Election 2022

Challenger Critical of Longtime Governor’s Councilor in State Primary Race

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WCA-TV

For more than two decades Watertown’s Marilyn Petitto Devaney has served as the Governor’s Councilor for District 3, but in 2022 she faces an opponent in the Democratic Primary, Mara Dolan, who questions her voting record on judges and her relationship with other members of the Council. The Governor’s Council, also known as the Executive Council, votes on the Governor’s nominations for judges in all levels of state courts, clerk magistrates, as well as members of other state boards, including the Parole Board, the Appellate Tax Board, and the Industrial Accident and Industrial Accident Reviewing boards. They also vote on the Governor’s proposed pardons and commutations of prisoners, as well as, the warrants for the State Treasury. The candidates debated each other Monday night on Watertown Cable Access TV, and covered a range of topics, including a recent Boston Globe article that focused on Devaney’s relationship with the other members of the Council and a vote to approve a judge who refused to publicly reveal her stance on abortion rights. Candidates

Devaney pointed to her record as an independent voice on the Governor’s Council who often went against the others, and cited some reforms she has spearheaded including continuing to broadcast meetings on YouTube after the pandemic restrictions ended and prohibiting contributions by nominees to members of the Governor’s Council.

Early Voting

Watertown’s Dates for In-Person Early Voting for the State Primary

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown residents cast their ballots at Watertown Town Hall in the 2020 Massachusetts Presidential Primary. Early voting will be available in 2022. The City of Watertown provided the following information:

In Person Early Voting for the MA State Primary will be August 27-September 2, 2022 at Watertown City Hall at 149 Main St in the Philip Pane Lower Hearing Room on the Ground Floor. Election day is Sept. 6.

Election 2022

Governor’s Council Candidates Will Appear in Live Televised Debate

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The candidates for Governor’s Council District 3 will be appearing on a live debate on Watertown Cable Access Television. The candidates will appear on the ballot for the Sept. 6 State Primary. WCA-TV sent out the following information:

We’re excited to announce that WCA-TV will be hosting a televised debate between the two democratic candidates running for Massachusetts District 3 Governor’s Council in the upcoming Primary Election; incumbent Marilyn Petitto Devaney and challenger Mara Dolan. DATE: Monday, Aug.

Attorney General

Rep. Owens, Watertown Residents Endorse Attorney General Candidate

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown residents cast their ballots at Watertown City Hall. The following announcement was provided by the Quentin Palfrey campaign:

Former Assistant AG and candidate for Attorney General Quentin Palfrey has been endorsed by a group of six elected and community leaders in Watertown, including State Representative Steven Owens and City Councilor Caroline Bays. They have added their names to a list of more than 300 state, local and community leaders who have endorsed Palfrey’s grassroots campaign. “Quentin is someone who shows up, who listens, and who acts on behalf of our community,” said Representative Owens. “He understands the issues that matter most to people in Watertown.

City Clerk

Most Watertown Voting Locations Will be Usual Spots, Council to Examine Election Decision Process

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After initially proposing that several precincts would move to different polling locations for the September 2022 election, which would particularly impact residents in the eastern half of Watertown, the final plan only moves one precinct on a temporary basis. The Council not only voted to set the polling locations for the 2022 elections, but also adopted an optional state statute regarding the voter registration deadline, and the process for assigning police officers to voting locations. The City Council received an initial memo from City Clerk Janet Murphy on Aug. 3 that suggested moving precincts 1 and 3 from the Hellenic Center to the Hosmer School, as well as precincts 4 and 5 from the Phillips School to Hibernian Hall. Acting City Manager Tom Tracy said he received a new memo and forwarded it to the Council on the afternoon of the day of the Council meeting on Aug.

Angeline Kounelis

LETTER: Former Councilor Opposes Change of Voting Places in East End

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(Update on Aug. 10: the City Council Adopted a different plan for voting locations, which will not move precincts 1 and 3. To see more click here.):

Dear Honorable City Councilors:

Within this email, please view official communication, as received on 08/01/2022 from the City of Watertown, specific to Voting and Polling locations. Notation should be made of the finite statement: “Please be aware that changes have been made to some of the Polling Precincts.” There is no mention of pending consideration by the City Council, or opportunity for comments from the electorate.

Election 2022

Watertown Voting Places May Move in 2022 Elections

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Many Watertown voters may not be voting at their usual polling places during the Massachusetts State Primary on Sept. 6. The primary will nominate candidates for the general election on Nov. 8 in several elected positions, including: governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, Congress, the Massachusetts Senate and House of Representatives, and the Governor’s Council. Watertown has proposed using five voting locations for the City’s 12 precincts.

Around Town

LETTER: Resident Backs Candidate for Congress With New Approach

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Dear Editor,

I’m really tired of outlets not really covering things that effect our community, only events happening in our community.  

My family and business are struggling with the increased rise of inflation, rhetoric, and lack of listening to all constituents. Our leaders talk behind closed doors and it’s citizens are either muted or shut out of the process. As evidenced in many school, council, state, and federal meetings during the pandemic and the aftermath. If you don’t share their point of view, you are locked out. Not all of us have extreme views and sometimes a collaboration of ideas create growth. As in business, communities should experience growth and not the status quo.