WCAC

 

As Waltham heads to the polls on Tuesday, November 4 [see full slate below], at least one new city councilor and at least one new school committee member will join city government in the new year. 

 

The new faces are a result of two longtime incumbents deciding not to seek re-election: councilor at large Tom Stanley (left) and longtime school committee member John Frassica.

 At-Large Field

After many years on the council, Tom Stanley decided to focus his energies full time on his role as Ninth Middlesex State Rep. 

 

His decision means the race for six seats involves only five incumbents: Colleen Bradley-MacArthur, Paul Brasco, Kathy McMenimen, Randy LeBlanc and Carlos Vidal.

 

Hoping to win a seat are four challengers: first-time candidate Christina Curtin, daughter of late city councilor Tom Curtin; Rich Hynes, a well-informed homeless man who has run before; and two returning candidates from 2023: retired Waltham Police detective sergeant and attorney Tim King and public health official Emma Tzioumis.

King and Tzioumas both fared well as first-time candidates in the last election. Will the second time be a charm?

School Committee Shakeup?

There are six seats on the Waltham School Committee. Three are up for election this fall.

Two incumbents—Debbie Coleman and Liz Al Jammal—are seeking re–election, but John Frassica will not after he decided to step away now that his children are no longer in the district.

 

That means at least one of two challengers will win. If both win, it could mark a new direction for the school committee.

Education consultant and Dual Language parent Tammy Wong-Bigelow ran for the first time in 2023.

Another Dual Language parent, Sabrina DeJoannis is an engineer with experience in corporate finance and management.

Small Field

Unlike 2023, the municipal election field is quite small this year, and there are worries of low turnout. All of Waltham’s nine ward city councilors are running unopposed.

But candidates are still campaigning hard for votes.

 

The Waltham Channel invited all of them into our studio to tape brief statements for three Meet the Candidates specials. 

Meet the Candidates 2025: Councilors at Large

Meet the Candidates 2025: School Committee

Meet the Candidates 2025: Ward Councilors

Polls will be open on Tuesday, November 4 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Results are expected from the city clerk’s office several hours after the polls close.

 

2025 Waltham Municipal Election Field

Asterisks (*) indicate incumbents

 

School Committee (three seats)

Debbie Coleman*

Liz Al Jammal*

Sabrina DeJoannis

Tammy Wong-Bigelow

 

At-Large Councilor (six seats)

Colleen Bradley-MacArthur* 

Paul Brasco*

Randy LeBlanc* 

Kathy McMeninen*

Carlos Vidal*

Christina Curtin

Rich Hynes

Tim King

Emma Tzioumis

 

Ward 1 Councilor

Anthony LaFauci*

 

Ward 2 Councilor

Caren Dunn*

 

Ward 3 Councilor

Bill Hanley*

 

Ward 4 Councilor

John McLaughlin*

Ward 5 Councilor

Joey LaCava*

 

Ward 6 Councilor

Sean Durkee*

 

Ward 7 Councilor

Paul Katz*

 

Ward 8 Councilor

Cathyann Harris*

 

Ward 9 Councilor

Robert Logan*

 

File photos