

Why should voters choose you?

I represent a clear alternative in this race. If you’re happy with spending $3 million for another mile and a half of bike path, or if you’d like to spend more public money on big projects downtown, then vote for someone else. But if you’d like to take a break from all this and instead focus on the basics, then vote for me, Scott Oney.