Election 2017

LETTER: Council Candidate Thanks Those Who Are Supporting Her Run

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Hello Everyone,

I’d like to thank all those who signed my petition back in July to help get me on the ballot and all of the people supporting me in this election. Many people have had the chance to get to know me. For those who haven’t had the chance to meet me, there a few ways you can find out about me. My candidate interview can be seen on Watertown Cables Access Television at http://wcatv.org/election-2017/council-at-large/michelle-cokonougher/. My answers to the Watertown News Candidate Q&A can be read on this site at http://www.watertownmanews.com/2017/11/02/council-candidate-qa-michelle-cokonougher/.

Concerned Watertown Homeowners

Town Council Candidates Tackle Issues at Concerned Homeowners Forum

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Many subjects came up during the Concerned Watertown Homeowners Association Meet the Candidates night, but one that was touched more than once was the affordability of living in Watertown. Property taxes and rents are growing even as the town undergoes a massive amount of development. One man said both his children have master’s degrees and good jobs, but cannot afford to buy in Watertown. The candidates for Town Council at the forum (Michelle Cokonougher was unable to attend) agreed that it is more and more difficult to buy a home in town, rent or even to stay in a property in town and shared their ideas for how to tackle the problem. The candidates for Town Councilor At-Large were asked about their ideas for controlling taxes, reducing taxes and/or making it easier for people to afford to be in town.

Election 2017

School Committee Hopefuls Share Their Views in the Candidate Q&As

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The Watertown Public Schools are in a time of transition, with new leadership, plans to rebuild or renovate the schools and efforts to take the district to the next level. The School Committee oversees the budget and hires and evaluates the superintendent, as well as advising on other issues. On Nov. 7, voters will elect three members of the seven-member board. Watertown News reached out to the six candidates and asked questions about some of the biggest issues facing the Watertown Public Schools – improving education in the Watertown Schools, communication with parents and residents and attracting and retaining quality teachers.

Election 2017

LETTER: Resident Explains Why He Will Vote for Anthony Donato for Council

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There are many reasons to vote for Anthony Donato for Councilor at Large on November 7th. If you live in East Watertown, Anthony was a neighbor of yours for years on
Hillcrest Circle. His mother Eleanor Sullivan Donato lived on Upland Road for many more than that. The Sullivan Playground in Coolidge Square is named for Lt. Paul J. Sullivan,
Anthony’s uncle, who was killed in action in Vietnam in 1968. These are reasons
for Eastenders to vote for Anthony and also a very good reason for Veterans to
vote for him.

Election 2017

LETTER: Resident Shares Who He Will Support in the Watertown Election

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Each cycle many people ask me who I support in an upcoming election. Elections are something I have experience in having led campaigns for Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Ed Markey and progressive Gubernatorial candidate Don Berwick, and was the founder of ProgressiveWatertown. I am traditionally drawn to candidates to start with their heart and finish with their brains. And it seems that Watertown has shown it’s admiration of these same traits as well. First I congratulate each of the candidates for Town offices.

Elections

School Committee Candidate Q&A: Guido Guidotti

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The candidates for School Committee each received the same six questions from the Watertown News about some issues facing the Watertown Schools and themselves. Here are the responses for Guido Guidotti:

1) Tell us about yourself and why you are running for School Committee. I grew up just over the river in Newton Corner and went all the way through the Newton Public Schools, graduating from Newton North High School. I graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Medical School and trained in pediatrics at Mass General. I ran for election to the school committee four years ago and I’m running for re-election now because I want better schools for my son and all of the children of Watertown.

Elections

School Committee Candidate Q&A: John Portz

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The candidates for School Committee each received the same six questions from the Watertown News about some issues facing the Watertown Schools and themselves. Here are the responses for John Portz:

1) Tell us about yourself and why you are running for School Committee. I grew up in the Midwest and have lived in Watertown since 1988. I teach government at Northeastern University, and my wife Meredith also works in Boston. I have a daughter who graduated from Watertown High School in 2014 and a son currently in the seventh grade.

Election 2017

School Committee Candidate Q&A: Michael Shepard

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The candidates for School Committee each received the same six questions from the Watertown News about some issues facing the Watertown Schools and themselves. Here are the responses for Michael Shepard:
1) Tell us about yourself and why you are running for School Committee. My wife, Catherine, and I have a daughter, Sophie, who has autism and has been in the Connections program in the public schools since kindergarten.  I am a project manager in the financial industry and manage a number of applications which report to federal regulatory agencies.  We have lived in Watertown since 1989. I want to work on the issues that will make Watertown a magnet district for students, families and teachers:  upgrade our school buildings for a modern educational model, develop challenging and engaging programming/curricula, and develop a sustainable funding model with the Town Council. 2) What is the biggest issue facing the Watertown Public Schools? 
The school buildings themselves are the biggest challenge right now due to their age and configuration.  To be more effective, the interior spaces need to be renovated and upgraded to meet current teaching styles, like project based learning.  To do this, spaces need to be flexible and easily changed when needed.  The buildings also need to have old materials removed and replaced with contemporary building materials that are greener and more energy efficient than what is currently in place.  Without modern, flexible spaces, making the most of new or modified curricula becomes a challenge.