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

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: 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.

Elections

LETTER: Parent Supports Two Candidates for School Committee

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(Watertown News will accept Town Election related letters until Oct. 31)

Editor,

I have two kids in elementary school. We have had great experiences with teachers, our own school and the Watertown school system in general. I support Watertown teachers and schools absolutely. However I see something like the not so great results received by Watertown schools in the MCAS science tests this year and I am concerned.

Elections

LETTERS: Candidates Write In About Campaign and Non-Election Items

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(Watertown News will accept Town Election related letters until Oct. 31.)

Dear Watertown,

I ask for your vote for School Committee on November 3, 2015. I am a firm believer in public education—it is the mechanism societies use to prepare children to flourish in a modern world. Public schools are one of the best possible economic investments a community can make. Everyone benefits by investing in schools because communities with excellent schools are safer, better connected, attract more economic development, and have higher property values than communities with weak schools.