Harwinton Democratic Town Chair, Harwinton Democratic Town Committee, 2013-2014

Member, Democratic State Central Committee, Connecticut Democratic Party, 2004-2012

Harwinton Democratic Town Chair, Harwinton Democratic Towm Committee, 2002-2012

Ward Co-Chair, Yonkers Democratic City Committee, 1993-1994

Ward member, Yonkers Democratic City Committee, 1992-1994

Member, Committee to Honor Lloyd Shanley

Member, Harwinton Ad Hoc Committee to Study Term of First Selectman, 2010

Adjunct Instructor in Biology, Naugatuck Valley Community College, 2003-present

President, M. E. Watanabe Consulting, Incorporated, 1988-present

Project/Program Specialist, University of Connecticut, 2011

Research Assistant, University of Connecticut, 2007-2008

Visiting Scientist, University of Connecticut, 2005-2006

Editor, Nature Publishing Group, 1995-1996

Assistant Managing Editor, Genetic Engineering News, 1992-1993

Visiting Assistant Professor, Manhattan College, 1989-1991

Assistant Professor, Wagner College, 1982-1983

Assist Professor, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, 1979-1981

Instructor, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, 1978-1979

Board Member, The Fitting Room, 2012-2016

Secretary, Harwinton Historical Society, 2004-2005

National Grievance Officer, National Writers Union, UAW Local 1981, 1998-2001

Eastern Regional Vice Chair, National Writers Union, UAW Local 1981, 1997-1998

Awards:

Naugatuck Valley Community College, Adjunct Faculty Teaching Award, 2011, 2013
National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD), 2014 Excellence Award

Naugatuck Valley Community College, Adjunct Faculty Teaching Award, 2011, 2013
National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD), 2014 Excellence Award

Priority Issues:

Education, esp. re: prek-12 funding; free community college in CT
Small business: develop a mechanism for state aid to all small business, not just biotech, engineering and IT
Economic development: establish an agribiotech center for businesses, particularly in Litchfield and Thomaston, with interfaces with local farms and training for students at Naugatuck Valley Community College and Northwestern CT Community College
Term limits for members of the CT state legislature

Publications:

More than 200 publications mostly in scientific journals; two books: Snakes of the World with Peter Brazaitis and The Fight for Survival (editor and co-author)

Reason for Seeking Public Office:

I believe I have the skills, knowledge and background to be an effective state legislator and represent the district well. As a scientist, I evaluate data and evidence and can make informed decisions. I have written about issues that have come before the legislature and will come before it again: public health, zoonotic diseases, threats to pollinators, cloned animals, global warming threats to the environment, laboratory animal research, toxicology, pets, cancer, etc. As a grant writer, I have worked on grants that have won funds in areas that are important to state legislatures: economic development ($810K); veterans' homelessness, access to services and job training ($20 million); homeland security ($75 million); the environment (probably more than $40 million); energy efficiency (at least $100K); etc. I believe that politics is about helping members of our society with legislation that improves our lives, and that is what I intend to do.

Spouse's Occupation:

Retired Curator of the Central Park Zoo in New York; formerly Superintendent of Reptiles at the Bronx Zoo. Currently serves as a forensic examiner, specializing in the identification of reptiles and their skins and products for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and auction houses involved in the occasional sale of such products as antiques.