Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/category/government/elections/page/30/)
Watertown’s Town Election is less than a month away, and voters still have time to register before election day. The last day residents can register to vote is Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019, for the Town’s General Town Election on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019. The Town Clerk’s office will be open late on the 16th.
The following information announcement was provided by the Watertown Town Democratic Committee:
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren was the choice of Faire-goers for the Democratic nomination for President in the Watertown Democratic Town Committee’s annual straw poll at Saturday’s Faire on the Square. The home-state senator won 49 percent of the nearly 150 votes cast, while former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden came in a distant second with 19 percent. The poll was held at the Democratic Town Committee’s table at Watertown’s annual Faire on the Square, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. Participants were asked to choose between the declared candidates in the 2020 Democratic Presidential Primary. Coming in third place with 9 percent of the vote was South Bend Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, followed closely by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders with 8 percent.
Watertown voters will have one big race to follow in this fall’s Town Election, Meanwhile, the other elected posts have uncontested races, but there will be some new faces. Seven candidates are running for the four Councilor at-large seats on the Town Council. There will not be need for a preliminary election in September. Three incumbents will be running in the Councilor at-large race: Tony Palomba, Caroline Bays and Anthony Donato. The fourth seat was vacated by Michael Dattoli when he moved out of town, and his term was filled by former-Councilor Susan Falkoff.
I recently pulled papers to run for the office of Watertown Free Public Library Trustee in the November 2019 election. In the coming weeks and months, I will be canvassing around town, initially gathering enough signatures to appear on the ballot, and getting to know voters and their thoughts about the future of the Watertown Public Library. First, I would like to introduce myself here to my fellow Watertown residents, and explain why I am running for Library Trustee. I am a lifelong Watertown resident. I grew up in the Irving Park neighborhood near Perkins School for The Blind in the 80s and 90s and about 13 years ago moved to the west side of town where I co-purchased a home with my sister.
The open At-Large seat on the Watertown Town Council has drawn significant interest from potential candidates, meanwhile, there are not enough candidates to fill the openings on the Board of Library Trustees. On Nov. 5, 2019, Watertown residents will vote for Town Council, School Committee and Library Trustees. Eight of nine Town Councilors have taken out papers to run for Town Council, and the last seat is currently filled by a temporary councilor. Former-Councilor Susan Falkoff agreed to fill the remainder of the term left vacant when Michael Dattoli left town, and she agreed not to run for reelection.
The following announcement was provided by John Gannon’s Campaign:
Watertown Zoning Board member and former Watertown Town Attorney John Gannon announced his run for Town Councilor At Large. Running for one of four seats, he said, “I grew up in Watertown and have lived here all my life. My father worked nights at the post office and my mother was a homemaker. I understand how much importance our quality of life in Watertown plays in the lives of children and their families, from our public schools and libraries to our senior centers. As a homeowner and taxpayer, I know how important smart growth is to this town, and I couldn’t be more personally invested.
Presidential candidate Wayne Messam, mayor of Mirimar, Fla., stopped by Watertown High School on Wednesday to speak with some students. On Wednesday morning, a group of Watertown High School students got to have their questions answered by someone who could become the Commander in Chief and Leader of the Free World. The WHS students took time away from their normal lessons to hear from presidential hopeful Mayor Wayne Messam. The Florida Democrat stopped by between campaigning in New Hampshire and an interview with a Boston Public Radio station. Messam shared his story of how he went from humble beginnings to being a football player at Florida State University, then started his own environmentally conscious construction company, become mayor of Mirmar, Fla., and now is running for the highest office in the land.
Watertown Town Hall
Friday marks the start of the election season in Watertown as candidates can take out papers to run for Town office. Town Clerk John Flynn said some papers have already been pulled by potential candidates. The papers, with signatures, must be turned into the Town Clerk’s Office by 5 p.m. on Friday, July 29, 2019. Elected offices in Watertown include Town Council, School Committee and Library Board of Trustees. The Town’s Preliminary Election, if needed, would be held Tuesday, September 17, 2019. Watertown’s General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.