David B. Cohen (mayor)

David Barry Cohen
Mayor of Newton, Massachusetts
In office
January 1, 1998 – December 31, 2009
Preceded by Thomas Concannon, Jr.
Succeeded by Setti Warren
Personal details
Born September 2, 1947[1]
Boston, Massachusetts[1]
Political party Democratic
Residence Newton, Massachusetts
Alma mater Harvard College
Boston University Law School[1]

David Barry Cohen (born September 2, 1947) is an American politician who served as a Massachusetts state Representative and as the mayor of Newton, Massachusetts.[2]

Cohen was a member of the Newton Board of Aldermen from 1972–1979 and a state representative from 1979–1998.[1] In 1997, Cohen defeated incumbent Mayor Thomas Concannon, Jr. to win his first of three terms as mayor.

Based on statistics reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Newton under Mayor Cohen's leadership was the nation's safest city during 2003, 2004 and 2005,[3] and the fourth-safest city in the nation in 2006.[4] The designation is based on crime statistics in six categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and auto theft. Cohen did not run for re-election in 2009.

Later career

Cohen decided not to run for another term in 2009 and left office on Jan. 1, 2010, replaced by political newcomer Setti Warren, who won a close race against State Representative Ruth Balser.

Cohen's final term ended with controversy over the city's new Newton North High School. With a price tag of nearly $200 million, the school is the most expensive in Massachusetts.[5] He said he chose not to run for a fourth term because he did not want to harm efforts to override Proposition 2½.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Public officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1995-1996.
  2. ↑ Newton official page Archived 2007-10-07 at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ 2005, City Crime Rankings By Population Group Archived 2011-12-25 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ 2006, City Crime Rankings by Population Group Archived January 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ "State's most expensive school: Newton North". Boston Globe. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  6. ↑ "Newton Mayor David Cohen announces that he will not seek reelection in 2009". Newton TAB. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
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