Elections

Watch the Town Council, School Committee Candidate Forums On-Line

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If you missed the Candidate Forums featuring the people running for office in the 2017 Watertown Election, you can watch them online. 

Watertown Cable Access has the Town Council and School Committee forums available to watch on-demand on its website. Follow these links to watch the forums that were co-sponsored by Watertown News and Watertown Cable Access. Town Council Forum: http://watertown.vod.castus.tv/vod/?video=bb39e1d2-165f-4f19-bd5e-f631bc649714&nav=programs/Special%20Programming

School Committee Forum: http://watertown.vod.castus.tv/vod/?video=3fd82af1-1d30-470d-9148-cf5b3013b643&nav=recent

Elections

LETTER: Endorsement for Watertown Library Trustees from Retiring Trustee

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It’s late October, and local election season is in full swing with political signs sprouting on lawns all over town. Among them, people may notice the names of candidates for Library Trustee. The Trustee race tends to be sleepy affair with three candidates (usually incumbents) running for the three seats up for grabs in a given election cycle—no campaigning required. But this year, as in 2015, we have a competitive race. Four candidates submitted nomination papers in July, and all four names will appear on the November 7 ballot.

Election 2017

See What the Town Councilor At-Large Hopefuls Said at the Candidate Forum

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The six people seeking to be Town Councilor At-Large appeared together for the first time Thursday to answer questions at a Candidate Forum co-sponsored by Watertown News and Watertown Cable Access Television. A full room at the Watertown Library’s Watertown Savings Bank Room watched the forum, along with a live TV audience. The forum will be rebroadcast on Watertown Cable. Candidates answered questions from both the forum organizers and residents attending the event. Here are some of the issues they tackled:
Development
The candidates were asked about what can be done about huge amount of development in Watertown and how they can look out for neighbors of the projects

Michael Dattoli, who is seeking re-election, said he was not comfortable with the level of development going on and noted that he voted against the Regional Mixed Use District that allowed for bigger projects in the area of the two malls and beyond.

Elections

Watertown Homeowners Group Hosting Meet the Candidates Forum

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Come meet the candidates in the Watertown Election at an event hosted by the Concerned Watertown Homeowners Association. The “Meet The Candidates” evening will be on Thursday, Nov. 2 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Watertown Public Library’s Watertown Savings Bank Room. The evening will be an interactive, town hall-type event with questions from the Concerned Watertown Homeowners Association (CWHA) group as well as the audience. “We think the community will benefit greatly from having all the candidates in one room, and perhaps some voters more interested in the School Committee race will learn about an At-Large candidate, and vice versa,” said John Labadini, president of the CWHA.

Elections

Want to Vote in the Town Election – Register by Wednesday

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The deadline to be registered to vote for Town Council, School Committee and Library Trustees in the Nov. 7 Watertown Election is Wednesday, Oct. 18. To be eligible to register to vote in Massachusetts you must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of Massachusetts, and 18 years old on or before the next election. You may register to vote in person at any local Town Clerk’s office.

Elections

School Committee Hopefuls Air Their Views at Candidate Forum

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The six people running for School Committee shared their views on a variety of subjects during the School Committee Candidate Forum co-hosted by Watertown News and Watertown Cable Access Television on Thursday night at the Watertown Free Public Library. Three challengers – Amy Donohue, Michael Shepard and Lily Rayman-Read – appeared along with the three candidates seeking re-election – Guido Guidotti, Liz Yusem and John Portz. The candidates shared similar views on several questions, including:
• Wanting to renovate or rebuild schools that will be able to provide a modern education
• Seeking to improve communication with parents and with the school administration
• Continue to expand the Spanish lessons for elementary students up through fifth grade
• The start time for the middle and high schools should be moved later
• Watertown should explore joining the Minuteman Vocational District, or find another way to offer vocational education
Each candidate had their own views on certain subjects. Cutting Costs if the Schools Have a Budget Shortfall
Guidotti, a healthcare management consultant who seeks a second term, said that he thinks there is always room for more efficiency in the schools, but said the tough thing is to find efficiency without “cutting the lights off” for important people and programs.

Shepard, who served one term on the School Committee previously, said he wants to save the district money by leasing equipment, particularly technology, instead of purchasing it. By purchasing items outright, the district is stuck with the maintenance and upkeep, he said, but the district should see if any efficiency can be gained by leasing.

Election 2017

School Committee Candidate Forum Thursday, Council Forum Next Week

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On Thursday evening Watertown News and Watertown Cable Access will host the  School Committee candidates in a forum, and next week the Town Council Candidates will have their turn. The forums will be held in the Watertown Savings Bank Room at the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main Street, beginning at 6:30 p.m., and will also be broadcast live on Watertown Cable. The forums will be rebroadcast on later dates. On Thursday, Oct. 12, the six candidates for the four-year School Committee seats will appear.

Elections

Watertown Cable Airing Interviews with Candidates in Town Election

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The Town Election is a month away, and you can learn about the candidates from the candidate interviews conducted by Watertown Cable. 

Host Bob Kaprielian sat down with each of the candidates in contested races for Town Council, School Committee and Board of Library Trustees. The interviews can be watched online by clicking here: http://wcatv.org/election-2017/

Watertown Cable will be airing the interviews on its Local Cable Channels. The Town Council At-Large, Town Council President, and Town Council District Candidates will all be airing on WCA-TV’s Government Channel. Comcast: Channel 99

RCN: Channel 13

Stream Online: wcatv.org/channel/government/

To see the schedule, click on the above link, select “Schedule”, and then select “Government Channel” to see the exact times which videos will air. 

The School Committee and Library Board of trustee videos will be airing on WCA-TV’s Education Channel. Comcast: Channel 8

RCN: Channel 15

Streaming Online: wcatv.org/education-channel/

To see the schedule, click on the above link, select “Schedule”, and then select “Education Channel” to see the exact times the videos will air.