https://www.wcac.org/news/wea-endorses-three-candidates-for-school-committee
James Zanghi
“This campaign is not about me,” said first-time candidate James Zanghi, class president for WHS Class of 2016. “It is about the future of the city: Waltham students.”
A fourth-generation Waltham resident who has worked at local restaurants, he became the first in his family to earn a college degree.
Currently Zanghi works as a legislative staffer for Waltham State Representative Tom Stanley. The job requires constituent responsiveness and government policy knowledge and has opened many doors to various state and federal boards and committees.
Zanghi has taught math, reading and English in Kenya, tutors fifth graders at Plympton and volunteers at Bristol Lodge Soup Kitchen in Waltham.
Among his goals are securing a permanent location for the Dual Language School, encouraging career pathways such as vocational trades and improving after-school activities for middle school students.
“By working together for our schools, we can all set out to build the educational community we envision and empower our youth to accomplish their dreams and realize their potential in the world,” he said.
JAMES ZANGHI WINS SCHOOL COMMITTEE SEAT
One school committee seat was up for grabs this fall after current member Jane Gately decided not to seek re-election.
In a field of five strong candidates, James Zanghi captured a seat, earning a lot of votes for a first-time candidate.
Zanghi, the class president for WHS Class of 2016, nearly caught Teddy Tarallo, a multi-term incumbent who took the top spot.
Finishing third was fellow incumbent Margy Donnelly.
School Committee (three seats):
✓ Teddy Tarallo* 5,205
✓ James Zanghi 5,062
✓ Margy Donnelly* 4,443
Carolina Lara 4,344
Tammy Wong-Bigelow 4,138
Thank you to the League of Women Voters of Waltham, WATCH CDC, and The Waltham Channel for hosting a Waltham School Committee candidates forum.
It was wonderful event, where each of us answered a total of 9 questions for about 2 hours. It is vital as a community to keep these conversations going and have all of our voices heard to share our policy ideas/vision for the Waltham Public Schools.