Elections

LETTER: Resident Endorses Candidate for Library Trustee

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I attended last week’s WCA-TV Library Trustee Candidate Forum, and I continue to be impressed with Mr. Xin Peng. In his few years here, I have never seen someone connect so many people so rapidly. He has been instrumental in Pride month, leads World in Watertown and serves on the Human Rights Commission. And now he is running for Library Trustee in the upcoming election. He is passionate about much, but community empowerment ranks at the top. As an immigrant who became a U.S. citizen last year, Xin brings a deeply personal understanding of how public libraries can transform lives.

Elections

City Council At-Large Candidate Hosting Campaign Kickoff Event

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The following announcement was provided by the Tom Tracy for City Council Campaign:

Dear Friends & Neighbors,

Here’s a short video introduction to Tom and why he seeks to serve you/us as Councilor-At-Large. https://youtu.be/UQjzMtYyZfg 

Then come meet and chat with Tom. The event is from 6-8 p.m. Enjoy the good company of folks vested in Watertown and show your support for someone who will be looking out for all of us and is eager to meet all of you. If you’re shy, come anyway. We’ll introduce you to anyone you’d like to meet. 

WHERE: Donohue’s Bar & Grill, 87 Bigelow Ave., WatertownWHEN: Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, 6-8 p.m.

Elections

Public Invited to City Council Candidate’s Event for All Ages

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Theo Offei

The following announcement was provided by the Theo Offei Campaign:

Come join us for an all-ages community event sponsored by Theophilus (Theo) Offei’s campaign for Watertown City Council At-Large. We will have food from various Watertown businesses and kids activities including a face painter and magician. Come get to know your neighbors and talk to Theo about his vision for our community! All are welcome! 

Theo for Watertown Community Event 

Saturday, Oct. 4 2:30-5:30 

Arsenal Park – Benches near the Playground

Government

State of the City: Manager’s New Goals, Charter Review & a Downtown Post Office

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The City of Watertown will have a new set of goals used to create the annual budget and make decisions about how municipal departments operate, City Manager City Manager George Proakis said during Tuesday’s State of the City presentation. During the address, he and City Council President Mark Sideris also discussed the Charter Review set to happen in 2026, and the possibility of having a Post Office in the center of town. This is the second story on the 2025 State of the City Address. See the first story, focused on the factors that could impact Watertown’s economic future, and in turn the City’s budget, by clicking here. New Goals

Proakis has been in town for three years, and has worked with the City Council to create the budget.

Elections

Candidates in Watertown Election Appearing at Town Democratic Committee Forum

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Democratic Town Committee:

Join the Watertown Democratic Committee for a Candidate Forum on Thursday, October 16, 2025 from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Social Hall (downstairs) of the First Parish of Watertown, 35 Church St., Watertown, MA. The moderator will be State Senator William Brownsberger. Watertown is fortunate to have so many individuals committed to serving our city. To ensure a timely program, the forum will prioritize contested races. Please see the forum lineup below. 

2025 Candidate Forum Lineup

7:30 p.m. – Welcome! 

7:35 p.m. – School Committee (3 seats, 4 candidates)

8:10 p.m. – City Council President (1 seat, 1 candidate)

8:15 p.m. – Library Trustee (3 seats, 4 candidates)

8:45 p.m. – Councilor At Large (4 seats, 5 candidates)

9:30 p.m. – District C (1 seat, 2 candidates)

9:50 p.m. – Close

All candidates will answer the same opening question, then have 3 to 4 different questions, and end with a closing statement.  This event is free and open to the public.

Elections

Catch the Replay of the Library Trustee Candidate Forum

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A screenshot from the Watertown Cable broadcast of the Library Board of Trustees Candidate Forum. The four hopefuls for the Watertown Free Public Library Board of Trustees appeared at a live forum on Monday night co-sponsored by Watertown News and Watertown Cable Access TV. You can watch the replay of the forum on WCA-TV. The candidates include incumbent Leanne Hammonds, and three challengers, Fowler Brown, Xin Peng and Pia Owens. They answered a series of questions from moderator and WCA-TV anchor Maya Shwayder about issues including: what they’d like to see added at the library, how to fund programs if the budget gets tight, their favorite programs at the library, and how they would like to see the Summer Reading List created and vetted in the future.

Government

State of the City Remains Strong Even as Dark Economic Clouds May be on the Horizon

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City Manager George Proakis, left, and City Council President Mark Sideris presented the State of the City on Sept. 30, 2025. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Despite an uncertain economic future, Watertown remains on solid ground, City Manager George Proakis said during Monday’s State of the City Address. He and City Council President Mark Sideris went into depth about the economic factors impacting the City during the annual address. Proakis concluded the presentation by saying, “Even as we face uncertainties, the State of the City remains strong.”

Government

Council to Weigh Changes to Rules for City Boards and Committees, City Departments

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Photo by Charlie BreitroseWatertown City Hall

The City Council will be weighing in on a 39-page document that sets the rules for how Watertown’s appointed committees and municipal departments operate. Some changes proposed include changing the length of terms for some committees, who appoints members of certain committees, and how to remove members of committees. The City has been working for many months with the Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management at UMass Boston to create an Administrative Code for the City of Watertown, said City Manager George Proakis at the Sept. 23 Council meeting. He provided the Council with a draft Administrative Code, which he said is designed to “serve as a single, consolidated ordinance that outlines the structure and organization of city government that essentially covers boards and commissions and covers city departments.”