| David 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 B. Cohen is a 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 Alderman 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.
David 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 has said his decision was based largely on controversy over the city's new Newton North High School. With a price tag exceeding $200 million, the school is the most-expensive in Massachusetts.