Candidate Interview: Colleen Bradley-MacArthur

This is eighth in a series I will publish on Waltham Patch, so we can better know our candidates and what they stand for. These interviews and observations do not reflect my personal political views. This series is meant to introduce candidates to constituents in an easy-going, positive way. I will not ask questions comparing candidates, nor will I provide my personal political opinions. My series will include individual articles with a candidate's interview. If you are a Waltham political candidate and would like to request an interview, please feel welcome to contact me. The Patch reporter is also running a separate series.

Colleen Bradley-MacArthur is running for city council.

JL: Where are you from? How long have you lived in Waltham?

CBA: Beverly, MA

11 years

JL: A little about yourself (ie, your education, family life, etc.).
CBA: My passion for helping our city stems from my love for this city and from my roots as an engaged citizen in my hometown of Beverly, MA. As a high school student I spoke before the school committee to advocate for more funding for Beverly High School during a teacher shortage. I’m the daughter of a small business owner and when I took my first trip down Moody St., I immediately noticed the vibrant, independent businesses.
11 years ago after receiving my degree in broadcast journalism at Emerson College, my husband and I moved here. Shortly after moving here, I decided to become more involved in the community by volunteering, and over the years I have had the pleasure of working with the WCAC-TV Waltham Community Access Channel, Mothers Out Front (climate initiatives), Waltham First Parish Church, Waltham Arts Council, and the BOKS fitness program at MacArthur Elementary School. Our son plays hockey with Waltham Youth hockey and he's a Cub Scout as a member of Pack 250. We love hiking at Stonehurst, swimming at the YMCA pool, and spending time at the Cafe on the Common. Four years ago we bought a home in Waltham and plan to raise our wonderful son here. I desire to shine light on the many treasurers in our city and address the issues I've heard from residents.

JL: What is one of your favourite Waltham memories?
CBA: Walking with my family to the farmer's market. We used to live on Fiske Street and we'd put our son in the stroller and walk down. He loved the music! Even though now we have to drive to get there, the feeling is still the same with the live music and delicious food.

JL: Tell us your hobbies.
CBA: Cooking! I find it satisfying when all the ingredients come together. I used to dance in a professional program with the Boston Ballet. I occasionally dance around the kitchen and do yoga when I have time.

JL:What has been your previous involvement been in Waltham politics?
CBA: Two issues I’ve been proud to work on within Waltham politics include: advocating for a new high school and climate initiatives. I’ve spoken before the Waltham School Building Committee in favor of the new high school education plan. I joined my fellow volunteers at Mother’s Out Front to advocate for our Green Communities designation, allowing the city to receive grants for energy efficiencies and climate mitigation efforts. This spring I spoke at a city council meeting on behalf of an initiative that allows residents to save money on their electric bill, while investing in clean energy. In 2017 I was the campaign manager for a Waltham City Council campaign and canvassed for several other candidates.

JL: Do you consider yourself a politician?
CBA: To me, politics is an accurate label, beyond that label I’m about listening and deciding what to do with resources to improve people’s lives. By seeking to be elected to municipal office (where elections are nonpartisan) I am less engaged with partisanship and more about serving the residents of Waltham. My interest is solely to be a civic-minded leader to ALL within the community.

JL: When and why did you consider running for office?
CBA: Growing up several of my neighbors told my mom that I was going to be the first female president because I led all of the younger children in activities. I also wrote letters to the editor in elementary school on behalf of small businesses and spoke at school committee meetings in high school. I guess you could say I’ve been preparing for this moment for a while now.
When I was a campaign manager for a Waltham City Council campaign, I realized I enjoyed talking to the people in Waltham and more importantly, I enjoyed listening to people and helping them make connections to resources within the city. I’d like to bring a fresh voice to the city council. I want to use my award-winning public speaking skills to speak on behalf of residents and I find the role of shaping this city exciting.

JL: How does Waltham inspire you?
CBA: Waltham’s industrial and innovative history inspires me, it’s a historically working class town that also supports a vibrant arts and independent business community. There's diversity here - a walk down moody street is a walk through the whole world in terms of food and shops and businesses. At its core, Waltham is full of smart, loyal, and proud residents, some that have lived here for generations. We also have residents that have only lived here for a short time that fall in love with the character of the city. It’s a contagious energy.

JL: Do you have a particular leadership style?
CBA: My colleagues have mentioned in reviews that I have an “innovative” leadership style. I enjoy working collaboratively and utilize my project management skills. I am also a process geek and have worked on several internal teams at various organizations to develop business processes and efficiencies. I recently received a Competent Leadership award and Triple Crown Award from Toastmasters for completing speeches and leadership projects within the program. As a mom, I have mastered (or am at least close to mastering!) how to multitask, understand the big picture while managing the tiny details.

JL: Is there anything about local politics that you find particularly challenging?
CBA: New ideas and change can be scary, but if this city is to grow in a thoughtful and transparent way we need voices and perspectives such as mine on the city council. I see both challenges and opportunities in hearing different viewpoints. I like the idea of using my skills as a journalist to ask questions, listen, and reflect on the issues.

JL: In your profession, do you have to travel? How much of your time do you spend away from home for work or vacation?
CBA: I occasionally have to travel to events on the East Coast. Most of the events I’m working on are located in Boston.


JL: Is there a main message in your campaign that you would like voters to know?
CBA: I’m a collaborator, connector, and communicator.

• Collaboration. I’ll bring positivity and a collaborative work style to the council.
• Connections. I’ll serve the residents as a connector to make sure they have access to resources and that their voices are heard at city hall.
• Communication. I’ll use my award-winning communication skills to speak up during meetings --about ideas and concerns that residents have. And ask questions to gain information on items before the council.

JL: What would you do to create pride in our community?

CBA: We have so many talented artists and historians in our city. I’d like to see us obtain grant money from an organization such as Pow! Wow! Worcester to install murals and more public art around the city. These are ways to bring grant money into the city to create pride in our city’s history and move into the future.

JL: What do you think is Waltham’s biggest challenge right now, and how would you address it?
CBA: Waltham needs a master plan that factors in complex and inter-related issues – such as open space, development, transportation, traffic, a new high school, and responsible housing development. This has been done in other municipalities in Massachusetts through open and transparent communication with the community. We should be utilizing the expertise of groups such as the Waltham Land Trust to continue coalition-building to protect Waltham’s open space. There are also resources and models from the Massachusetts Audubon Society such as their “Shaping the Future of Your Community” program and the state Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs program “Smarth Growth”.
We should also continue to promote the open space we have through recreation (as the Land Trust has done) and engage the student population in Waltham so they can understand and feel invested in protecting the land outside their own door. This will encourage the entire community to be good stewards of the land and learn about the risks and downsides to losing open space to development.
We must continue to highlight the importance of completing the 23-mile section of the Wayside Rail Trail. This section of trail between Waltham and Berlin is listed as the third-highest priority in the Bay State Greenway’s top 100 bike path project priority list.

JL: What are some of the things you would focus on?
CBA: 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.

JL: How would you preserve the integrity of Waltham’s history while leading the city forward?
CBA: Waltham’s soul is hard-working and innovative. We were leaders in industry. We should be protecting our local museums and celebrating our diverse culture and open space. I believe we need to work with our social media team and other evangelists of art, culture, and history within the city to market and promote Waltham’s treasure. Perhaps tapping into marketing students at one of our local colleges to brainstorm a marketing plan for city would be helpful. Trips to local museums by Waltham students would also be impactful to connect students to their local history.

JL: How important are local museums such as The Telephone Museum on Moody Street and The Waltham Museum on Lexington Street to our culture?

CBA: Extremely important. See above answer to increase patronage to these museums and instill in the children of Waltham our contributions to the Industrial Revolution, communication, retail, fashion, cycling, and automobile transportation...among other things.

JL: What would you do to encourage Science Technology Engineering Math Art and Science (STEAM) in Waltham’s youth?
CBA: We have businesses along 128 in Waltham that are leaders in these fields such as Dassault Systems and Thermo Fisher and Raytheon. Connecting these organizations with our schools to provide in classroom and field trip opportunities would go along way in inspiring students.

JL: Do you see politics as a career?

CBA: Eventually. I enjoy working in a private company and helping them grow as an organization. I see politics as the next step in my career, where I can listen to people, give a voice to the people and positive impact on the community as a whole.

JL: Do any former or current Waltham residents inspire you? Why?
CBA: Bob Perry, executive director of the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation. His dedication to preserving the museum’s history is inspiring. He truly has a vision for that museum and it’s been amazing to see it come to life. I appreciate his collaborative nature, the way he is open to working with everyone in the city and even those outside of Waltham to enrich the community.

JL: Have you learned anything about Waltham during your campaign?
CBA: The more residents I talk to the more people I meet who love Waltham. Doesn’t seem to matter if it’s generations, 50 years or 1 year...people love this city.

JL: Imagine a future after you have served. How would Waltham be changed?
CBA: I would like to see a future where there is even more communication and education around the workings of the city are presented to residents so that they always feel as though we’re really working for them.

Following are links and websites that readers can visit for updates, and additional information about Colleen Bradley-MacArthur's campaign for city council.
https://colleenbradleymacarthurforwaltham.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ColleenBradleyMacArthur2019/
bradleymacarthur2019@gmail.com
https://patch.com/massachusetts/brookline/waltham-candidate-profile-colleen-bradley-macarthur
https://patch.com/massachusetts/waltham/why-im-running-citywide-waltham-city-council