Stratford Candidate Profile: Harold Watson For Town Council

STRATFORD, CT — The 2019 municipal election is heating up in Stratford and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Stratford Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Harold Watson is running for Town Council as a Democrat. Watson has worked as a producer and designer in corporate communications and as a public high school teacher. He currently serves on the Planning Commission representing Zone III.

Are you running for office in Stratford? Contact Anna Bybee-Schier at anna.bybee-schier@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Stratford Patch.

Candidate responses appear as they were received and have not been edited by Patch staff.

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

Transparency

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

I will continue to work to make the actions of all town officials open to public scrutiny. I will work to increase public forums and information gathering.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

I will work to scrutinize spending to make sure it reflects genuine need. I will represent the voices of the people of the 6th District in town affairs. I will work to build a better BOE relationship with the Town Council to increase transparency. I will also be an advocate for beginning the battle to move towards coastal resiliency town-wide. Finally, I will continue to work towards building out our Complete Streets and Greenway network.

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

I was a leader in organizing the successful non-partisan referendum fight to save our sewer system from being sold. As the vice chair of the Stratford Democratic Town Committee, I have helped reinvigorate our organization to reflect the real demographics of Stratford. I am an advocate of bringing the energy of women, young people and minorities of all kinds into our local politics.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

From my Texas grandfather, I learned to let my heart lead my passions and my head keep me civil. Honesty eventually wins out.

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

I am fortunate to be retired and can pay my bills, so that I can assume the difficult work of moving Stratford forward on a steady, thoughtful footing. I became a widower this year, but my partner, Bruce, insisted that I continue with my contributions to Stratford. I will be honored if my 6th District voters will feel the same and I will strive to earn their respect.