MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - The president of the City Council is running unopposed to replace the outgoing mayor in next month’s Town Meeting Day election.
Anne Watson, a physics teacher and coach at Montpelier High School, has served on the council since being appointed to fill a vacant seat in 2012. She has been president for the last three years, filling in for Mayor John Hollar when he is absent.
Hollar announced in November that he would not seek re-election. Watson announced her candidacy in the nonpartisan race the next week.
Watson, who has taught in Montpelier since 2004, is a supporter of efforts to make the city carbon neutral by 2030. She’s also a member of the city’s Energy Advisory Committee and until recently was a member of the Sustainable Montpelier Coalition.
“I have a very collaborative leadership style, and, as much as we can, I want to be building consensus,” she told the Times Argus . “Outside of council meetings, I would like to have lot of conversations with the community. There’s really rich dialogue to be had with so many of these issues.”
She said she takes a “data-driven” approach and wants to hear input from all those who are interested before making decisions.
During her time in the council, she has supported financial and environmental sustainability, housing development and flood resilience.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.