Compo Pierce seeking Watertown mayoral seat
Feb. 27—WATERTOWN — City Councilwoman Sarah V. Compo Pierce never uttered the words Watertown Golf Club on Monday.
But she talked a lot about the deal to purchase the golf club in Thompson Park when she announced at a press conference on Monday that she is running for mayor in the November election.
The first-term councilwoman is the first candidate to throw her hat in the ring.
In criticizing the $3.4 million deal with Michael E. Lundy, Councilwoman Compo Pierce, 37, told supporters at the Italian American Civic Association that she'll bring "common sense, transparency and fiscal responsibility" to council.
During her speech, she said the golf club deal was put together by council members Lisa A. Ruggiero, Cliff G. Olney III and Patrick J. Hickey out of the public's eye.
"There will be no closed-door meetings," she said, again blasting the three council members for not allowing the public to speak at a special meeting about the purchase.
She's never heard of that happening before.
She vowed to listen to voters. She also promised to work with other council members so "we can achieve more."
As she and her husband Paul are small business owners, the councilwoman said she will work hard for others.
Describing herself as coming from a new generation of leaders, she said it would be exciting to become the first woman to be elected Watertown mayor.
She could be facing Councilwoman Ruggiero in the mayor's race, who is expect to announce her mayoral run soon.
It would be the first time that two women would be running against each other for the four-year position in the nonpartisan race.
Four years ago, Allison I. Crossman ran an unsuccessful campaign.
Councilwoman Compo Pierce said she made a final decision to seek the mayor's seat on Sunday after talking it over with her husband, parents and her boss, retired state Sen. Patricia A. Ritchie.
She urged young women to work hard if they want to accomplish their goals.
Mayor Jeffrey M. Smith said he will not seek reelection after serving one term. He always planned to be a one-term mayor, he said after the press conference.
He accomplished everything he had planned to during the past four years, the mayor said.
The mayor and Councilwoman Compo Pierce have been political allies, voting the same way on many issues during the past year, including their opposition to the golf club purchase and spending money on a new pool on the city's north side.
After becoming a mother to daughter Virginia five months ago, she's committed to making Watertown better as mayor. A former television reporter at WWNY-TV7/WNYF-TV, she recently returned to the station to join the staff selling advertising.
In 2019, Councilwoman Compo Pierce was appointed to council to fill the position vacated by Councilman Mark C. Walczyk, who was elected to the state Assembly. She was elected to council a year later.
This past fall, Councilwoman Compo Pierce initially expressed interest in being appointed to the Jefferson County Board of Legislators to replace Legislator Scott A. Gray, who was elected to the state Assembly in November. She ultimately decided to stay on council, causing speculation that she would seek the mayor's seat.
Candidates can start circulating petitions for signatures to run for office on Tuesday.
So far, several residents have picked up petitions to run for mayor or council, according to the Jefferson County Board of Elections.
Dr. Robert Kimball has expressed an interest in both council and mayor, but hasn't made up his mind which office he will seek, according to the board of elections.
Councilman Patrick J. Hickey, former Councilman Leonard G. Spaziani, former candidate Jason Traynor and Michael Wratchford have picked up petitions for council. On Monday, former candidate Benjamin P. Shoen would not say whether he'll run again after running in 2021.
Candidates must get 165 residents to sign the petitions and turn them in between April 3 and 6.
