Hello Watertown Residents,
My name is Tom Tracy and I am running for City Councilor at Large. I was born and raised in this wonderful community. For those of you who don’t know me, I proudly served Watertown as the Town/City Auditor for over 29 years. For the last seven years of my career, I was also the Assistant City Manager for Finance and then Acting City Manager following the retirement of Michael Driscoll until the hiring of George Proakis.
I believe that I bring a unique experience to the job of being a City Councilor. I know how our local government works. I know how all of the money comes in and I know how all the money is spent! During my career, Watertown’s reputation of fiscal responsibility, financial leverage and flexibility and AAA bond rating has been the envy of most municipalities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I am both proud and humbled to say that I have been an integral part of the team that allowed us, as a community, to reach this pinnacle of financial stability and success.
While achieving this financial success and delivering the level of government services that we want and need as a community, I always appreciated and respected the impact on our residential and commercial taxpayers.
I have served as a member of the current School Building Committee since its inception in 2018 and believe we can construct a new Middle School. A new Middle School can be done without delaying the other major capital improvements contained in Watertown’s most recent Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). A new Middle School can be completed without interrupting any other services that are currently provided to the citizens and without a debt exclusion.
As Acting City Manager, it was an honor for me to request that the City Council fund over 100 million dollars for a new net zero LEED Platinum High School. In the FY 23 Annual Budget, I recommended funding for the implementation of our Home Compost program and recommended the initial funding for our local Affordable Housing Trust. Additionally, I appointed the inaugural members of the Affordable Housing Trust and requested the City Council to confirm these new members.
After retiring, I was selected as one of the inaugural members of the Resident Advisory Committee (RAC) which was created during the last Charter Review. During my service on the RAC, I was impressed by the diverse and talented group of residents who wanted to volunteer for our many boards, committees, and commissions. This is one of the many reasons that Watertown is a great and strong community!
I want to serve you as a member of your City Council so that when unforeseen financial circumstances require the Council to respond, I can contribute the unique expertise and experience that this community has afforded me.
I respectfully request the privilege of receiving your vote for Councilor at Large on November 4th. Thank you for your consideration in voting for me and allowing me to serve the community that I love!
Please contact me at tomtracyforcouncil@gmail.com or visit my Facebook page: Tom Tracy for Watertown Councilor at Large
With warmest regards,
Tom
Letters to the editor can be sent to watertownmanews@gmail.com.