Election 2021

UPDATED – OP-ED: Resident Concerned About Council Candidate’s Stance on Cutting Police Budget

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EDITOR’S NOTE:

This Op-Ed piece has been removed due to questions over the source of the email referenced in the piece. The author did not want to reveal the source of the email. While the email was a public document, having been sent to the members of the Town Council on their official email addresses, the description of the source of the letter was not clear enough. The editor felt the description would likely lead readers to incorrectly infer the writer got the email from one of the Councilors who, in reality, is not the source, and other descriptions might reveal the source. (Letters to the editors can be sent to watertownmanews@gmail.com)

Election 2021

LETTER: Candidate Has Unique Qualifications for School Committee

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As a parent of two children in Watertown Public Schools, I write to encourage fellow Watertown residents to support Rachel Kay for School Committee. Among the candidates for the open seats, she is uniquely qualified to represent our concerns and to work to improve our schools. The past year and a half of the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of making school policy decisions that are informed by science. As a data scientist with a long and distinguished career in education research, Rachel Kay will expand upon this evidence-based approach to running our schools. As Director of Admissions Research and Data Analysis at MIT, with a PhD in Education Research, Measurement, and Evaluation, Rachel brings a unique skill set to the job.

Election 2021

LETTER: Group of Residents Support Candidate for School Committee

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During her current term as School Committee member, Lily Rayman-Read has demonstrated a desire to work with teachers, administrators, and Watertown families, and advocate for all members of our Watertown school community. She is part of a team responsible for the building of 3 new elementary schools and is in advanced planning stages for a new high school in collaboration with the Massachusetts School Building Authority. The execution of these projects has been impressive, leading to the expected completion of the Cunniff and the Hosmer elementary schools ahead of schedule. Lily has been instrumental in bringing transparency and openness to the Watertown School Committee by providing frequent updates on social media and answering questions from the community whenever possible. This level of engagement is an important and welcome change to the way Watertown families can interact with the School Committee.

Artificial Turf

OP-ED: Town Councilors — Make a Choice: Public Health & the Environment or More Game Days

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By Watertown resident Janet Buck

I am writing this letter as a way of trying to make sense of what I heard last week in the debate among the candidates for Councilor at Large. The question asked was about the candidate’s views on the use of artificial turf for town playing fields. Almost everyone expressed a sense of being caught in a terribly difficult dilemma. What is more important – extending the availability of playing fields for Watertown kids who play team sports or protecting the environment? I have to ask – why is this so difficult?

Elections

LETTER: Lifelong Resident Running for Town Councilor At-Large

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I’m James “Jimmy” Mello, a lifelong resident of Watertown and a candidate for Councilor at Large in the November 2nd election. The next Town Council will be responsible for selecting a new Town Manager; this will be the single most important decision that the council will make in about thirty years. My dad came to Watertown to work at the Arsenal, and when he got married, he wanted to raise his family here. I grew up in the West End of Watertown, but over the years, I’ve lived in every district, which gives me a unique perspective as a candidate for Councilor at Large. As a resident, I have experienced issues of concern in those districts, and I can bring that background to the table as a Councilor.

District B

LETTER: Open Letter from Council Candidate to Opponent About Concern Over Location of Campaign Event

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Dear Councilor Feltner,

I am writing this letter to express my concern around the location of the campaign event being hosted this afternoon (Oct. 1) on my street: Riverside St. The specific lawn currently, and for the past few years, has signage from the Trump administration, which over four years fostered an environment of hostility toward communities of color and the LGBTQIA+ community, not only in rhetoric, but in the systematic degradation of legal protections and civil rights through policy changes. I am very concerned that this event space may be unwelcoming and othering for residents who identify as Black/African American, Latinx/Hispanic, Brown, Asian American/Pacific Islander, People of Color and systemically silenced identities such as LGBTQIA+. While I don’t know the people hosting the event personally, I do want to ensure that potential voters can meet candidates in a non-intimidating space and that all visitors feel welcome on my block.

Election 2021

LETTER: Former Watertown School Committee Member Makes Endorsement

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Dear Watertown Voters, 

I served for three consecutive four year terms on the Watertown School Committee beginning in the late nineties.  

As a candidate, I made one promise to the citizens of Watertown that I would always ask myself one simple question, “Is my vote in the best interest of Watertown’s children?”

This year, there is a school committee candidate, Jennifer (Holt) Nicholson, who I am confident will be asking that same question. I have known Jennifer since she was born. She has grown into a woman who is passionate about education and fully invested in our community.  She has the drive, intelligence, commitment, and above all, the common sense needed to be an excellent School Committee member. 

Please join me in voting for Jennifer Nicholson for Watertown School Committee. Thank You,Steve Messina

Around Town

LETTER: Resident Endorses Candidate for District A Town Councilor

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Dear Editor,

At age 76 years old, this is the first time I have ever written a letter to a newspaper editor. I’m writing today to urge my East End neighbors to vote on November 2 for District A Town Council candidate Nicole Gardner. At a time when local and national political engagement has never been so important, Nicole brings 35 years of corporate leadership experience to our town and neighborhood. I know that she’ll work hard to address issues that matter to me, like affordability, housing and business development, expanding green spaces, and sustainability. To learn more about Nicole’s accomplishments and commitments, I recommend visiting her website, nicoleforwatertown.com.