2 Dozen Candidates Elbow for Room in Mayor’s Race
Five weeks ago, there was one declared candidate for mayor. John Connolly had his run of the city while current Mayor Tom Menino weighed his future. Now, fully two dozen men and women have pulled nomination papers for the mayor’s race. A map of the current list of candidates finds some familiar patterns: Most candidates live toward south and center of the city, matching the city’s overall population density. But that means candidates who live a mere blocks apart will tussle over the same turf and base of voter support. There are 11 candidates from Dorchester, four from Hyde Park, three from Roxbury, two from Roxbury and one each from East Boston, Jamaica Plain and Mission Hill. The top two vote-getters in the primary will move on to the final. The Boston Herald’s Peter Gelzinis called this a “shootout in a lifeboat” for some off the major candidates, who need a reliable base of support as they reach out for voters in other parts of town. If the 11 Dorchester candidates break up the neighborhood’s massive voting bloc, that means the top-two candidates need fewer votes to make the finals. That’s a boost for small-neighborhood candidates like JP’s Felix Arroyo and Mission Hill’s Mike Ross. There may be more candidates; they have until May 13 to pull papers. After that, the hopefuls have until May 21 to collect signatures and file them with the city. That process will likely winnow the field down by a few names. South End Patch
Patch Interviews U.S. Senate Candidates
South End Patch
Categories: Arrests Tags: Candidates, Interviews, Patch, Senate, U.S.
Patch Interviews U.S. Senate Candidates
Patch editors interviewed each of the candidates running for U.S. Senate in the April 30 special election. We gathered questions from editors across Patch’s coverage area in Massachusetts. The editors asked both broad questions about policy, as well as opinions on more local, regional issues. Click on the links below to read the questions and answers with each candidate… Democrats Stephen Lynch Edward Markey Brett Rhyne (write-in candidate) Republicans Gabriel Gomez Michael Sullivan Daniel Winslow South End Patch
Categories: Arrests Tags: Candidates, Interviews, Patch, Senate, U.S.
U.S. Senate Candidates Face Off in Debate Wednesday Night
Five candidates seeking the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by John Kerry will debate for the first time in one place Wednesday night in Needham. The two Democrats and three Republicans vying for the vacated position will face each other in two separate, 30-minute debates in an event sponsored by the Boston Media Consortium and held at the Channel 5 studios. The debate will air live from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will be moderated by R.D. Sahl. Patch will be among the media organizations covering the event. The primary election is April 30. On the Democratic side, U.S. Rep. Ed Markey (D-Malden) will square off against U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston). In the latest UMass Lowell poll, Markey leads Lynch 50 percent to 29.5 percent, according to the Boston Globe. WBUR/Mass Inc. puts them significantly closer, with Markey up by just seven points. The three Republican contenders are state Rep. Dan Winslow (R-Norfolk), former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan and former Navy SEAL Gabriel Gomez. Needham resident Brett Rhyne, a write-in Democratic candidate, was not confirmed to participate, according to WCVB, nor was Independent Jack E. Robinson. The last day to register to vote, change a voting address or change party affiliation for the April 30 primary is Wednesday, April 10. Not sure where or how to register to vote or change party affiliation? Here’s everything you need to know, courtesy of Secretary of State Galvin’s office. South End Patch
Candidates Defend Iraq War Votes, Campaign Ads Aplenty
The Democratic candidates for Senate this week talked about the war in Iraq, launched more television ads, opened regional and local campaign offices and continued to get the word out as the April 30 primary draws near. This past week marked the 10-year anniversary of the start of the Iraq war, and with a hotly contested U.S. Senate Primary just over a month away, both Congressmen seeking the Democratic nomination found themselves defending their votes. Democratic opponents Congressmen Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston) and Edward Markey (D-Malden) both voted to use force in Iraq, but the two Senate candidates disagreed on a vote the following year to approve $ 87.5 billion to fund the war. MassLive.com reports that Lynch voted for the funding package and also voted for four bills between 2004 and 2006 partly to fund the war, while Markey voted no on the funding package and was opposed to the bills. At a 10th anniversary event last week, MassLive.com, reported that Lynch said he voted the way he did because he wanted to make sure the U.S. operation in Iraq had what it needed to be successful and to bring the troops home safely and as soon as possible. Meet Write-In Candidate Brett Rhyne This week Patch caught up with Needham resident and Democratic write-in candidate Brett Rhyne to learn more about his write-in campaign and how he thinks he will fare in the April 30 primary and beyond. Gomez Raises $ 350K for campaign Republican candidate Gabriel Gomez reportedly has raised $ 350,000 for his campaign since February. Boston.com reported the former Navy SEAL’s campaign said more than 70 percent of those contriutions were under $ 100. Lynch launches new campaign ad The latest Lynch campaign ad “I am Stephen Lynch” hit the airwaves this week. MassDems launch Sullivan attack ad MassDems launched an attack ad against Republican candidate and former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan this week, saying he stands with big “companies,” not with the hardworking people of Massachusetts. April 10 Deadline for Voter Registration, Party Affiliation Changes Just three weeks left to register to vote in the April 30 Senate primaries. The last day to register to vote, change a voting address or change party affiliation for the April 30 primary is Wednesday, April 10. Not sure where or how to register to vote or change party affiliation? Here’s everything you need to know, courtesy of Secretary of State Galvin’s office. South End Patch
GOP Candidates Meet Face to Face, Dems Ready to Debate
Over the past week, Republican candidates in the race for U.S. Senate met face to face for the first time to talk issues and make themselves known in the race for U.S. Senate, while their Democratic counterparts launched their first TV ads. State Rep. Dan Winslow of Norfolk, former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan and former Navy SEAL Gabriel Gomez took part in the first GOP debate last Tuesday night at Stonehill College in Easton. In the hour-long debate, the candidates discussed a wide-range of issues including: Roe vs. Wade, gun control, immigration, social security and issues affecting the economy. Unlike their Democratic counterparts, the three candidates disagreed on little, with a common theme centered on the need to fix the dysfunctionality in Washington. Democratic debates on tap While a full debate schedule has yet to be agreed upon – the candidates are set for their first and last debates before the April 30 primary. Markey and Lynch are set to debate for the first time on March 27 at the WCVB-TV studios in Needham at 7 p.m. The last debate before the primary will be April 22 at the WBZ-TV studios, in conjunction with the Boston Globe and with moderator John Keller, also at 7 p.m. Also in the news over the past week: Lynch, Markey launch TV ads Both Democratic candidates launched their television ad campaign. Markey focused on his support for gun control, while Lynch used his first ad to introduce himself to voters not familiar with the seven-term congressman from South Boston, reported CBS Boston. Gomez resigns from job to focus on campaign The Boston Globe recently reported Gomez resigned from his position as a principal at Advent International to pursue his campaign for U.S. Senate. A company spokesman told the Globe he resigned on March 2. Rhyne joins race as write-in candidate Brett Rhyne, former editor of the Medfield Press, is running for Senate. The Needham resident announced last week via his website Rhyne4Senate.com that he is running as a Write-In candidate for U.S. Senate. Lynch calls for raising cap on Social Security contributions Lynch called for raising the cap on Social Security contributions at an accelerated rate. Lynch, in a statement, said he believes the cap should be increased at a more accelerated pace in order to better fund the Social Security system. South End Patch
GOP Senate Candidates Discuss Economy, Social Security, Immigration in First Debate
The quest to become the “Washington outsider” representing the Republican Party in this year’s Massachusetts special senate election was underway at Stonehill College Tuesday night when GOP candidates met in their first primary debate. “Electing either of the Democratic nominees would be a sign of ‘surrender’ that we have given up,” State Representative Daniel B. Winslow (R-Norfolk) said in his closing statement referring U.S. Congressmen Ed Markey (D-Malden) and Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston). Winslow, former US attorney Michael J. Sullivan, and former Navy SEAL Gabriel E. Gomez discussed a wide-range of issues in the hour-long debate, including Roe vs. Wade, gun control, immigration, social security, and the economy. The debate was sponsored by WickedLocal, WGBH and WCVB and a journalist panel of WGBH’s Adam Reilly, Janet Wu of WCVB, and Chris Burrell of the Patriot Ledger delivered questions. Stonehill professor Peter Ubertaccio moderated The three candidates disagreed on little, with a common theme centering around Washington’s dis-functionality and it’s need to be fixed. The theme rose to the surface when discussing the economy and the recently-enacted sequester, which seemingly had little immediate impact on job growth. “I think sticking with the status-quo is a complete failure on the part of our government,” Sullivan said. “I think we’re far to high too celebrate,” he added, referring to the nation’s 7.7 unemployment rate. Gomez, who criticized “career politicians” and lobbyists during his closing remarks, said little was getting done in Washington because of the “lack of courage.” “We don’t have a lack of ideas down in DC right now, what we have is a lack of courage,” he said while discussing social security. Gomez said it was “sad that Scott Brown lost because he’s the kind of person that we need down in DC recommending the commonwealth of Massachusetts.” All three candidates agreed that Brown’s loss to Sen. Elizabeth Warren in the 2012 election was evident that Republicans weren’t reaching the right people. “We have to be what we are, which is the great opportunity party and have that message – that message of hope – be the message that we reach out to American voters,” Winslow said. In regards to social security, the three candidates believed raising the age of retirement might contribute to the problem surrounding social security, while emphasizing that current seniors should remain unaffected. Winslow, Sullivan and Gomez also put strong emphasis on mental health background checks when discussing gun control. Gomez said an assault weapons ban was ineffective in 1994 and would still be ineffective while Sullivan said any all-out ban would be “completely ineffective.” Winslow said he would consider three things […]
Categories: Arrests Tags: Candidates, Debate, Discuss, Economy, First, Immigration, Security, Senate, Social