Sign of the Times? Council Race Heats Up—Literally
Sign of the Times? Council Race Heats Up—Literally
By the Watertown Post Editorial Team
Watertown’s City Council race just went from heated to possibly pyromaniacal.
Reports surfaced earlier this week that a yard sign promoting council candidate Anthony Velasquez was not just removed—but allegedly burned—and left smoldering on someone’s porch like a flaming political calling card. If true, this incident raises more than eyebrows—it raises real questions about safety, sanity, and strategy in what’s become one of the most chaotic local elections in recent memory.
Council candidate Colin Burns, a steady and level-headed voice in the race, confirmed the bizarre event allegedly took place on a street near where he lives. “It’s troubling,” he said. “If this actually happened, then it’s dangerous and needs to be investigated. If it didn’t… well, that’s just as troubling.”
We agree.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: if someone is torching campaign signs and dropping them on porches at 4:00 a.m., then we’ve got a public safety crisis and a political circus on our hands. Was it a political hit job? Was it one of Watertown’s sadly neglected mentally ill residents wandering the streets unsupervised? Or—brace yourselves—is this a “Jussie Smollett Situation,” where the political narrative is more choreographed than credible?
Because let’s be real—burning a sign and blaming the opposition is the oldest sympathy play in the political playbook. If Velasquez is trying to spark an emotional reaction in the final stretch of this race, he may have overshot the mark—and set fire to his own credibility.
Of course, we can’t rule anything out without an investigation. That’s why it’s imperative the Watertown Police Department and Fire Department treat this incident with the seriousness it deserves. The public deserves answers, and the neighborhood where this occurred deserves to know if they’re living near a political arsonist or a drama enthusiast with a lighter.
As of press time, there’s been no public release of any Ring camera or security footage that confirms—or disproves—Velasquez’s account. In a city increasingly wired with doorbell cams and surveillance, that silence is deafening.
One thing is clear: Colin Burns has kept his cool, avoided theatrics, and stayed focused on the issues facing Watertown—while some others seem more interested in starring in a local political thriller.
We’re watching closely. But if this council race gets any hotter, we may need the fire marshal at the next debate.
Stay tuned, Watertown.
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Tips or footage from the alleged incident? Send them to hw@digitalmediausa.com
Editor’s Note:
Thank you to the Anthony Velasquez campaign facebook page for providing the photo related to the alleged incident. Transparency and documentation are vital in moments like this—whatever the truth may ultimately reveal.
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