Brown and Warren: Is It Just Politics As Usual?

It’s been an interesting week in the U.S. Senate Race between Democrat Elizabeth Warren and incumbent Republican Scott Brown.

  First it was revealed that Harvard University once touted Warren’s marginal Native American heritage as proof of their faculty’s diversity. That story was followed up with another revealing one that Warren had listed herself as a minority professor between 1986 and 1995 in the Association of American Law Schools desk book, a major reference for legal professors.  On Tuesday it was revealed that Brown, who ran for office vowing to kill President Obama’s health care law (and who has since voted three times to repeal it) took advantage of a key provision in it: the provision that allows him to keep his elder daughter on his congressional health insurance plan. Meanwhile, both candidates downplayed their wealth this week as they revealed …

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Harry C.

10:33 am on Saturday, May 5, 2012

I can see you have put a lot of thought into your on-line contribution. In doing so you have raised the level of political discourse and should be commended. I think Bill O' and Rush would be proud of you.   more ›

POLL: Does Obama Deserve Second Term?

Make your voice heard in our poll.

Does President Obama deserve a second term in office? He is currently running ahead of potential Republican rival Mitt Romney in recent polls from key battleground states, according to USA Today polls. But the election season is a long one and opinions are subject to change, particularly depending on the activities of candidates and the state of the nation. So what do you think? Does the president deserve a second term? Will you vote for him enthusiastically, reluctantly or not at all? Vote in our poll and give us your thoughts in the comment field.

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CapeLady

5:49 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Yes... we might end up with welfare reform, a balanced budget, a simplified tax code and fiscal responsibility, a growing economy with low unemployment the encourages entrepreneurship, respect for personal property rights, an American energy plan that makes our gas and electricity affordable and brings down food prices, mortgages that are not underwater, a DOJ that cares about justice for ALL …   more ›

Today Is Election Day In Winchester

Polls are open until 8 p.m.

  The Annual Town Election is today. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.  Voters in Precincts 1 and 2 can vote at Muraco School on Bates Road. Precincts 3 and 4 can vote at McCall Middle School on Main Street. Precincts 5 and 6 can vote at Jenks Senior Center on Skillings Road. Precincts 7 and 8 can vote at Lynch Elementary School on Brantwood Road. The Board of Selectmen has two open seats, but both candidates are running unopposed – Forrest Fontana (the current Selectman chair) and Jennifer Wilson (who will be taking over for the retiring Roger Berman). In the School Committee race, chairman Chris Linskey is running unopposed, while Cindy Bohne will be taking over for Sarah Girotti, who decided not to run for reelection. The only …

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Winchester Residents Attempting to Overturn Supreme Court Ruling

Susan Verdicchio and Vern Blodgett have submitted an article in the Town Meeting warrant that asks members to support a resolution which calls for the overturning of the Supreme Court Case "Citizens' United v. Federal Elections Commission.

Two Winchester residents will be asking Town Meeting in April to support a resolution which would overturn a Supreme Court ruling made in January 2010.  Susan Verdicchio and Vern Blodgett submitted Article 8 for this spring’s annual Town Meeting, which asks members to approve a resolution that calls “Congress to pass and send to the states a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens’ United v. Federal Elections Commission and restore democracy to the people.” According to Verdicchio, the ruling prohibited the government from restricting political payments from corporations. The article says that the “Supreme Court has transformed the First Amendment into a powerful tool for corporations seeking to evade …

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BAV

6:48 pm on Saturday, April 21, 2012

CM: "This topic is much better argued through our elected officials." I am equivocal on this issue. However, Town Meeting members are elected officials. They will either approve or reject this measure. I agree that the practical implications of approval or rejection are essentially nil. However, to limit the right of citizens to petition town meeting, through proper channels, regarding any issue …   more ›

Winchester Looking for Town Meeting Members

Interested residents can still run as write-in candidates.

In one week Winchester residents will head to the polls for the annual town elections. However, while the ballot may be longer than usual, contested races are few and far between. The Board of Selectmen has two open seats, but both candidates are running unopposed – Forrest Fontana (the current Selectman chair) and Jennifer Wilson (who will be taking over for the retiring Roger Berman). And for the School Committee, chairman Chris Linskey is running unopposed, while Cindy Bohne will be taking over for Sarah Girotti, who decided not to run for reelection. The only contested race is for the Board of Health, where Michael Fiorenza, Lindsay Letteri and Bridget Stump are vying for one vacancy. According to Town Clerk Mary Ellen Lannon, the …

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Letter From Selectmen Candidate

Jennifer Wilson submitted this letter to the editor.

Fellow Winchester Residents: My name is Jennifer Wilson, and I am a candidate for the Board of Selectmen in the March 27 election. I moved to Winchester in 1999 when I married my husband, John.  We have three children, all of whom attend Muraco Elementary School.  I worked for many years as a lawyer, but have been at home since starting a family.  During this time, I have spent the largest share of my free time volunteering in Town government and at our children’s school.   From 2001 through 2009, I served on the Town’s Finance Committee, acting as Vice Chair and Chair for two years.  Last year, I assisted the Board of Selectmen as a member of the Town Manager Search Advisory Committee. I have been a Town Meeting Member since 2003.  At …

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Winchester Votes Romney, Paul Takes Second

Winchester had about 23 percent of its registered votes participate in Tuesday's election.

Winchester Republicans showed their support for the former Massachusetts Governor as Mitt Romney easily won the town. Romney unofficially secured 1,883 of the 2,336 votes cast in the Republican Primary. Ron Paul took second in Winchester with 193 votes, beating out Rick Santorum (165). Overall, voter turnout in Winchester was low with 23 percent of the 13,916 registered voters showing up to the polls. Along with the 2,366 Republicans who cast their ballots on Super Tuesday, 813 Winchester Democrats voted. There were no votes for the Green-Rainbow Party. “It was a slow day,” said Town Clerk Mary Ellen Lannon. “When you have a ballot that’s under-endorsed, there’s not many competitive races on it, people are less likely to participate. “…

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Voter Turnout Low in Winchester

Only 10 percent of registered voters made it to the poll so far today.

So far it’s been a slow Election Day in Winchester as 10 percent of the town’s 13,916 registered votes have made it to the polls. Assistant Town Clerk, Kathleen Cramer said they hope to get that number close to 20 percent by the time polls close at 8 p.m. “It’s been lousy,” sad Robert Crockett, the Warden of Precinct 6 about the turnout. “There are still committee members in each party that are looking to get elected, and that’s a big deal to some people.” But with no contested Democratic races, there hasn’t been much turnout for today’s primary. “Most people have been coming in dribs and drabs,” said Steve Moore, Warden of Precinct 3. “It’s what I expected, since there’s no contest on the Democratic side.” And similarly to the state, the …

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Meet Your Neighbor

Wakefield Selectman Running for State Republican Committee

The primary will be held on March 6.

The following was submitted by Al Turco. Al Turco of Wakefield announced his candidacy for re-election to a four-year term on the Republican State Committee. The State Committee election will be held on March 6, 2012, the same day as the Presidential Primary in Massachusetts. Turco currently serves as a Wakefield Selectman. He is a long-time Republican activist who has, as an unpaid volunteer, devoted a tremendous about of time and energy to recruit and support Republican candidates. Turco joined the  Wakefield Republican Town Committee in 2000 and chaired that committee from 2004 to 2009. In 2004, Turco chaired Richard Tisei's successful State Senate re-election effort against Democratic candidate Katherine Clark. In 2006, Turco …

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