6 Running for Council, But Second Incumbent Out; School Comm Race Draws 6

Half a dozen people will run for both Town Council and for School Committee, but a second incumbent Councilor has decided not to run for reelection. There will also be a race for Board of Library Trustees, but several will not have contested races including Town Council President and the two-year School Committee seat.

The Town Council At Large race will have six candidates for the four seats, but there will be at least two new faces on the board after Aaron Dushku decided not to run for a third term. Earlier, Susan Falkoff announced she would not seek another term.

On Monday, challenger David Stokes got his papers certified and Michelle Cokonougher turned in her papers and Flynn said he is confident she will have the 100 signatures of Watertown residents necessary get on the ballot. The pair joined Michael Dattoli and Tony Palomba, both incumbents, and challengers Anthony Donato and Caroline Bays on the ballot.

The School Committee also has a crowded field, with six candidates vying for the three four-year seats. Challengers Amy Donohue and Lily Rayman-Read got their signatures certified Monday. They will run against incumbents John Portz, Guido Guidotti and Liz Yusem, along with challenger Mike Shepard.

Four people are seeking to fill the three seats on the Board of Library Trustees. Only one incumbent is seeking re-eletion – Leanne Hammonds. She will face challengers Daniel Pritchard, Daniel Breakstone and Michael Hanlon, who was formerly a Library Trustee.

Several seats will have only one person on the ballot running for the seat. The following people will be unopposed on the ballot for the following offices:

Town Council President – Mark Sideris

District A Town Councilor – Angeline Kounelis

District B Town Councilor – Lisa Feltner

District C Town Councilor – Vincent Piccirilli

District D Town Councilor – Ken Woodland

School Committee (filling the remaining two years of the seat vacated by Candace Miller) – Lindsay Mosca.

Those running for office had to turn in their signatures to the Town Clerk by 5 p.m. Monday, and the Clerk has until Aug. 14 to certify that the names are of people registered to vote in Watertown. The Town Election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. There will be no preliminary election, Flynn said.