Meet Waltham Council Candidate Colleen Bradley-MacArthur

WALTHAM, MA — Local elections in Waltham are less than a month away, and Patch is determined to help residents get to know their candidates for council, mayor and school committee.

Patch has sent candidate questionnaires to each of the candidates that will appear on the ballot in a contested race for each of those three positions.

In this profile, get to know Councillor At-Large candidate Colleen Bradley-MacArthur:

Name

Colleen Bradley-MacArthur

How old will you be as of Election Day?

44

Does your campaign have a website? If so, include the URL here.

https://colleenforwaltham.com/

What city or town do you live in?

Waltham, MA

What office are you seeking?

Councillor At-Large

Education.

Broadcast Journalism, BS, Emerson College

What is your occupation?

Economic Assistant, Department of Labor, BLS

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

Husband, Tim and middle-school aged child, Bennett & a rescue puppy named Bruno

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

Yes, I'm currently 1 of 6 At-Large Councillors in Waltham

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

I am running for re-election to the Waltham City Council because I love the job. It has been rewarding to be a part of a Waltham that works together, solves complex problems, and plans for the future. You deserve to be safe and healthy, have elected officials that are accountable to you, and be able to afford to remain in the city that we love and call home. Together, we will move Waltham forward.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is \_\_\_, and this is what I intend to do about it.

I intend to continue to make sure that City Hall is accountable, accessible, and responsive to residents. I will also not stay siloed in my thinking and insular in the work I do here in Waltham. While we know what is best for Waltham by listening to residents, we should also be looking at other comparable cities in Massachusetts to see how they've tackled: the affordable housing crisis, climate crisis, protecting open space, and even more robust city planning with experts in urban planning. There are many projects that are "by right" and they can be developed into unaffordable housing. With the help of an urban planner we can look at how other cities and towns have amended zoning and redesigned safer streets.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

To me this is a job and the campaign a job interview. I get paid a small stipend by you the taxpayers, I'm accountable to you. This is part of my yearly salary/income. This is not a side job for me. My job is to be responsive to you. When you call me or email me with an idea, challenge, or question...I respond. I also present resolutions and ordinances to shape our city government to reflect the views of EVERYONE. Not just people in my social circles. I represent everyone in this city. I will also always tell you transparently how things work in city hall. It's one thing to post the budget or items online, it's another to help with context and connect the dots for residents.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

There's an attitude/culture in city hall that ideas or solutions come down to one or two people to solve everything and not a lot of evidence that leaders work collaboratively across the city. There's also been scare tactics and overwhelming people with information to obscure the truth. I've been told several times by my colleagues not to ask questions, that we should accept what is presented to us as gospel. I will continue to ask questions, that are from constituents or my research and I'll communicate with everyone in the city.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

I have resolutions (with fellow colleagues) in the Master Planning Committee related to ADU's or Accessory Dwelling Units which is a step for residents to utilize space in their homes as apartments for grad students or grandparents supporting their families. Another resolution concerns safe bike & pedestrian transportation from North Waltham to South Waltham to connect to our new Rail Trail. The work of the Master Planning committee should not continue to stall and they should be having another citywide meeting to discuss their findings from their constituent listening sessions from a year ago. It shows a lack of trust and transparency by having one meeting since 2022 in May of 2023 and barely advertising it. The people, real Waltham people, showed up to these meetings to be heard about the future of our city. I also have an intracity transportation resolution and a resolution to improve MBTA/local transit in North Waltham.

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

My degree in journalism taught be how to be prepared, do the research and ask questions. I've owned my own business in marketing and communications. My public speaking skills stem from accomplishments in Toastmasters as a communicator and leader when I was Area Director.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

This Maya Angelou quote has always been true in my life. "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I get my energy from people. We're all wired for connections. I value clear communication and willingness to work with everyone on the council & in our community to enhance quality of life for people in Waltham.