Who we are
So far “we” is just “me” — Sean Diamond — but I’m hoping to build a coalition of residents, community members, and leaders in Waltham who want a more transparent, accessible, and resilient Waltham.
The Long Version…
I’m Walking For Office
I’m Sean Diamond, and in 2019 my wife Lauren and I moved to Waltham with our cat Louise. In 2024, I ran for office for the first time as an independent candidate, trying to reach as many doors as I could in person while seeking to be one of Waltham’s State Representatives. However, I quickly discovered that there is not enough time in a single campaign season to reach every house (at least not if you have a full time job). This time, I’ve decided that — rather than running for office again in 2026 — I’m going to start walking for office in 2027!
That’s right, rather than another 8 month “sprint” to be Waltham State Rep, I’m going to do a 20 month “walk-a-thon” for municipal office in Waltham.
Waltham’s next regular municipal Election Day is Tuesday, November 2nd, 2027, so from March 2026 to October 2027 I plan to walk to-and-thru every neighborhood in Waltham at least once.
As I walk for office, I will document potential infrastructure improvements, obvious accessibility issues, and likely safety concerns that ought to be addressed by the city. I will also share petitions about important local topics (starting with the city website’s lack of ADA compliance), and — more importantly — I will be on a listening tour to get to know my neighbors better.
A key part of this walk-a-thon is that it will be in person, in real life, and (mostly) offline!
I’m reaching out to the community
Last time I ran for office in Waltham we didn’t have a local newspaper and the only way to hear about what was happening in the community seemed to be the Waltham subreddit, where I tried to engage community members with limited success. This time around, rather than spending any significant amount of time posting on social media, I will be relying on the excellent local news coverage provided by the Waltham Times.
Therefore, this time around, I will simply share my walk-a-thon schedule on my personal website www.sean.diamonds, so that folks know when I will be in their neighborhood and RSVP if they are interested in joining me on a walk.
Throughout this walk-a-thon, the Committee to Elect Sean Diamond will be sponsoring the website (WalthamForward.com) where we will post petitions (WalthamForward.com/Act), allow you to help document missing sidewalks and other safety/accessibility issues (WalthamForward.com/Fix), or sign up to lead your own local neighborhood walking tour (WalthamForward.com/Walk).
Most importantly, if you do nothing else after reading or hearing this, I encourage everyone to get offline and introduce yourself to a neighbor that you have not met before. In this era of hyper isolation, we could all use a little more time together in person in real life. If you are nervous about venturing out to meet strangers (or if you are under 18), tell someone where you are going and consider bringing along a friend or family member. Also, remember that despite many misconceptions, “no soliciting” signs/laws don’t apply to most religious, political, or civic organizations (or people just getting to know their neighbors). Of course, regardless of the laws… remember to respect your neighbors privacy if they don’t want to engage!
I’m building a coalition for the future
While the Committee to Elect Sean Diamond does not have a formal affiliation with the Massachusetts Forward Party, I was instrumental in establishing the Forward Party as a political designation in Massachusetts and leading the inaugural MA Forward Party state conventions (right here in Waltham). I was also the first candidate in Massachusetts to be on the ballot with the “Forward” political designation. I believe that is possible for the Forward Party to become the second largest party in Massachusetts over the next decade.
As I prepare for the formal municipal election cycle, I will be encouraging everyone who is eligible to register to vote (WalthamForward.com/Vote). As I do so, I will be introducing them to what it means to have “forward values” in a real practical sense here in Waltham. To measure progress and support before Election Day, I have set a goal of 1,000 Waltham voters who update their voter registration to enroll in the Forward Party designation.
I will also informally be seeking to meet and collaborate with other political candidates and elected officials (from any party or none at all) who want to improve government transparency and accountability, champion physical and digital accessibility, and build a more resilient and welcoming community in Waltham. If that is you (or you are considering a run for state or local office in Waltham), please contact “me” — soon to be “us” (WalthamForward.com/Contact).