Former Town Councilor Paul Fahey Will Run for an At-Large Seat

A familiar face may return to Town Council, as former councilor Paul Fahey announced he is running for an at-large council seat.

The 51-year old Lexington Street resident served on a number of boards and committees over the years, having served on the Town Council, School Committee, Planning Board and Town Meeting from 1980 to 1990, he said.

"I seek to again serve on the Town Council to ensure that Watertown's government is effective in providing services, efficient in managing resources, and responsive in hearing from and acting on behalf of its residents," Fahey said. "As someone who has spent a lifetime concerned with our civic governance, I believe that I have the experience, passion, and vision to provide real value to the work of the Town Council for the next two years."

He seeks one of four at-large seats on the council in the November election. Currently, the four seats are held by Steve Corbett, John Donohue, Susan Falkoff and Tony Palomba.

Fahey has lived in Watertown for most of his life and went through the Watertown Public Schools. His political life started early, with an internship in former House Speaker Tip O'Neill's congressional office. In 1980 he was the youngest person ever elected to local office in Watertown's history.

He worked the state government for a decade - five years as a senior advisor on budget and public safety issues in the Legislature and five years in the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security as Executive Director of the Massachusetts State 9-1-1 Department.

"I seek to again serve on the Town Council to ensure that Watertown's government is effective in providing services, efficient in managing resources, and responsive in hearing from and acting on behalf of its residents," Fahey said. "As someone who has spent a lifetime concerned with our civic governance, I believe that I have the experience, passion, and vision to provide real value to the work of the Town Council for the next two years."

His top priority will be making sure basic government services - particularly police, fire and public works - are "being provided in the most efficient, effective, and responsive manner."

"Government can't and shouldn't seek to do everything, but the best provision of these basic services is the measure of how well local government serves its residents," he said.

He took note of Watertown's diversity and said he will try to embrace, respect and celebrate the town's diverse communities and opinions.

"If elected I will work to respect all voices, even those with which I disagree. This is not easy, and like most people I will strive to achieve this goal even when I fall short," Fahey said.

Fahey left office in 1990 because he was uncomfortable living a life as an openly-gay man serving in a public position. That has changed, he said.

"My life, and the world we live in, has progressed so much in this regard over the past two decades. I am comfortable seeking to return to elected office as a candidate who happens to be gay," Fahey said.

Fahey holds a bachelor's degree in political science from UMass-Boston, a Master of Public Administration degree from Suffolk University, as well as completing the New England Senior Executives Program at the Harvard Kennedy School, and currently is working toward a Doctor of Business Administration degree from Golden Gate University. 

He now serves as the president of Fahey Consulting Group.