Elections

LETTER: School Committee Chair Reflects on Watertown Election

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Editor,

I am extremely grateful to the voters of Watertown for their continuing trust in my work to support the Schools. None of that work ever happens without the robust assistance and counsel of other citizens. 

Thank you to all who participated in the election process, and who helped bring attention to the vital role that education plays in nourishing a healthy and welcoming community. Out of these discussions will come new good ideas and energy and participation. Congratulations to Kendra Foley and Candace Miller for their success, and thank you to Julie McMahon and Mike Shepard for being willing to put themselves and their families to the personal test that an election represents. I look forward to serving the School Committee and the School community in whatever way I can be most useful.

Campaign Finances

Lots of Money in Town Election, Small Donors More Successful than Unions

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More than $61,000 was raised in campaign funds for the 2015 Watertown Elections. Money came from small donors and for the first time in recent years in big amounts from labor unions. The campaign funds did not guarantee success for a candidate, but it was a big help. Labor unions spent $5,890 on candidates in the various Town Council races, with mixed results. Two candidates were elected, but four lost their bids for the council (including the candidate in the preliminary election).

Election 2015

Precinct-by-Precinct Votes in Tuesday’s Election Tell Some Interesting Stories

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Breaking down the vote by precinct shows where the winners took the Tuesday’s Watertown Election, but even those not elected had their strong points. 

The final results can be seen by clicking here. (Check the map above to see the location of each precinct.)
School Committee
The School Committee race, where the two challengers finished one-two, was dominated by Kendra Foley. She won 10 precincts – all but 8 and 9. She got her highest precinct total of 358 in Precinct 4. Second place finisher Candace Miller got second in nine precincts (all but 1, 2 and 8).

Election 2015

See Who Won in the School Committee and Library Trustee Races

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It was a good night for challengers in the Watertown School Committee and the Library Trustees races. In the School Committee race, the two challengers topped the list in Tuesday’s Watertown Election. Kendra Foley had the biggest share of the vote with nearly 26 percent, followed by Candace Miller who had almost 23 percent. The third spot went to 20-year-School Committee veteran Eileen Hsu-Balzer, who got 18.66 percent. Foley said she believes her hard work during the campaign paid off.

Election 2015

One Incumbent Ousted, Council will Have Two New Faces

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Most incumbents survived the contentious election season, but the Town Council will have two new members come January. Challenger Lisa Feltner defeated sitting Councilor Cecilia Lenk for the District B seat in Tuesday’s Watertown Election. Feltner got about two-thirds of the vote. The turnout was 4,585 voters, or 20.48 percent of total voters. “I am so psyched!”

Election 2015

See the Voter Guide for the Nov. 3, 2015 Watertown Election

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Watertown’s hottest election in years is Tuesday, and Watertown News has plenty of information to help you choose your candidates and find out where to vote. 

Polls open on Nov. 3 at 7 a.m. and stay open until 8 p.m. Results generally start coming in around 9 p.m., and follow Watertown News on Twitter and Facebook for the latest updates – and go to the main site for the results Tuesday evening. All but one race on the ballot has a contested race this year. Candidates have been out knocking on doors, holding signs, attending candidate forums and answering questions from media outlets and others. Town Council
Watertown voters will elect the entire Town Council, including the President, four Councilors At-Large (who represent the whole town) and four District Councilors (who represent a quarter of the town, each).

Elections

LETTERS: Town Council Candidate Statements and an Endorsement

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Dear District A Voter,

As someone who was born and raised as a third generation resident in Watertown‘s east end, I am extremely proud and honored to run for the office of District A Town Councilor. My experience as a department manager for the Town of Watertown for 15 years gives me a unique perspective in the functioning of town government, having produced yearly budgets and collaborated with all of the departments. As a Boston College Business School graduate and technology professional, I am positioned to address any and all technology concerns both now and the future. My priorities:

Development – responsible development, good fit for the neighborhood, support the hiring of a Transportation Management Professional
Education – funded properly, increase STEAM and coding classes at earlier levels
Senior Citizens – support additional assistance programs to improve quality of life
Housing – affordable, available
Open Government – responsive to citizen’s concerns, insure that an annual report published every year as required by the Watertown Home Rule Charter (one has not been published for 2014 as of now and perhaps earlier years have also not been published)

As a veteran, I served my country. As the Watertown Veterans’ Service Officer I served my home town.

Elections

LETTERS: School Committee Candidates State Their Case

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To the Editor,

Four busy years have passed in what seems like the blink of an eye. Looking back, we have accomplished a lot in the school system and started other initiatives that will continue for many years. Now as we approach Election Day I would like to focus on some of the accomplishments I have been involved with over the past four years. As Chair of the Buildings and Grounds sub-committee, we accomplished a lot and laid the foundation for future improvements in our schools. Here are some of the things I was directly involved in:

Learning gardens were installed at every elementary school and made a part of the curriculum for all grades.