Lone 2-Year School Candidate Excited to Expand Advocacy

For Kate Naughton to have her campaign for School Committee just about wrapped up by October is a striking turn of events.

For starters, Naughton – the only candidate for the two years remaining on former member Joe Zarrella's term – never thought she would run for public office.

Naughton was working for Greater Media Boston four years ago, managing commercial inventory, when she attended a forum featuring Michael Graham held at F1 Boston. It was an event promoting public candidacy, with a "stop complaining and do something" kind of vibe, she said.

She had volunteered with her son's PTO at the Highlands, but otherwise had no related experience. She earned a bachelor's degree in Speech Communications from Bridgewater State College, and worked briefly for Patriot Ledger circulation and in insurance before starting a 17-year radio career.

But four years ago she decided to test the waters. Rather than running for School Committee herself, Naughton backed Pam Kiley, who won a four-year term and this year decided not to seek re-election.

Naughton began volunteering with the Kileys' technology non-profit, Braintree Fund for Education. She also became a Faith Formation Educator at St. Clare's and a treasurer for Boy Scout Troop 138.

Earlier this year, Naughton was one of six candidates seeking to fill Zarrella's seat until the November election.

At the time, she began developing a list of ideas for the school department, and deciding her position on key issues.

She supports the expansion of full-day kindergarten, preferably as part of the district's formal offerings rather than tuition-based; believes that renovations and additions are a pragmatic approach to space needs but that new buildings would be ideal; appreciates the recent efforts to boost school security by adding cameras and new locks; and thinks that despite the town's and BFFE's efforts, "we have a long way to go" when it comes to technology, pointing as an example to the computer requirement that is part of the new PARC testing.

As for fees, a point of contention this year as the School Committee raised the cost of participating in athletics and residents town-wide faced an additional fee for disposing of more waste, Naughton said she sees them as perhaps necessary, but not nuanced enough.

"In a perfect world it would be nice not to have to pay for our child's sports," she said. "That may not be feasible."

Naughton does not see herself starting on the School Committee and focusing on one overriding issue.

"I'm a mom who wants the best for my child and the best for all children in the Braintree Public Schools," she said.

When Sarah Nichols was appointed to fill that temporary slot earlier this year, Naughton said she was not sure she would run in the fall. But when the election season came and she saw the lack of candidates for School Committee, Naughton said she thought, "This is an opportunity to get my foot in the door."

A few weeks later and Naughton is the only candidate for her seat on the ballot. Her signatures have been certified – "The first day was nerve-wracking" – and she is taking time to sit in on as many PTO meetings as possible before Nov. 5.

Meanwhile, only two candidates – incumbent David Ringius, Jr. and Cyril A. Chafe – are running for three, four-year slots. That means come January a write-in candidate will likely hold a seat on the School Committee.

"It's disappointing that we're in that situation," Naughton said.

Naughton and her husband Michael moved to Braintree 14 years ago from Quincy. They have a 15-year-old son Brendan who recently began his freshman year at Braintree High School.

The Naughton Committee is hosting a fundraiser at the Granite Grill on Thursday, Oct. 17 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. with a suggested donation of $25.