Pia Owens
Why do you want to serve on the Board of Library Trustees? I love the library, of course! I’ve spent the past few decades building my skills in effective communication and helping organizations accomplish their goals, and I’d like to use these skills in service of my community and public library. With our country turning away from art, science, and education, it feels urgent to take action.
Tell voters about your background and qualifications for being a Library Trustee. During the 20+ years that my family has lived in Watertown, I’ve been deeply involved in our community — as a tutor for Project Literacy, member of the Library Long-Range Strategic Planning Committee, WPS parent, board member of the Watertown Community Foundation and Mosesian Center for the Arts, and dialogue facilitator with Watertown Community Conversations.
Fowler Brown
Why do you want to serve on the Board of Library Trustees? When my family and I moved to Watertown two and a half years ago, the library immediately made us feel at home. We’ve read hundreds of books, used countless library resources, made new friends, and consulted with librarians. The library is the heart of our community here, and when I learned that there were going to be open spots on the board, I wanted to do my part to help an institution that I love to grow and prosper.
Tell voters about your background and qualifications for being a Library Trustee. As a parent who has attended an absurd number of library events, I’ve seen firsthand how vital our library is, as a source of support, education, and resources of every kind.
Xin Peng
Why do you want to serve on the Board of Library Trustees? The library has been a vital partner to the three nonprofits I’m involved with and many community efforts over my six years in Watertown. As an engineering leader in mental health care, I bring strategic and budget planning experience to help the library navigate growing needs with limited resources, and I’m ready to focus my energy on continuing its impact.
Tell voters about your background and qualifications for being a Library Trustee. I grew up in a rural area where the library opened doors for me to become the first in my family to finish high school, college, and graduate school. Later, while volunteering as a teacher in northwest China, I helped create a small network of libraries sharing books and CDs among villages through fundraising so my students didn’t have to walk hours by cliffs to borrow a book.
Charlie Breitrose
The following announcement was provided by Housing for All Watertown:
To inform voters on housing issues during the upcoming Municipal Election, Housing for All Watertown has collected detailed questionnaires from all eleven candidates running for City Council this November, including at-large and district council candidates, in both contested races and uncontested races. We’re grateful to the candidates for providing thoughtful responses to our questions about their vision for housing in Watertown, how they will support affordable housing and in-fill development, what they would do to streamline permitting for homeowners, and much more. We will also be holding a housing-focused At-Large Candidate forum on Oct. 26 from 2-3:30pm at the Watertown Free Public Library. We’re excited to hear the At-Large City Council Candidates expand on their views and look forward to a lively discussion.
The Watertown City Clerk’s office seeks poll workers for the upcoming Nov. 4, 2025 election. See more details in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. Are you interested in being a Poll Worker? Poll workers perform election duties under the direction of the Warden/Clerk, including but not limited to assisting with preparing the voting location for opening; hanging signs in accordance with legal requirements; counting ballots; checking voters in and out; providing assistance to voters with disabilities, assisting in removing signage; packing up election materials; and helping check counts at the end of the day.
As first-time candidates running for Library Trustee, School Committee and City Council in Watertown’s 2025 November Election, we are often asked, “What does that role do?” It’s a fair question, and it gets to the heart of why local elections — and your vote, in particular — matter so much. Local government is where decisions are made that directly affect our daily lives: who leads our public library and schools, what priorities are funded by resources, how our public spaces are maintained, and what values guide city decisions. The work of each elected official, from councilor to school committee member, has a real and lasting impact on our neighborhoods. That’s why exercising your right to vote in local elections is so important. In reality, turnout rates for municipal elections tend to be low, especially among younger voters and newer residents.
Dear Editor, and Watertown neighbors,
I’m writing to introduce myself, Pia Owens, and ask for one of your three votes for Library Trustee in our upcoming election on Nov. 4th. As trustee, I will aim to keep our library vibrant, inclusive, and committed to intellectual freedom. I’ve lived in Watertown for 20+ years with my husband Steve and our two kids who attended Watertown Public Schools. I used to visit the East Branch library, and now we have a brick with our names on it in front of the library in Watertown Square.
(Screenshot from Boston 25 News)
Three sharp-eyed and quick thinking Watertown High School football players were honored for their effort that helped police locate and arrest a drunken driver. On Oct. 14, the City Council approved a proclamation honoring Riaz Khan, Joel Montoya, and Boran Akisik. On Sept. 25, the three were on their way home after practice witnessed a hit and run incident at the intersection of Palfrey and Pearl streets.
