patching...
Welcome back, Patch Blogger!

Elections

Sunday, April 14, 2013

A Week of Key Debates, Endorsements

A look back at what happened over the past week in the U.S. Senate race.

Just a little more than two weeks until the primary election to see which Democrat and Republican will go head to head to fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by John Kerry’s appointment to Secretary of State. Monday night, U.S. Congressmen Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston) and Edward Markey (D-Malden) met in their second debate which contained few fireworks. The debate, held at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and sponsored by the college and the Boston Herald, lasted about 45 minutes and touched a wide variety of issues on which the two Democrats mostly agreed. On Wednesday night, it was the Republicans’ turn as they went face to face in the WBZ-TV studios moderated by the station’s Jon Keller. Former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan…

Comment_arrow

Anna Bucciarelli

9:46 am on Monday, April 15, 2013

PS ... I too feel that Lynch is the better of the 2 dems but certainly not my first choice. At this point, I am still VERY ambivalent and have no clue where I'll go with my vote but I strongly feel this Commonwealth would fair better with diversity of opinion rather than to continue as it is, a one-party governing body.   more ›

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

You Ask... Patch Answers

When is the Last Day to Register to Vote in Senate Primary?

Today is the deadline.

Have you registered to vote yet? Time is running out! Today is the deadline to register. If you plan to vote in the April 30 senate primary election, you must register to vote by Wednesday, April 10.  Voter registration can be done through the mail, but not if you are just getting around to it today. If you still want to register, you should do it in person at Reading Town Hall, or at the Registry of Motor Vehicles.  Head down to Reading Town Hall and register in person.  If you're heading to the Registry of Motor Vehicles to apply for or renew your driver's license, you can fill out the voter form.   If you moved recently to a different city or town, you must re-register to vote at your new address. If you moved within the same city or …

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Lynch, Markey Debate Health Care, Outside Funding

Candidates for U.S. Senate Democratic nomination squared off in Lowell Monday.

  U.S. Congressmen Stephen Lynch and Edward Markey met in their second debate Monday ahead of the Democratic U.S. Senate special primary in a contest that contained few fireworks outside of an exchange on health care. The debate, held at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and sponsored by the college and the Boston Herald, lasted about 45 minutes and touched a wide variety of issues on which the two Democrats mostly agreed. An early question was asked about the candidates' positions on the Affordable Care Act. Markey (D-Malden) voted in favor of the bill that passed in 2010 while Lynch (D-South Boston) was one of few Democrats who opposed it. Markey said voting for the bill was the "proudest vote of my Congressional career." He said …

Monday, April 8, 2013

Lynch, Markey Debate Tonight in Lowell

The Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate meet in their second debate.

The combatants for the Democratic nomination in the U.S. Senate special election will square off Monday night in Lowell for their second debate leading up to the April 30 primary. Congressmen Edward Markey (D-Malden) and Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston) will participate in the debate being held at 7:30 p.m. at Durgin Hall on the campus of the University of Massachusetts Lowell. The debate is being sponsored by UMass Lowell’s Center for Public Opinion and the Boston Herald. Questions for the debate will be posed by UMass Lowell students while the moderator will be reporter Jaclyn Cashman, according to the university. Markey and Lynch previously met for their first debate March 27 at the Channel 5 studios in Needham. The two candidates agreed…

Should Scott Brown Run for Senate in NH?

Tell us what you think in the comments below.

Former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) dropped a bombshell on Thursday night when he told reporters following a speech in Nashua that he wouldn't rule out a run for Senate in New Hampshire. "I'm not going to rule out anything right now," he said. Brown, who represented Massachusetts in the Senate from 2009 to 2012, owns a vacation home in Rye, N.H., so it's not that far fetched. His announcement drew an immediate response from Democrats, who flooded the Twitterverse with comments and jokes about the former Massachusetts Senator's prospects should he choose to take on incumbent Jeanne Shaheen in 2014. What do you think? Should Scott Brown run for Senate in New Hampshire in 2014? Or should he stay in Massachusetts? Tell us in our comments …

Comment_arrow

Mike

9:44 am on Tuesday, April 9, 2013

John C: Again, the media reports are that Scott Brown isn't ruling out a run in New Hampshire, based on being asked that direct question. It's not a rumor, just a factual accounting -- again -- based on his own response to a direct question.   more ›

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Gloves Are Off in U.S. Senate Race

A look back at what happened over the past week in the U.S. Senate race.

It was a very busy week in the race for U.S. Senate. Things started to get heated as the candidates continue to race toward the April 30 primaries. We saw candidates lashing out at party backing, another facing an ethics complaint, new poll numbers, and more. Let’s start with the Democrats this week. Democratic candidates Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston) and Edward Markey (D-Malden) will face off in a second debate Monday night in Lowell. If the news of the past week is any indication, it should make for an interesting back and forth between the candidates. Lynch took aim at his party leaders last week for supporting Markey. Lynch told the Boston Herald that the Democratic leaders haven’t been fair and told them that he thinks they’ve done …

Tony S

3:50 pm on Monday, April 8, 2013

No she is saving the homeless, promoting anti-gun laws and saving the schools. All in the past month I might add. What a coincidence.Next she is going to position herself on the moon to protect us from meteors.   more ›

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Francis Joseph Golden Elected to Board of Assessors by Write-In

Francis Joseph Golden received 11 votes.

No one was on the ballot Tuesday for the Board of Assessors. Several residents were added as write-ins, but Francis Joseph Golden was elected with 11 votes. The following residents were added as write-ins, but received less than 11 votes: Camille W. Anthony, Michael J. Bean, Brian S. Bergeron, William C. Brown, Brandon P. Chapman, Michael Neely Coltman, George Connelly, Robert William Corwin, Kathleen M. Drummey, Kathleen Fontes, Kara Fratto, Richard P. Gallagher, Jr., Mark W. Jackson, Randy D. Johnson, David M. Lyons, Laurel E. McCarthy, Richard E. McDonald, James P. McGrath, Robert I. Nordstrand, George F. Ohlson, Jr., Timothy O'Neill, Robyn A. Parker, Jeffrey D. Perkins, Mary Ann C. Quinn, Jonathon P. Roche, Elizabeth Stakem, James F. …

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

West, Ensminger Elected to Board of Selectmen

The library project passed Tuesday.

Reading residents voted in the local election Tuesday, but the turnout was lower than expected. Of 17,594 registered voters, only 3,207 or 18.2 percent voted Tuesday. Marsie West and Daniel Ensminger were both elected to the Board of Selectmen and Question 1, regarding the library project, passed. Take a look at the unofficial results: MODERATOR   RMLD BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SCHOOL COMMITTEE Results for the Board of Assessors will be published as soon as they are available. New selectman Daniel Ensminger said, "I'm very grateful to the voters for giving me another spot on the board after all these years." Ensminger is looking forward to working with the new town manager, Marsie West and the rest of the board. He believes they should "…

Comment_arrow

Dave Miskinis

7:24 am on Thursday, April 4, 2013

Readingcares....Are we actually spending $15M or is the state granting a big chunk of that? Also, mark my words - this will cost well more than $15M....so strap in. Accept the fact that most voters did not or do not care enough about this to take the time to vote. It happens everywhere. The developers, architects and contractors simply wait for the voters to vote "yes" and then the price starts …   more ›

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Reading Election Results 2013

Find out who won Tuesday's election.

Residents voted in the local election Tuesday at Reading Memorial High School. Take a look at the results: MODERATOR   RMLD BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SCHOOL COMMITTEE Question 1 Shall the Town of Reading be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so called, the amounts required to pay for the bonds issued in order to renovate and expand the Reading Public Library? The town voted yes on Question 1. Check in with us in the morning for more details on the results.

Comment_arrow

Ron Powell

5:00 pm on Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Not sad to see the library getting renovated; sad to see the disingenuous campaign that was waged to pass this particular capital plan. It never was about "saving" the library. It was all about gold-plating. For better or for worse, Ruth Urell might just be the most powerful person in Town.   more ›

Low Turnout at Today's Election

As of 1 p.m., only 6.9 percent of registered voters made it to the polls.

Reading residents are asked to vote today at the Reading Memorial High School field house in the local election. As of 1 p.m., only 6.9 percent of registered voters took the time to vote. Sign holders were outside the field house supporting candidates and the library question, despite the cold and strong winds. Among the sign holders was selectman candidate Marsie West, who urged residents to vote and allow their voices to be heard.  Resident Mary Jane Quinn stopped at the polls with her granddaughter Libby. She votes every year, Quinn told Patch. Did you vote yet? Are you in favor of the library project? Who did you vote for? Tell us in the comments section below.

Comment_arrow

Karl Weld

6:47 am on Wednesday, April 3, 2013

The election could not be moved to the April 30 US Senate Special Primary date because we needed to elect Town Meeting members before Town Meeting, which begins April 22.   more ›

Got a Hot Tip?