Waltham voters go to the polls today to elect the next mayor of Waltham, nine ward councilors, six councilors at large and three members to sit on the school committee.

Two-term Mayor Jeannette McCarthy is running against Andrew Wirth, a 22 year-old MassBay Community College student.

Despite the fact that Brandeis is located in Waltham, there have been no movements on-campus to raise awareness and most students interviewed were unaware that city elections would be taking place today. None interviewed could name the candidates.

McCarthy's two major projects that she would like to complete in a third term as mayor would likely not have direct effects on the insulated Brandeis community.

The projects entail developing and properly planning the use of the 200-acre state-owned Fernald School property and the privately owned 119-acre former Polaroid property off Main Street, according to McCarthy.

Part of the plan to develop the Polaroid property is to bring diverse retail stores, restaurants and office buildings. "We are excited about that but we are also cognizant of the traffic," she said. This plan is currently in its first phases of implementation.

McCarthy said the relationship between Brandeis and the City of Waltham is "good," citing the Waltham Group as a positive influence, but has room to improve. "I think, overall, it's a better relationship [than it was] in the '60s and '70s."

McCarthy suggested bringing more Brandeis students into Waltham schools.

"I think there should be more with regard to the science programs, I think that bringing the strength of the Brandeis academics to the day-to-day mentoring, I would like to see more programs like that," she said.

McCarthy also said that Brandeis does not "give as much money to the City of Waltham as Bentley does."

McCarthy's competitor, Andrew Wirth, could not be reached for comment by press time. Wirth—who is aspiring to gain a place in the Guinness Book of World Records by spinning the book on his finger for over 40 minutes—told the Waltham News Tribune in August that he would like to focus on improving the roads and sidewalks.

Seven ward councilor incumbents are running unopposed, according to the sample ballot. Nine individuals are running for six open councilor at large positions and six people are running for three open seats on the school committee.

Polls are open today from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

—Andrew Wingens