While the election is over, and we wrapped up most of our coverage last week, two more nuggets came in the last few days. First, Melrose editor Daniel DeMaina completed his video of State Sen. elect Katherine Clark thanking her supporters on election night. The video had been delayed due to technical issues. Second, Kara Fratto, the Reading resident who lost her bid to replace incumbent State Rep. Jim Dwyer, sent us an open letter thanking her supporters. Both follow below. Dear Editor: I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of my supporters for the assistance and support you have …

While the majority of Massachusetts voters backed Democratic candidates for state-wide officer, Reading tended toward Republican candidates. The town, which sided with Barack Obama in last year's presidential race, voted for Charlie Baker as governor, Karyn Polito for treasurer and Craig Spadafora for State Senate, among others. Overall, 11,027 voters, 65.3 percent of those registered in Reading, turned out Tuesday. That compares to 3,078 voters in September's primary and 13,860 in last year's national election. Simplified results follow below. *Indicates winner. Total Percentage Governor …

Update (11/3/10, 9:00 a.m.): Corrected preliminary results for Reading. Precinct 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Total Governor Patrick 575 541 512 650 514 611 630 507 4540 Baker 830 625 621 757 591 757 688 780 5649 Cahill 84 93 80 69 73 89 90 81 659 Stein 11 19 12 6 18 14 21 10 111 Attorney General Coakley 858 770 742 934 742 882 910 769 6607 McKenna 616 488 473 538 442 565 499 587 4208 Secretary of State Galvin 834 772 729 887 730 873 848 723 6396 Campbell 579 429 441 510 412 516 493 566 3946 Henderson 20 33 23 21 26 18 23 14 178 Treasurer Grossman 642 635 571 722 589 703 723 573 5158 Polito 771 589 612 …

The voters of Massachusetts' Sixth Congressional District have reelected Democratic Congressman John Tierney to an eighth term. Tierney defeated his Republican challenger, Bill Hudak of Boxford, winning 57 percent of the vote. Hudak won 43 percent. "We want John," the crowd chanted in the Hawthorne Hotel grand ballroom -- Tierney campaign headquarters of the evening. Then with "Still the One" by Orleans blaring through the room, Tierney entered from the back door and ascended to the stage with an ear-to-ear smile and his wife Patrice at his side. Hudak had conceded and the race was projected …

Democratic incumbent Jim Dwyer Tuesday surged to victory in the 30th Middlesex house district, which includes wards two, three and five in Reading, and the result surprised Republican challenger and Reading resident Kara Fratto. "I thought I was going to win, and I was very surprised by the results—particularly in Reading and Stoneham. Those were shocking," Fratto said.   According to preliminary results, Dwyer won all three towns, taking moderate victories in Reading and Stoneham while doubling Fratto's votes in his home territory of Woburn. Early returns show that Dwyer won 63 percent to 37…

Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Melrose, defeated on Tuesday election opponent Craig Spadafora, a Republican Malden City Councilor, taking the state Senate seat held since 1991 by departing Republican state Sen. Richard Tisei—who ran as Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker's running mate—and becoming the first woman to hold the state Senate for the Middlesex and Essex District. In her victory speech at the VFW Lt. Norman Prince Post on Main Street in Melrose, Clark said told her supporters that she was "grateful" for their support, friendship and the volunteer hours put in for her …

Four residents tell us what brought them to the polls today.

Campaigners outside of the Reading Memorial High School field house, where the town has set up its polling place, reported a jovial atmosphere among sign-hoisters—even among competing campaigns. Anne Murphy, who said she supported Republican candidates because she doesn't like the direction in which the country is headed, said that she supported everyone's right to have and display their own opinion. Margaret Cowell, who held signs for Democrats Rep. John Tierney and State Sen. candidate Katherine Clark, said she and her husband were excited to see the electoral process, and had been getting …

For all Reading residents planning to vote in Tuesday's general election, here is what you need to know. Precincts and Polling Places:Reading has eight precincts (find out which precinct you live in), but all residents cast their ballot at the Reading Memorial High School field house on Oakland Road. State law requires that the polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Who Can Vote:All residents registered to vote in Reading may cast a ballot. The deadline to register to vote in the general election closed on Wednesday, Oct. 25. Contested Seats: Governor And Lieutenant Governor: Patrick …

Reading Patch has brought you a lot of election coverage over the past few weeks. For your convenience, we have collected all of it below. Check back tomorrow as we bring you up-to-the-minute coverage from the polls as well as local campaigns. State Senate—Democrat Catherine Clark vs. Republican Craig Spadafora: General Q&As Clark Spadafora Debates Video from the debate hosted by the Massachusetts Senior Action Council Clark and Spadafora's September debate Clark and Spadafora's cancelled debate Positions on issues Regional crime Business Education Taxes Regionalization Clark slams Spadafora …

Below follow clips from last week's debate between Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Melrose, and Malden City Councillor-At-Large Craig Spadafora, R-Malden, who are vying for the Middlesex and Essex State Senate seat vacated by lieutenant governor candidate Sen. Richard Tisei, R-Wakefield. Video from the debate, which was hosted by the Massachusetts Senior Action Council and Malden Access Television (MATV), has been provided by MATV. The videos cover (in order): The candidates positions on the three ballot questions. Funding for public safety. Taxes and revenues. Local aid. Tax increases.    

Office running for: State Treasurer Name: Steve Grossman Address: Newton, MA Occupation: Chairman, Grossman Marketing Group Party Affiliation: Democrat Previous political experience (if any): Founding board member of Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth (MassINC). Former board chairman, Brandeis University. Trustee of Project Bread, advisory board member of the Women's Lunch Place, overseer of the Dimock Community Health Center, trustee of Museum of Fine Arts, and former campaign chair of Combined Jewish Philanthropies. Former chairman of Massachusetts and national Democratic …

Office running for: State Treasurer Name: Karyn Polito Address: Shrewsbury, MA Occupation: Small business owner, state representative (11th Worcester), attorney Party Affiliation: Republican Previous political experience (if any):Shrewsbury selectman (1995-1998), Shrewsbury town meeting member (1993-2000), Shrewsbury Zoning Board of Appeals (1994-1995), Massachusetts State Lottery Commissioner (1999-2000) and Mass. House (2001-present) What are the major issues facing the state of Massachusetts and how will you tackle these issues: As I crisscross the state talking to people, I hear time and …

Democratic Candidate Katherine Clark and Republican candidate Craig Spadafora will face off Nov. 2 to replace departing State Sen. Richard Tisei in the Middlesex and Essex district, which includes Reading. Reading Patch asked both candidates a series of questions and will present their answers side by side this week. The answers are presented here as they were received, edited only for format. Question: As a state senator, what would you do on Beacon Hill to improve education for students in Reading's public schools? Republican Candidate Craig Spadafora: One thing I would do to ensure that …

The Reading Finance Committee has voted to take a stand against Question 3 on the November ballot.  Question 3 asks voters to reduce state sales tax by over 50%.  The revenue loss would severely limit the State's ability to fund local aid or provide critical services.  The independent non-partisan Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation (MTF) estimates the State revenue reduction at $2.5 billion, with the State budget office projecting a $1.5 million loss in direct revenue to Reading.     A reduction of this magnitude would severely impact the town budget with cuts resulting in potential staff …

Democratic Candidate Katherine Clark and Republican candidate Craig Spadafora will face off Nov. 2 to replace departing State Sen. Richard Tisei in the Middlesex and Essex district, which includes Reading. Reading Patch asked both candidates a series of questions and will present their answers side by side this week. The answers are presented here as they were received, edited only for format. Question: Reading has struggled to strike a balance between being friendly to businesses and maintaining high standards for the town. What will you do as a state senator to help local municipalities …

Democratic Candidate Katherine Clark and Republican candidate Craig Spadafora will face off Nov. 2 to replace departing State Sen. Richard Tisei in the Middlesex and Essex district, which includes Reading. Reading Patch asked both candidates a series of questions and will present their answers side by side this week. The answers are presented here as they were received, edited only for format. Question: If circumstances dictated that you had to raise one tax, what would it be and why? Republican Candidate Craig Spadafora: Throughout my campaign for the State Senate, I have been consistent in …

Democratic Candidate Katherine Clark and Republican candidate Craig Spadafora will face off Nov. 2 to replace departing State Sen. Richard Tisei in the Middlesex and Essex district, which includes Reading. Reading Patch asked both candidates a series of questions and will present their answers side by side this week. The answers are presented here as they were received, edited only for format. Question: Reading has lately suffered a rash of thefts perpetrated by criminals that roved from town to town. What will you do as a state senator to better address this kind of regional crime? …

Republican candidate Kara Fratto aims to replace Democratic incumbent James Dwyer as the state representative for Massachusetts' 30th Middlesex house district, which includes wards 2, 3 and 5 in Reading. Reading Patch asked both candidates a series of questions and will present their answers side by side over the next week and a half. The answers are presented here as they were received, edited only for format. Question: Reading has struggled lately to strike a balance between being friendly to business and maintaining high standards for the town. What will you do as a state representative to…

State senate hopefuls battled it out at the Malden Senior Center last night in a spirited debate hosted by the Massachusetts Senior Action Council and MATV.  House Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Melrose) and City Councillor-At-Large Craig Spadafora (R-Malden), who are vying for the Middlesex and Essex State Senate seat vacated by lieutenant governor candidate Richard Tisei (R-Wakefield), discussed issues facing seniors, the rise in crime over the last few months and state spending at the Wednesday night debate. Senior issues A panel consisting of local Massachusetts Senior Action Council members …