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Local candidates share their priorities, pitch their qualifications

By MARY K. PRATT
Co-founder and editorial director of the Waltham New Alliance, publisher of The Waltham Times

Waltham citizens have the opportunity to cast their votes on local races in addition to voting on the national contests and the statewide ballot questions.

Some of these local races have multiple candidates; some have only a single candidate on the ballot. These races and candidates are as follows (in the order in which they appear on the ballot):

Councillor, 3rd District

Senator in General Court

Representative In General Court, 9th Middlesex District

(The 9th Middlesex consists of Waltham Ward 1 Precincts 1, 2, Ward 2, Ward 3 Precincts 1, 2, Ward 4 Precinct 1, Ward 5 Precinct 2, Ward 6 Precincts 1, 2A, Ward 7, and Ward 8 Precincts 1 and 2A.)

Representative In General Court, 10th Middlesex District

(The 10th Middlesex consists of Waltham Ward 1 Precinct 2A, Ward 3 Precinct 2A, Ward 4 Precincts 1A, 2, Ward 5 Precincts 1, 2A, Ward 6 Precinct 2, Ward 8 Precinct 2, and Ward 9 as well as part of Newton and Watertown.)

Clerk of Courts, Middlesex County

Register of Deeds, Middlesex Southern District

Sample ballots for Waltham voters can be found here.

The Waltham Times emailed every candidate in these local races. The Times asked the same questions for each candidate in each race. (Questions varied slightly from one race to the next). The Times requested responses of no more than 250 words per question and explained that The Times would publish their responses as written.

Six candidates responded to this request. Their answers are below. 

Mara Dolan, Democratic candidate for Councillor, 3rd District

1. Please share a brief biography about yourself.

I have been a public defender working in our Juvenile, District, and Superior Courts throughout Massachusetts for 17 years. I’ve worked in big cities like Lowell, Lawrence, Springfield, and Worcester, and in smaller towns like Leominster and Fitchburg. I first moved to Concord in 1997. My daughter attended Concord’s public schools. I have also worked in political communications for the State Senate President and for the political campaigns of Senator Ed Markey and Secretary of State Bill Galvin.

2. Please provide an explanation of this elected role and its key responsibilities.

If you care who our judges are, you need to care who your Governor’s Councillor is. The Governor’s Council confirms judges, Parole Board members, and commutations and pardons among its other duties. The Governor’s Council serves as a check and balance on the Governor, and has the final say on who our judges and Parole Board members are, and who receives a commutation or a pardon. It also approves Justices of the Peace and Notaries Public.

3. Please detail your priorities and what you hope to accomplish as an elected official.

As a public defender, my clients are among our most vulnerable and therefore the most impacted by the decisions of the Governor’s Council. I’ll work to make sure our judges understand the science of addiction and know how to treat recovery, that they understand the science of brain development and treat children and emerging adults accordingly, and that they are ready, willing, and able to fight racial disparities in our courts with every tool that the law allows.

4. Please detail how you plan to achieve those objectives.

I will meet individually with each nominee to make sure they have the highest qualifications and that they share the values and priorities of our district. I will confer with the other Governor’s Councillors so that we work as a deliberate body as intended. I will ask questions and get them on the record at confirmation hearings. I will encourage good candidates for judicial appointments to apply, seeking to increase diversity in our courts while making sure they have the highest qualifications and a steadfast commitment to uphold equal justice under the law.

5. Please share why you believe you are the best candidate for this position.

I won the Democratic primary in September, and no Republican qualified for the ballot. I am running unopposed in the general election on November 5, 2024, but I respectfully ask for your vote.

Thomas M. Stanley, Democratic candidate for Representative In General Court, 9th Middlesex District 

1. Please share a brief biography about yourself.

I am a lifelong resident of Waltham. I earned degrees at Suffolk University (MPA), Bentley University (BS – Management), and Mass Bay Community College (AS – Business Administration.)

I have been elected and privileged to serve as a Waltham City Councilor and as a State Representative. I am proud of my record that includes:

2. Please detail your priorities and what you hope to accomplish if elected.

I am seeking re-election to continue being an effective and responsive advocate for the residents of Waltham. I distribute an annual Resident Survey to let residents weigh in on issues. Their responses help inform and direct my priorities. I will continue to use my proven legislative skills to achieve progress on issues of greatest concern to Waltham residents: increasing adequate and affordable housing, encouraging economic growth, improving educational options including vocational ed., controlling health care costs, environmental protection, improving transportation and expanding elder services.  

I also welcome the opportunity to continue my work as Chairman of the Elder Affairs Committee to implement major reforms contained in the Long Term Care Act and to improve health care and housing for the elder citizens in Waltham and across the Commonwealth.

Constituent services to Waltham residents has always been a priority in my office. I will continue to respond to hundreds of monthly requests for information and assistance from state government.

3. Please detail how you plan to achieve those objectives and how you plan to serve the Waltham community if elected.

I will continue to work within the legislature and with state agencies to increase local aid for public safety services, to secure educational funding and to expand transportation improvements. As Chairman of the Elder Affairs Committee, I will work to implement the many reforms contained in the Long Term Care Act.

Because the top issue facing Waltham is Housing: Availability and Affordability, I will work for implementation of the recently passed Affordable Homes Act, which provides unprecedented funding for the construction and rehabilitation of housing but also implements crucial policy changes to simplify and incentivize development which will benefit Waltham.

4. Please share why you believe you are the best candidate for this position.

I believe my years of experience as State Representative, my service on the City Council, my institutional knowledge and professional relationships on the local, regional and statewide levels and my involvement with community groups and organizations combine to make me an effective advocate for the people of Waltham.

5. Waltham is known for its Restaurant Row. What is your favorite eatery in the city, and why? 

It is hard to choose because there are so many excellent options in Waltham. Campania is my first choice. The exceptional food, service and atmosphere make you feel like you are in Italy.

Carly Marie Downs, candidate for Representative In General Court, 9th Middlesex District

1. Please share a brief biography about yourself.

I was born and raised in Maine. I would spend my summers at my grandparents’ house in Whitefield on their Farm. I would help my grandmother with the garden and I would also help my grandfather bail hay. Although I was too small to handle throwing the bales of hay on the trailer I was in charge of driving the dump truck that towed the trailer in the field to gather the bales of hay. I enjoyed playing and watching sports. I love shooting firearms and I curreny own several. I have only been hunting once when I was a child. I didn’t shoot any animal but the experience was a lot of fun. In high school and middle school I was considered an outcast and a loser. I’m sure some of them still think that to this day haha. But that’s no longer my problem and I wish I knew then what I know now that I never should have made it my problem in the first place.

2. Please detail your priorities and what you hope to accomplish if elected.

My priority if I am elected is to challenge those who have been in positions of power. I as a citizen want to know why bills have been not passed and to have a better understanding as to why there is so much hesitation or conflict between the members of each party and why they can’t come to a resolution on a bill. There should never be too much hesitation when it comes to doing what is best for the American people. Elected officials have to put their own personal bias aside and do the job their constituents want them to do even if they may disagree with what the majority of their constituents want. Because at the end of the day it’s government’s job to pass bills that do not violate individuals rights. It may be difficult at times but that is the principal that must be put at the forefront from every candidate.

3. Please detail how you plan to achieve those objectives and how you plan to serve the Waltham community if elected.

Similar to John Adams I will aggravate elected officials if I am elected. I will challenge them and I look forward to them challenging me because unlike most people I don’t have a problem dealing with conflict. We cannot have weak people in government that avoid conflict. It’s not productive for the citizens of Massachusetts. Sometimes elected officials need to be aggressive in order for issues to be resolved and put into action. Candidates disagree on the path of how to get to the goal but that doesn’t mean we cannot figure out a path that both parties agree to accomplish the goal. Sometimes heads may be butted and at the end of the day candidates must think about individual rights and liberties before any bill is passed because no resolution in a bill can conflict with the Constitution or the Bill of Rights. There should also be an evaluation of systems or programs when it comes to helping those that are in need of assistance. 

4. Please share why you believe you are the best candidate for this position.

I am not a groomed politician so don’t expect me to act like one. I think that’s the point these days particularly. All Americans are tired of being manipulated and lied to with a fake persona from our electors. My promise to them if I am elected I will not be fake and I do not have a persona to portray. Only myself as a blue collar hard-working American that I have been since I was 17. I know how policies affect me as a citizen and as a resident of massachusetts. I directly feel the effects of policies that my electors have put into effect. Too many politicians have been in government for too long and they have forgotten what it’s like to be an average citizen. They have forgotten the struggle and they have lost their site of how policies matter and how they were affected by policies prior to getting into a position of authority. It’s said politicians become drunk with power. I will not do that because I have never been a politician and I refuse to be just like every other politician. Many citizens are tired of being lied to and seeing a false portrayal of who our candidates say they are. Especially when their actions do not match the words they told us in order to get our vote. That is wrong and it needs to stop.

5. Waltham is known for its Restaurant Row. What is your favorite eatery in the city, and why?

I love all food! My dad use to be a commercial fisherman so I grew up eating fresh seafood. My grandfather was a butcher in his younger years and I would eat wild game such as deer and moose including organs like the heart and liver. Most people are grossed out but I find not to be normal considering I am a product of how I was raised. I have a few favorite restaurants in waltham. The first one is a Mexican restaurant. Taqueria El Amigo on willow st. It’s simple and authentic. Waltham Pizza. A very nice local restaurant that has the best pizza in the town! They’re pizza crust is perfection. The Chateau is a good place. I enjoyed their deep fried mushrooms and their alfredo. There was a burger restaurant I enjoyed but unfortunately it is closed. JoCos bar and kitchen. They had the best and most juiciest Burger I have had from a restaurant.

Sean Diamond, Forward Party candidate for Representative In General Court, 9th Middlesex District

1. Please share a brief biography about yourself.

My name is Sean Diamond. I was born and raised in central Pennsylvania. I moved to Massachusetts in the summer of 2012 with my (now) wife Lauren. I’ve been working in Waltham since 2012 in the solar department of a utility company. Once Lauren and I (and our cat Louise) were fortunate enough to be able to save up enough for a down payment, we decided to move to Waltham in 2019, landing in the Warrendale neighborhood.

With an academic background in physics and climate change science, I have spent my entire professional career so far working on sustainability, clean energy, and climate change initiatives. While these areas remain a major focus area, I am now optimistic that the technical solutions to avert the worst impacts of climate change are readily available and that the remaining challenges are primarily economic, social, and regulatory in nature. 

Outside of my professional career, I spent a lot of time reading, watching, listening, thinking about, and discussing philosophy, history, economics, and politics with friends and neighbors in Massachusetts as well as friends and family in Pennsylvania.

I try to catch the games of the New England Revolution as well as the Philadelphia Eagles whenever I can. I love hiking out in nature or exploring town on foot to see what’s around the next corner. I’m an avid movie watcher, pulling quotes and references into conversations from movies I’ve watched (sometimes from decades ago), but I also enjoy a good book – novels and non-fiction.

2. Please detail your priorities and what you hope to accomplish if elected.

I decided to run, because I believe that at every level of government, business, and society we should respect everyone’s time and attention. 

In government, this means having elected officials, appointed regulators, and public employees (like police officers, teachers, building inspectors, and city planners) that show up to work everyday trying to make it easier for people to live, work, study, and navigate the world. This includes streamlining the processes, forms, and websites that we all use to send our children to school, obtain a driver’s license, register to vote, or pay our taxes. This also means using thoughtful, human-centered, accessible designs in our streets, sidewalks, parks, public buildings, and educational institutions. 

If elected, I will listen to everyone I represent of any party or none at all, regardless of how long they’ve lived in Waltham or their personal characteristics that are associated with “-isms” in society. 

I will thoughtfully evaluate each issue and proposal that is brought up for legislation on its own merits rather than simply following instructions from party leadership or partisan rhetoric. This often means that I won’t have a pre-determined policy prescription for every last issue or scenario, but I will ensure that new legislation is clearly written to minimize or avoid unintended consequences and that old legislation and regulations are repealed or replaced if they are not having the intended outcomes or meeting the needs of today’s and — more importantly — tomorrow’s society.

3. Please detail how you plan to achieve those objectives and how you plan to serve the Waltham community if elected.

If elected, I plan to resign from my current full-time job, and treat the state legislature as my primary professional commitment.

Even as a candidate, I’ve already started networking with former state legislators and other independent candidates to understand the current processes, working conditions, and dysfunction on Beacon Hill today. Despite these structural headwinds, I will focus on building a broad coalition with an open door policy for all legislators from any party (or none at all) who are willing to do what is right, support government transparency, and look for practical solutions to real world problems facing Massachusetts residents.

Whereever possible, I will seek the input and advice of Waltham residents, making myself available at public events and informal gatherings around the city — ensuring that I both listen and seek to understand. Then, I will keep that input in mind as I read, research, and negotiate proposed legislation.

To the extent that I am able to as an independent candidate — I will actively participate on legislative committees that address issues such as energy, transportation, climate change, accessibility, and education. Where that is not possible or where the existing legislative process is being conducted behind closed doors by the House leadership, I will use all available avenues to offer amendments that improve draft legislation, collaborate with other legislators to increase transparency (within the legislature, in the media, and to the broader public), and ensure that sufficient time is provided to review each piece of legislation prior to a floor vote.

4. Please share why you believe you are the best candidate for this position.

I believe that I’m the best candidate on the ballot this election cycle, because I have spent my entire professional career learning how to listen and communicate better.

I started as a young professional with a strong academic background in science and engineering — so I have always been able to speak confidentially to experts in a variety of fields. However, I’ve learned over the past 15 years that being technically correct about something means very little if you don’t first meet everyone where they are starting from and bring them along for the journey, and — perhaps more importantly — approaching each person and interaction with the humility that I might very well be wrong about something. (And be willing to admit it!)

As a result, I’ve learned to approach each new person I meet as a potential expert in something, and at the same time I’ve come to believe that everyone has inherent value at a human level and deserves respect even if they aren’t an expert in anything at all.

To put it more simply: I am persistent. I will try hard and am able to learn as I go. I have a track record of working with people to get things done professionally, and I know how to get to the root of a problem and then build a coalition to solve it — even if it takes longer than expected to do so.

5. Waltham is known for its Restaurant Row. What is your favorite eatery in the city, and why?

That depends what I’m in the mood for!

(And not to slight any of the other great restaurants in the city, but just to name a few…)

For a beer and a food truck meal: Mighty Squirrel Brewery (Ya’ Mother’s Truck ‘n Kitchen or Melt Grilled Cheese)

For takeout pizza: Veggie Crust (recently opened a Waltham location)

For a good sandwich: either Dominic’s on Main St or Prime Deli on South St

For a hearty/sugary brunch: In A Pickle

For amazingly delicious, upscale dinners on Moody St: Amuleto, Solea, or Gustazo

If I’m being honest, Lauren and I really just love that we can try a new place every time we go to Moody St, so it never gets old!

John Lawn, Democratic candidate for Representative In General Court, 10th Middlesex District

1. Please share a brief biography about yourself.

Born and raised in Watertown, State Representative John Lawn graduated from Merrimack College in 1991. He has represented the 10th Middlesex District—which includes parts of Watertown, Waltham, and Newton—since 2011, and he currently serves as House Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. Chair Lawn humbly carries on his family’s deep commitment to health care. His mother—who came to Boston from Ireland in the early 1960’s—his wife, and, most recently, his daughter are all nurses in the Boston area. Rep. Lawn’s legislative achievements include the Votes Act of 2022, campaign finance reform, veterans’ legislation, and statute of limitation reform. He lives in Watertown with his wife Shannon and five children.

2. Please detail your priorities and what you hope to accomplish if elected.

As House Chairman of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, I have two bills that I would love to see through as soon as possible. The first of which is known as the Market Oversight bill that aims to restore stability to the health care system, bolster accountability within the industry, and control health care spending to ensure that everyone in Massachusetts has access to quality, affordable health care.

The second bill, known as the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Oversight and Prescription Drug Access Bill, which protects patients and independent pharmacists by: regulating the PBM industry, banning many of its worst business practices; increasing transparency into PBMs and drug manufacturers and reducing or eliminating copays for certain chronic conditions. 

I also aim to get more funding and support for the community and our vital organizations here in Waltham. For example, this session, I was able to secure $150,000 in the FY25 Budget for Healthy Waltham and worked closely with Mayor McCarthy on a senior fraud protection program.

There are also several bills that I voted in favor of in the House this session that will benefit Waltham residents and the state as a whole, including an economic development bill that bolsters support for the both workers and businesses and provides $700m worth of tax credits, and a bill that addresses climate challenges by empowering the Commonwealth to deploy clean energy projects and infrastructure to meet its net-zero goals and create better outcomes for communities, clean energy companies, and utilities.

3. Please detail how you plan to achieve those objectives and how you plan to serve the Waltham community if elected.

I plan on achieving passage on these bills by working with my Senate co-chair, committee members and House colleagues to solidify strong pieces of legislation that will greatly benefit both the residents of Waltham and all throughout the Commonwealth.

As for the Waltham Community, I plan on serving the community by working with the rest of the Waltham delegation across the municipal, state, and federal level and capitalizing on the already amazing partnerships I’ve built with them in the past 12 years of service.

In the FY25 Budget, we were able to secure a resounding $580,000 of state funding directly to Waltham based organizations and projects, and in the FY24 budget we were able to secure $505,000 in state funding. I personally was able to secure $150,000 for Healthy Waltham in the FY25 budget, but without the support of Rep. Tom Stanley and Senator Mike Barrett, that amount of funding would not have been possible.

By working collaboratively, we can secure more funding for our community. The common practice among legislators representing the same and neighboring towns is to file different yet complementary amendments, which increases the chances of securing funding for local organizations and projects in the final budget. For instance, while I filed and secured $150,000 of funding an amendment for Healthy Waltham, Representative Stanley focused on securing state funding for another vital organization, demonstrating our teamwork in advocating for our constituents’ needs.

4. Please share why you believe you are the best candidate for this position.

I have been serving the 10th Middlesex district for 12 years now, which has allowed me to gain a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing our community. This is much more than a job to me; it is a lifestyle.

Being one of 160 Representatives, I understand it is a balancing act of advocating for our community’s needs while also considering those of the entire state. My experience has taught me that to be effective, I must listen to community’s interests and work to merge them with the broader goals of the state, and I have successfully navigated this intricate process time and again.

For example, during COVID-19, I chaired the Election Laws Committee, where myself and Senator Cynthia Creem, who represents Newton, filed and championed the passage of the pivotal Votes Act of 2022. This act expanded voting rights in Massachusetts by establishing the ability to vote by mail, enhancing early voting options, and shortening the deadline to register to vote. This act benefits both Waltham and the entirety of Commonwealth in making it easier for their voices to be heard at the ballot box.

I have cultivated strong relationships with both Democratic and Republican legislators, which has made me an effective champion for our community. Additionally, I maintain a close working relationship with Representative Tom Stanley and Mayor Jeanette McCarthy, as well as with Senator Barrett and Congresswoman Katherine Clark, allowing me to effectively navigate the legislative landscape on behalf of Waltham across all levels of government.

5. Waltham is known for its Restaurant Row. What is your favorite eatery in the city, and why?

Shopper’s Cafe would have to be my favorite eatery in the city, right on Restaurant Row. It’s the most local spot in Waltham to me – owned by city councilor Joe LaCava, it’s really a mix of the whole city, I really feel like I’m in Waltham when I’m there. 

Maria C. Curtatone, Democratic candidate for Register of Deeds, Middlesex Southern District

1. Please share a brief biography about yourself.

I am the Register of Deeds for Middlesex County Southern District. I have been successfully serving in this position since 2013. 

Public service is very important to me. My parents immigrated from Italy to Cambridge and settled in Somerville, where I was raised and still reside. From an early age, they instilled in me a strong work ethic. 

I received my Bachelor’s degree from Emmanuel College in Boston. In 1988 I graduated from law school and opened my own law firm. I built a prominent law practice, trying cases for over twenty-five years.  I am member in good standing of the Massachusetts Bar, United States District Court, United States Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. I am also Assistant Recorder of the Land Court. 

I have worked very hard while also raising my two children as a single mom. I am also multi-lingual.

2. Please provide an explanation of this elected role and its key responsibilities.

As your Register, I am responsible for the effective operation of the Middlesex South Registry of Deeds. The Registry of Deeds is the place where real estate documents and transactions are recorded so that the public is made aware of their existence. Legal land documents are recorded to provide public notice of ownership or property interests of property in Middlesex County Southern District. Deeds, mortgages, tax liens, water liens, declaration of homestead and many other kinds of documents regarding land title and ownership are noted permanently in official records.

Recording and keeping of land records that comply with the Massachusetts Deed Indexing Standards, Massachusetts General Laws, and Land Court Guidelines requires knowledge and interpretation of laws, standards and guidelines to safeguard homeowners, consumers and constituents from negligent or intentional actions of others.

Legal background and experience in real estate law is invaluable to safeguarding documents to the fullest extent possible under the law. 

3. Please detail your priorities and what you hope to accomplish as an elected official.

My priorities here at the Registry of Deeds are:

(1) Customer service while continuing to advance the relationship between history and modern technology and protection of recorded documents. The Registry offers online searching and viewing of recorded documents – free of charge. Electronic recording is also available with safeguards. We also continue to encourage folks to come to the Registry to search our books and records in-person AND to record documents in-person, where you can still speak with a recorder and address questions or concerns on-the-spot. In the alternative, constituents may call or email the Registry for remote assistance. Calls and emails are immediately addressed. Customer service is a priority. 

(2) Continue to support a positive and productive workspace and foster an environment of inclusion and acceptance of employees of all backgrounds. Public entities are more productive, effective and useful when diverse staff contribute. Decisions are made after considering a broad array of viewpoints and ideas. When we create an environment of positivity and acceptance, the outcome is efficiency and productivity. The Registry’s turnaround time for recording recorded land document is same-day, whether documents are emailed, mailed in or delivered in-hand. 

(3) Integrate electronic recording for registered land documents. Electronic recording of recorded land documents has been integrated and used here at the Registry for quite some time. I also advocated for and successfully implemented electronic recording in registered land! This has been available for the past two months and recorders are doing a fantastic job.    

4. Please detail how you plan to achieve those objectives.

As your current Register of Deeds, I have accomplished the following:

5. Please share why you believe you are the best candidate for this position.

My law degree and my years of experience as (a) your current Register; (b) an experienced trial attorney; and (c) a proven leader, have prepared me to serve in this office. I have been serving as the Southern Middlesex Register of Deeds since 2013. 

Constituents of Southern Middlesex should be extremely concerned about this election. People’s homes and investment properties are of critical importance. The office of the Register is responsible for the recording, indexing and safe-keeping of records related to real property, including deeds, mortgages, plans, liens, trust documents, mortgage discharges, land use permits, Conservation Commission orders, leases, and more.

The recording and keeping of these records require knowledge of the laws, standards and guidelines implemented to safeguard homeowners, consumers and constituents from negligent or nefarious actions of others. Legal background and experience in real estate law is invaluable to safeguarding documents to the fullest extent possible under the law. 

My qualifications, experience, and attention to detail provide me with a strong foundation for my position as your Register of Deeds.

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