Waltham Candidate Profile: Melissa Downes Is Running For Mayor

WALTHAM, MA — Waltham will have several contested races in this fall's election, including one that will thin the field of mayoral candidates from three to two. 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.

Melissa Downes,51, was one of three candidates running for mayor, where incumbent Jeannette McCarthy is also running. If McCarthy wins she will surpass former Mayor Arthur Clark in terms of years served in the position. Still, the top vote-getter in the preliminary election on Sept. 17 will move on to compete in the general election on Nov. 5.

Downes got her Master of Liberal Arts: Sustainability and Environmental Management from Harvard University and her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts. For the past decade she's been a project manager.

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.

Affordable housing, which means having a forward thinking plan to manage education, transportation and development at the same time to keep the quality of life for our community.

We need to integrate various city plans with expertise from the municipal staff and public discussions with residents, businesses and city council, so we can agree on a common vision. The vision of our next iteration which will create enthusiasm and forward movement.

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

The other candidates have worked for one organization for at least 20 years which makes them strong administrators but not forward thinking. As a business leader innovation is a requirement, and I have a track record in taming complexity, negotiating consensus and then implementing change in a reasonable time frame.

In what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

My critique of the city government is that it is too slow and this costs the community lost opportunities and sometimes wasted money when initiatives stall. Yes, the responsibilities are split between the Mayor's office and city council by design. There needs to be more collaboration and leadership to inspire the community to resolve differing opinions and provide services to benefit the broadest base.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

As a member of the Energy Action Committee, I delivered Complete Streets and Green Community criteria, which provide grant monies for Waltham to improve transportation and municipal energy consumption. The other candidates will add these programs to their laundry list of action items, I believe they can be a focal point to create new ideas and strengthen municipal staff's ability to serve the community.

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

As a citizen working with multiple grass-root organizations, I have worked with city council to pass ordinances for the benefit of our city. For example passage of the Stretch code means every tear down in the city is replaced by a more energy efficient building - which makes it more comfortable for occupants and cheaper for owners to operate.

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

I have been going door to door to hear from residents so that I can represent your interests. To learn more visit my website: downes4waltham.org, and I am happy to answer questions.

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

Previous profiles:

• Melissa Downes - Mayor
• Robert Logan - Ward 5 Councilor
• Heather May - Ward 2 Councilor