Why I’m supporting JIM Letterie for Council President
Dear Editor,
I write as both a resident of Winthrop and as someone privileged to be your State Representative to endorse Council President Jim Letterie for re-election for Winthrop Town Council President.
As a former Town Council President, I understand the challenges Jim has faced during his past four years at the helm of our town government. The proof of Jim’s leadership success is in the proverbial “pudding.”
As an active member of the school committee, Jim has worked hard to make sure our schools have the resources necessary to give our students and staff the resources they need to succeed. Jim worked, with our superintendent and the rest of the school committee, to shepherd through the Town Council two override campaigns, including a successful campaign earlier this year which will guarantee both fiscal stability and resources for the next several years.
Jim’s commitment to our schools and our school children is driven both by his belief that a strong school system is a mark of a thriving community and by his amazing wife, Dawn, who recently retired after a forty-year career serving the Winthrop Public Schools. Jim recognizes that “education is the great equalizer” and that every Winthrop child deserves an opportunity for a great public education.
A few short years ago, Winthrop was charging our families for full-day kindergarten and outrageous athletic fees, Jim Letterie stood with me to eliminate tuition of full-day kindergarten saving the working families of Winthrop over $250,000.00 per year while at the same time increasing state aid to our schools by nearly $350,000.00 per year. Jim Letterie stood with me to reduce athletic fees to $250.00 per sport with a family cap of $750.00 from the outrageous amount of $425.00 per student per sport with no family cap. Leadership can be viewed by platitudes and leadership can be viewed by actions. Jim Letterie has led the effort to make our schools better with his actions and not his words.
As the President of a hopelessly divided Town Council, Jim Letterie has led with vision, integrity and always with one focus: the best interest of our little town and its people. Jim understands that the slogan of many in our town “Keep Winthrop, Winthrop” is a celebration of all things that make Winthrop and its people such an amazing community to live in and not something to be so easily dismissed.
Under Jim’s leadership, after years of inaction, a new fire station for the brave men and women of the Winthrop Fire Department will become a reality. Under Jim’s leadership we have seen the largest road and infrastructure improvement in recent town history. Under Jim’s leadership, the town successfully negotiated a new mitigation package with the MWRA to make sure the town is properly compensated for the burdens we face by hosting the sewage treatment plant.
When the City of Boston, in the dark of night, and without any consultation with its neighbors in Winthrop or Revere, proposed to cut Bennington Street in East Boston to one travel lane in each direction, it was Jim Letterie who brought the issue to my attention and demanded that Winthrop public safety officials be brought into the discussion. I am grateful to my colleague Representative Adrian Madaro for his leadership in stopping this outrageous and frankly dangerous plan.
As Council President, Jim Letterie has twice led the Town Council to take a stand to defend the integrity of Winthrop’s zoning process against the outrageous MBTA Communities Act. Jim has successfully led this effort despite having members of the Winthrop Town Council proudly working to “hijack” a meeting set up to fight for Winthrop’s best interests.
When a vacancy occurred on the Town Council, Jim Letterie spoke up forcefully when a faction of the Town Council decided it was better to leave one-sixth of town voters without representation rather than electing Karin Chavis to fill the vacancy. Except for former Speaker Robert DeLeo, I would argue no other resident of this town has served the town for a longer period of time and on more boards, committees and commissions than Karin Chavis. I am proud that Jim spoke up forcefully to this unfortunate decision.
Finally, when the Mass DEP decided to essentially conduct a hostile takeover of Yirrell Beach, Jim Letterie took the lead in the town’s resistance. In short, Jim Letterie has led our Town Council by his actions and not empty platitudes.
This election is the first time since I moved to Winthrop in 2004 that outside political activists have been invited into our town to influence our elections. Regardless which candidate you support, you must ask yourself, do these outside political activists have the best interest of Winthrop and its residents at heart or are they pushing another agenda? I suggest that the best interests of Winthrop are furthest from their minds, and I find it quite insulting that both the political and monied interests think they can tell the people of Winthrop how to vote.
Jim Letterie is running for reelection based on his record of accomplishments, his vision for a better future and his deep commitment to our residents, both new and long-standing. I am proud to support his re-election and urge you to join me in voting for him on November 4th!
Jeffrey Rosario Turco
State Representative
Resident, Precinct 2
Why I’m running for Council President
Dear Editor,
To the entire Winthrop Community,
Whether you’ve lived here your whole life or just arrived, whether we agree politically or not, I want to speak to you. Because what makes Winthrop strong is all of us – together. We are a community that supports each other through storms, celebrates our strengths, and finds ways to grow when we work together.
I love Winthrop. That love is rooted in my family’s long history of service, in my years in our public schools, and in the charm of a close-knit town that sits right next to Boston. My time on the Town Council over the past four years has only deepened my commitment to this community and our future.
Serving on the Council has given me the privilege of working with residents who pour time and energy into what they care about – youth, seniors, public safety, our environment, and so much more. I’ve made it a priority to meet people where they are, to listen, and to learn. That’s what public service is about.
I believe the job of Town Council President extends far beyond Town Hall. It requires being accessible, present, and proactive in bridging the gap between local government and the people it serves. I’ve built trust by showing up, supporting community-led efforts, and keeping lines of communication open. I will continue to be a strong advocate for making town government more transparent, more efficient, and more inclusive.
Inside Town Hall, I’ve been appointed to more committees than any other councilor – because I work hard and put Winthrop first. From work on the Fire House Building Committee, Finance Commission, and the Charter Review Committee in addition to council subcommittees, I’ve prioritized improving access to information, enhancing public transportation, and increasing participation in town government. But we still have work to do – remote access to all meetings, predictable scheduling, and clear annual priorities must become the norm. Everyone in Winthrop deserves the ability to understand how decisions are made and how they can engage.
These changes are within reach. With better onboarding for new councilors and volunteer committee members, thoughtful scheduling, and stronger community engagement, we can increase participation across boards and committees and compile all perspectives in town.
I bring a creative, inclusive approach to solving problems. A more diverse student population enriches our schools and community. New residents bring fresh ideas and expertise. And the status quo is just one option – not the only way forward.
Over the past months, I’ve knocked on hundreds of doors, made calls, visited bus stops, ferries, and local businesses, and engaged online. I’ve heard your concerns – about our schools, flooding, affordability, and the tone of our civic discourse. I’m ready to lead with transparency, integrity, and community at the center.
Over the past four years I have built relationships that produced results for Winthrop: expanded ferry service while saving the town money, $500,000 for multilingual learners, support for our unions, and coordination with regional leaders on traffic and safety issues. These partnerships are essential to solving the challenges we face – not just today, but long-term.
Winthrop’s future can be bright. We can support small businesses, strengthen our schools, protect our beaches, and prepare for climate impacts. But to do that, we must move forward – together.
We are resilient. We are diverse. We are passionate. And we are capable of so much more than the division and dysfunction we’ve seen. I’m ready to lead with a steady hand and an open mind, focused not on politics, but on people.
On Tuesday, November 4th, I respectfully ask for your vote for Town Council President. Hannah Belcher
Candidate for Council President