Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/category/government/elections/page/15/)
Mark Sideris
Biography
My name is Mark Sideris. I am married to Marybeth and have 3 childrenwho all attended and graduated Watertown public schools. I am a partner with my brother as owners of Three Sons Auto Body in Waltham. I have been on the Town Council for more than 24 years, the last 11 as Council President. I am also a member of the School Committee and the Chair of the School Building committee .
David Ciccarelli
Biography
I’m David Ciccarelli a third generation, lifelong resident of Watertown. As the son of State Representative Sal Ciccarelli it left the impression that public service can be rewarding, if the reason to get involved is a genuine desire to perform a duty. After graduating Tulane University, I began a life of travel, and the lessons and experiences that come with it as an overseas consultant. Traveling to over 50 countries, I consulted on US State Dept projects. Along the way I met my wife, Katya, and together we are raisingtwo boys in the Watertown Schools.
Steve Owens
Biography
A lifelong Democrat, I have lived in Watertown and Cambridge for nearly 20 years. My wife Pia and I now live in East Watertown with our two sons who attend Watertown public schools. For twelve years, I served as chair of the Watertown Democratic Town Committee, fighting for progressive causes and candidates at the local, state and federal levels. Professionally, I am a transportation consultant who uses data to help state departments oftransportation, railroads and trucking companies make infrastructure decisions. I have advocated for better public transportation as a member of the Watertown Transportation Task Force.
Q & A
The State Legislature deals with so many issues, so what would be your top three issues if you are elected?
The 2020 Election is nearly here, with voters in Watertown and Massachusetts going to the polls twice in two months. Many voters are taking advantage of the mail-in ballots, and early voting starts soon. The Town Clerk’s office has already received hundreds of mail in ballots, which are available due to the COVID-19 outbreak, said Watertown Town Clerk John Flynn. State officials send the requests for mail-in ballots to the Town Clerk’s office, and staff sends out the ballots. “We have mailed out over 7,000 ballots,” Flynn said. “This is the first challenge to an incumbent U.S. Senator for years.
The two candidates for the 10th Middlesex State Representative seat (which includes the Westside of Watertown) appeared on an online discussion with the Newton-Needham Chamber of Commerce this week. Incumbent John Lawn of Watertown and Newton City Councilor Alison Leary spoke with Chamber President Greg Reibman for about an hour on Monday. View the video below:
Democratic activist and Democratic State Committee member Steve Owens is running for the State Representative seat that Jon Hecht will be leaving. The following announcements were provided by Steve Owens for the State Representative campaign:
Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund (PPAF) of Massachusetts, the advocacyand political arm of Planned Parenthood league of Massachusetts, has endorsed Steve Owens as the next State Representative in Watertown and Cambridge. Formed in 1984, PPAF believes that working within the political process is critical to increasing access to sexual and reproductive health services. “In 2020, the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts is endorsing candidates who not only support reproductive rights andhealth – but also understand the importance of access to care,” PPAF stated in their endorsement. PPAF works to elect qualified state and local candidates who will pursue policies that put patients first and protect reproductive health care for everyone.
I’m writing to urge my friends and neighbors to vote for longtime Democratic Town Committee chair Steve Owens for state rep this primary. Other letters have touted Steve’s progressive commitments and his impressive command of the issues facing our state. In this letter I want to focus instead on the work Steve has put into this race. Regardless of your policy views, I think we can all agree that we want a representative who will be energetic about using his powers of office to stand up for us and help our community and our town. Steve is the only candidate who has a campaign website where he has written about issues that are important to him and what he intends to do in office, a key piece of transparency that other candidates have chosen not to provide.
After hearing from many people worried about having voters coming into a senior apartment building during the 2020 elections, the Town Council voted to move the polling location to Watertown Middle School. A temporary location for Precincts 11 and 12 is needed because the normal voting location, Cunniff Elementary School, is under construction. School construction at Hosmer Elementary School also impacted Precinct 2, which will move to the Hellenic Cultural Center. The locations will be used for the Sept. 1 State Primary and the Nov.