Letterie begins second term as Council President
A number of new faces to elective office were sworn in during a special ceremony at the Robert A. Deleo Senior Center on Tuesday night.
Town Clerk Denise Quist administered the oath of office to the successful candidates from the November election for library trustees, housing authority, school committee, and town council.
Among those sworn in were library trustees Gillian Teixeira, Grace Kingsbury, and Cynthia Hastings; housing authority member Peter Gill; school committee members Kaitlin Burroughs, Leslie Darcy, and Shannon Kubik; town councilors Kurt Millar, Kim Dimes, Joseph Romano, Paul Reardon, and Pat Costigan; and Council President Jim Letterie.
Following the swearing in, Letterie delivered remarks to the elected officials and those gathered at the senior center.
He thanked the voters, town officials past and present, and his family for their role in his success.
“My wife Dawn has always been there for me, not always willingly, but always there,” said Letterie. “No one puts their name on the ballot to make friends, there are times when decisions are unpopular or misunderstood, and I’m fortunate to have someone who understands my passion for the town, listens, and helps me navigate those choices. My kids, Jake and Jenna, they were five and three when I first ran for office, now they are 27 and 25.
“They’ve grown up understanding the importance of civic involvement and the value of public service.”
Letterie said the swearing-in ceremony and his reelection marked a meaningful and humbling moment for him, and that he was sincerely grateful for the continued trust that residents and voters have placed in him to serve for a third term as council president.
“I do so with a profound appreciation … for the responsibility to serve every one of the nearly 20,000 residents who call Winthrop home,” said Letterie. “In Winthrop, we are more than just a governing body, we are stewards of a shared future. Our community is defined by strong values, diverse perspectives, and a deep sense of pride.
“As we look ahead, we know challenges will arise, though progress often comes from thoughtful differences rather than complete agreement.”
Letterie thanked the town’s many employees, whose dedication and professionalism he said provide the foundation for the town.
“I am committed to fostering an environment where our employees feel valued, supported, and respected, and where their service is recognized as essential and deeply respected,” he said.
Because of the dedication of the town’s public safety personnel, the council president said Winthrop residents are able to go to sleep each night with a sense of safety and peace of mind.
“I pledged in my last inaugural address to work tirelessly to provide our first responders with the resources and infrastructure they need to continue their vital work,” said Letterie. “At that time, we had just been unsuccessful in our first attempt at a different site (for a new fire station), but we committed to presenting a fully vetted option, ensuring transparency and providing ample opportunities for questions from the community. Our goal was simple, to deliver a ballot-ready project worthy of the goal.
“Thanks to your support last spring, we can now move forward together, turning that vision into reality,” he continued. “I want to sincerely thank the citizens of Winthrop for their overwhelming support in passing that debt exclusion for the much needed new firehouse on the site of the former middle school.”
During his last inaugural address, Letterie said he also discussed the start of the Revere Street TIP project, which is now well underway.
“It has certainly caused some inconvenience for residents, as well as business owners,” said Letterie. “The project is scheduled for completion this summer. Once finished, it will deliver significant infrastructure improvements, including enhanced traffic and pedestrian signals, improved access to the Gorman Fort Banks School, and a visually attractive upgrade that will benefit the entire community.”
Letterie noted that the coming year will also bring improvements to the town’s ice rink, including a locker room addition.
He also asked for additional residents to serve on the firehouse reuse committee that will help determine the future of the town’s two existing fire stations.
“I do have a vision for the Pauline Street station, one that would involve a public-private partnership,” said Letterie. “Imagine a community center for performing arts and events, a place where local artists can showcase their talents, where organizations can host programs, and where families and friends can gather to celebrate, with subsidized rates for nonprofits. The center would become a vibrant hub for culture, creativity, and connections.”