Compo Pierce sworn in as Watertown mayor

Jan. 1—WATERTOWN — On the day that she took the oath of office, Sarah V. Compo Pierce wondered what her great-grandfather would think of her becoming the city's first woman mayor.

She said she hoped her great-grandfather, William J. Flynn — a longtime City Council member who ran an successful bid for mayor — would look at the accomplishment as "not just a personal victory."

"But instead, a victory for all of us breaking down barriers and paving the way for a more diverse future.

"As the first woman mayor, I am acutely aware of the significance of this moment," she went on to say. "Not just for the women and girls looking up to me today but for every citizen who believes in a more equitable society."

More than 100 family members, local dignitaries, supporters and residents filled the rotunda of the Flower Memorial Library precisely at noon on New Years Day to celebrate the city's milestone.

Compo Pierce told the crowd that Watertown was a great place to grow up. She never thought that she'd return to Watertown, let alone come back and then become mayor, where she's built her life and career.

As the mother of a 15-month-old daughter, Virginia, the new mayor hopes that young people realize that they have the same opportunities and will stay here, she said.

In the days leading up to Monday's swearing in, Compo Pierce said people stopped her in the grocery store and the bank to wish her well, tell her that they're rooting for her and hope that she "can do big things for Watertown."

She envisions making Watertown better as "a team effort." She hopes to get people more involved in the community, letting them know she'll be there to listen and she wants them to know they have a role to play.

"And that's when it comes to improving our city," she said, "there are endless opportunities ahead of us."

During her speech, Compo Pierce outlined a series of goals for her administration.

None is more important than making sure that the city's drinking water is safe, Compo Pierce said. She'll seek state and federal funding for a $50 million project to reduce two contaminants at the city's water treatment.

She promised to clean up neighborhoods by removing blight. She plans to prioritize improvements to infrastructure and come up with a new sidewalk improvement program, she said.

The new mayor said she thinks more should be done to collaborate with local schools. She plans to announce a new initiative that aims to get young people more interested and invested in the city and the community.

"The more we engage young people at an early age, the more likely they will be to return here post-college and contribute to the future of Watertown," she said.

The new City Council consists of two new council members, Benjamin P. Shoen and Robert O. Kimball, and incumbents Lisa A. Ruggiero and Cliff G. Olney III.

They will not always agree with each other, but they all share a love for Watertown, Compo Pierce said.

"I look forward to working alongside council members, both new and old, to move our city forward," the new mayor said.

The previous council was plagued with constant bickering and a feud between Olney and Mayor Jeffrey M. Smith, whose term ended Saturday.

With the new council meeting on Monday night, Kimball hopes that atmosphere is over.

"Council meetings aren't supposed to be exciting," he said. "They're supposed to be as exciting as watching paint dry."

But Shoen said he's excited to be on the council and hopes to get busy quickly.

"I can't wait to get started and see what we can do," he said Monday.