The Programs and Services Committee on Wednesday recommended that the full City Council reject the mayor’s nominee to the Newton Election Commission, following hours of public comment and competing legal interpretations about how vacancies should be filled.

The nomination drew dozens of public speakers — primarily members of the Newton Republican City Committee — who told the committee they had been excluded from the mayor’s selection process and urged the committee to block confirmation. Committee members ultimately recommended rejection by a 4–2–1 vote and said they will carry the committee’s recommendation to the full City Council on Jan. 21.

Dr. Jessica Flynn, chair of the Newton Republican City Committee, told the committee the city had a long-standing local practice of the party submitting three names for a Republican vacancy and said that tradition was not followed in the mayor’s selection. “Our local political committee was disenfranchised,” she said, urging the committee to “suspend confirmation.”

Multiple Republican committee members said they had offered three candidates and that none were considered by the mayor. Some speakers also raised concerns about the mayor’s nominee’s political contributions, including a claimed $2,000 contribution to a Democratic presidential candidate; others said the nominee had not been active in local Republican politics.

The nominee addressed the committee and described himself as a Republican with a long-standing commitment to civic life and elections. When asked about campaign contributions and party ties, he said, “I’m a Republican by value and have been for a very long time,” and added that his professional work is “inherently apolitical.”

City legal staff told the committee the mayor followed applicable state law in making the appointment. Jonathan Campbell of the city law department said the statute’s practice of soliciting three names applies to towns; in cities the mayor’s appointment follows the standard appointment process and the City Council has the authority to approve or disapprove. Campbell also said the nominee met the statutory qualification of being a registered Republican for the prior two continuous years.

After the public comment period and staff remarks, Councilor John Oliver moved to recommend rejection of the nomination. The committee’s recommendation to the full council to reject the mayor’s nominee passed by voice vote as a recommendation of 4 to 2 to 1. Committee members who supported rejection named concerns about process and the nominee’s local party ties and contributions; members opposing rejection said the nominee met the legal standards and emphasized the nominee’s community service record.

Council Chair notes and staff said the committee’s recommendation does not remove the mayor’s ability to renominate; the nomination, along with the committee’s recommendation, will go to the full City Council for a final vote on Jan. 21.

Following the meeting, city staff confirmed the committee’s report and public comments will be included in the committee report to the full council.