Election 2020

CANCELLED: Learn About Rank by Choice Voting at Forum in Watertown

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The organizers of this event announced on March 13 that they have cancelled it due to the Coronavirus outbreak. The following information was provided by Progressive Watertown:

In 2020, Massachusetts voters will be voting on a ballot measure to decide whether the state should use rank-by-choice voting. A group supporting the passage of the ballot measure will host a meeting on Sunday, March 15 from 3-5 p.m. in Watertown. Learn about what rank-by-choice voting is and how it works at the forum. The event is hosted by Progressive Watertown.

Elections

Watertown State Rep. Hecht Talks About Leaving His Seat After A Dozen Years

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State Rep. Jonathan Hecht

Jonathan Hecht has been a popular guy since he announced that he would be stepping down from as State Representative for the 29th Middlesex District at the end of his term. The Watertown resident has represented most of the Town, plus part of Cambridge, since 2009. Last week, he announced publicly his decision not to seek reelection. “People have been very nice. I don’t know whether that means they like job I’ve done or they are glad to see me leaving,” Hecht said.

Elections

Watertown Democrats to Elect Delegates to State Convention

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

Registered Democrats in Watertown will be holding a caucus on Saturday, March 7 in the Hosmer Elementary School Auditorium at 1 p.m. to elect 25 delegates and five alternates to the 2020 Massachusetts Democratic Nominating Convention. Doors open at 12:30 p.m.

This year’s state convention will be held Saturday, May 30 at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell, where thousands of Democrats from across the state will come together to vote on candidates for the US Senate ahead of the September primary. “This year’s convention will be a great opportunity to strengthen the party for the 2020 elections. The Watertown caucus is a chance for people who want to get involved in the process to connect with other local activists,” said Watertown Democratic Town Committee Chair Steve Owens. The caucus is open to all registered and pre-registered Democrats in Watertown. Pre-registered Democrats who will be 16 by February 15, 2020 will be allowed to participate and run as a delegate or alternate. Voter registration will be available at the caucus.  Delegates will be divided equally between men and women, and all ballots will be written and secret.

Elections

Early Voting Available to Watertown Voters for Presidential Primary

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The following announcement was provided by the Town Clerk’s Office:

The Massachusetts State Legislature with the concurrence of Governor Charles D. Baker has authorized a five day early voting period prior to the March 3, 2020 Massachusetts Presidential Primary. Early voting will be held Monday, February 24, 2020 through Friday, February 28, 2020. The dates and times are as follows:

Monday, February 24 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.Tuesday, February 25 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.Wednesday, February 26 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.Thursday, February 27 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.Friday, February 28 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Early voting will be conducted at the Administration Building (Town Hall), 149 Main St., Watertown, in the Town Clerk’s Office (B-1)

Early voting at this location is open to all Watertown registered voters. The last day to register to vote, in person, or make changes to voter registration (changes to name, address, party) for the March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary is Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020.

Election 2019

Watertown Library Seeking Candidates to Fill Vacancy on Board of Trustees

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The historic facade of the Watertown Free Public Library. The Watertown Free Public Library will accept applications from residents interested in serving on the Library Board of Trustees. On Tuesday, the Town Council voted to appoint someone to fill the vacancy on the Library Board of Trustees. The opening occurred when one of the winners of the most recent election, Mara Dolan, resigned before being sworn in because she moved out of town. The Council could have voted to hold a special election to fill the spot, but they decided to seek another option.

10th Middlesex

Watertown’s John Lawn Could Face Competition for His Seat in the Mass. House

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Newton City Councilor Alison Leary announced she will run for the 10th Middlesex House seat currently held by Watertown’s John Lawn. Watertown State Rep. John Lawn may face a challenger for the 10th Middlesex House District seat in the State House from a Newton City Councilor. Alison Leary, a City Councilor At-Large from Newton’s Ward 1, told Wicked Local Newton that she plans to run for the 10th Middlesex seat, which includes the Westside of Watertown. Leary has been a City Councilor since 2013. The 10th Middlesex district includes parts of Watertown (Precincts 10, 11, 12), Newton (Ward 1: Precincts 1, 4) and Waltham (Ward 4: Precinct 2, Ward 5: Precinct 1, Ward 6: Precinct 2, Ward 7: Precinct 2, and all of Wards 8, 9).

Elections

Town Officials Must Decide How to Fill Open Library Trustee Seat

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Thursday night, the winners of the 2019 Watertown Election will be sworn in, but there will be one fewer elected official taking the oath following the resignation of one of the Library Trustee winners. Mara Dolan, one of three people elected as a Trustee to the Watertown Free Public Library, informed Watertown Town Clerk John Flynn in December that she will not be serving on the board. “Basically, she took another job in another community and moved outside Watertown,” Flynn said. Dolan could not be reached for comment, but she sent a letter to Flynn, which he received on Dec. 17, 2019.