Waltham Municipal Election Preview 2023

WALTHAM, MA — Voters in Waltham have had a couple of days of early voting already for the 2023 municipal elections, but many will still head to the polls on Nov. 7 to cast a ballot in person.

Patch has been publishing candidate profiles for many of the contested races, including both Mayor Jeannette McCarthy and mayoral challenger — and former councilor — Jonathan Paz.

Voters will elect a mayor, councilors-at-large, ward councilors and school committee members this November. Here's what to know ahead of the big day:

Early Voting

Early voting began on Saturday, and the last day to cast a ballot early and in person is Monday.

Voting is being conducted in the gymnasium of the Rosario Malone Archive and Records Center at 260 Grove Street. On Monday, voting began at 8:30 a.m. and continued until 4:30 p.m.

Voters may also vote-by-mail in this election, with the last day to request a mail-in ballot on Tuesday by 5 p.m.

The form to request a mail-in ballot can be found by clicking here.

Election Day Voting

Election Day is scheduled for Nov. 7 with polls set to open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. With a mayoral race on the ballot, all registered voters have a contested race to vote in, even if their council race is uncontested.

For a list of polling locations, click here. Find your voting location online here.

Mayor

Will 2023 be the year that a new mayor takes the helm in Waltham, or will Jeannette McCarthy again win re-election to the position she's held since the early 2000s?

Paz and McCarthy represent two eras of Waltham politics and, on election day, will be separated in age by four decades.

For the younger Paz, who won election to the City Council in 2019, he believes McCarthy is "out of touch with the people's needs."

"We need new leadership to progress and ensure Waltham's statewide leadership," Paz said.

If elected, he said his priorities would include modernizing transportation, improving schools, and investing in quality and affordable housing.

As for McCarthy, she cites her experience as a bonus over Paz, and also stated that "a mayor is required to represent the whole City of Waltham."

Her priorities for a new term would include addressing cost of living concerns, and to "continue with good fiscal management -relatively low taxes and a plethora of city and school services."

Other Races

Voters across Waltham will elect six councilors-at-large, and individual wards will also be tasked with electing ward councilors and school committee members. Here's how the races are shaping up:

Council Ward 1

• Anthony LaFauci
• Lizzie Gelles

Council Ward 2

• Caren Dunn

Council Ward 3

• Bill Hanley
• Paul Tracey

Council Ward 4

• John McLaughlin
• John Tracy

Council Ward 5

• Joseph LaCava

Council Ward 6

• Sean Durkee

Council Ward 7

• Paul Katz
• Robert Davis III

Council Ward 8

• Cathyann Harris

Council Ward 9

• Eamon Dawes
• Robert Logan

Councilor-At-Large

• Colleen Bradley-MacArthur
• Randy LeBlanc
• Kathleen McMenimen
• Patrick O'Brien
• Thomas Stanley
• Carlos Vidal
• Paul Brasco
• George Darcy III
• Stephen Duffy
• Tim King
• Emily Saperia
• Emma Tzioumis

School Committee

• Margaret Donnelly
• Edmund Tarallo
• Carolina Lara
• Tammy Wong-Bigelow
• James Zanghi