Waltham Candidate Profile: Colleen Bradley-MacArthur

WALTHAM, MA — Waltham will have several contested races in this fall's election, including one for City Council At-Large candidates. Waltham Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Colleen Bradley-MacArthur, 40, was one of eight candidates vying for six openings for at large city council member. On Nov. 5 she will be one of two new faces running for the seat Diane LeBlanc leaves open as she runs for mayor. Bradley-MacArthur is up against: Incumbents Paul Brasco, Randy LeBlanc, Kathleen McMenimen, Tom Stanley and Carlos Vidal. Retired firefighter Steven Lydon is also running for the first time and Patrick O'Brien who was once a councilor before is also running.

Bradley-MacArthur has lived in the Watch city for the past 11 years with her husband and her son, who's in second grade. She got her Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism and Public Information from Emerson College, and she's been the Social Media Marketing Manager at World Congress.

Previously: Waltham Elections 2019: Here's Who Is Running

Are you running for office in Waltham? Contact Jenna Fisher at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Waltham Patch.

The single most pressing issue facing our city is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

How this community develops and adapts as the city continues to grow. We need to face the reality that our city is changing demographically and geographically. There are ways to build consensus among ALL residents whether you've been here for generations or you just arrived. We are a well resourced city and we need to be leveraging our resources better. I would like to see a city planner work with city government and residents (even students!) to get input on smart development. I know we can come up with and implement new ideas. We should be looking to our own people for ideas and talents to accomplish smart development. Currently developers plan our city. This city has been innovative since its founding and we should be a leader in technology, so that surrounding towns look to us for inspiration.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates?

I'm a team player, I'm inclusive and believe in unity. You don't have to be born in Waltham to love this city and want the best for the people here. I have a "growth mindset" and I'm not afraid of change. We need new leaders with new ideas, people who will honor the history and people who made this city great, but at the same move the city forward.

In what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

No answer.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

As a well resourced city we continue to miss opportunities to plan for things such as land preservation and fail to maintain and utilize existing land/property we already own. We also seem to miss out on matching grants to continue to keep our city "green" and energy efficient. I also see an opportunity to continue investing in the arts and community groups. Our rich and diverse culture is not celebrated enough.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I am an experienced project manager, marketer, and an award-winning public speaker. My career has centered around effective communication. As a volunteer with several community groups in Waltham, I've demonstrated a commitment to serve this community and understand the needs of the people.

Here's a list of recent awards I've received and leadership positions I've held:

Toastmasters
Competent Communicator Award - 2019
Competent Leadership Award - 2019
Triple Crown (Public Speaking and Leadership Award) - 2019
Watertown Saturday Toastmasters
VP of Public Relations - 2018-2019
VP of Education - 2016-2017
CityAwake - (Boston Chamber of Commerce Initiative)
2016 –Elected Delegate
Chosen to be part of building the first standardized and mobilized force of young adults in any major U.S. city.
Emerson College Alumni Association
President of the Boston Emerson Alumni Chapter - 2016 – Present

The best piece of advice anyone ever gave me was...

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I'm not afraid to roll up my sleeves to get the work done. My parents were small business owners during my childhood and I know what it means to work hard and be part of a community. I will work collaboratively with my colleagues to move Waltham forward.

Favorite aspect of Waltham?

The vibrancy of the downtown area and the trails of Stonehurst. It's amazing that a city can have both an urban feel and hiking trails all in one.

More on Waltham Elections:

• Waltham Mayor Jeannette McCarthy Announces She Will Run
• Possible Challenge To McCarthy's Run For Waltham Mayor
• Councilor Diane LeBlanc Hints At Run For Mayor
• Waltham Councilor Diane LeBlanc Announces She Will Run
• Waltham Election Calendar: What To Know About Election Season
• Column: Why I'm Running For City Waltham City Councilor At Large
• Don Desrochers Announces Campaign for City Council Seat

Candidate profiles:

• Robert Logan - Ward 9 City Council
• Heather May - Ward 2 City Council
• Jeannette McCarthy- Mayor
• Colleen Bradley-MacArthur - At Large City Council

Are you running for office in Waltham? Contact Jenna Fisher at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Waltham Patch.