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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…

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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 for Senate Primary?

Today is the deadline.

Still need to register to vote for the Senate primary? Today is the deadline to register. If you want to vote in the April 30 Senate primary election, you must register to vote by Wednesday, April 10.  Voter registration normally can be done through the mail, but not if you do it today since it is the last day to register to vote. To register in person, visit the Melrose City Clerk's Office or the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV).  Visit Town Hall You can register at the City Clerk's office. Register at RMV You can fill out a voter registration form at the RMV.  Moving? If you relocated city or town, you will need to re-register to vote at your new address. If you moved within the same city or town, notify the clerk's office (in writing) …

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), who represents Melrose, 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 …

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, who represents Melrose, and Lynch previously met for their first debate March 27 at the Channel 5 studios in Needham. …

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 …

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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 ›

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Democrats, Republicans Square Off in First Debate

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

It was a big week in the race for U.S. Senate, with both Republican and Democratic candidates facing off for the first time in a debate Wednesday night. Candidates running in the April primary faced each other in two 30-minute debates in an event sponsored by the Boston Media Consortium and held at the WCVB-TV, Channel 5 studios in Needham. Congressmen Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston) and Edward Markey (D-Malden) went several rounds on the topic of health care reform in the first debate between the two Democrats. The two also sparred over bank bailouts. Write-in Democratic candidate Brett Rhyne was not at the debate. Republicans also faced each other for the first time in their own debate immediately following Lynch and Markey. Candidates …

quasimodo

10:23 am on Saturday, April 6, 2013

@ "Reverend" I'm afraid I must agree with you: "the Chinese will consume Canada's output if we do not." And we will not...The "plan" is for the pipeline to bring the Canadian tar sands to Galveston where it will be refined and pronto exported out of the country (most certainly some or all of it to China). This is no secret, just check articles in the international press, like http://www.guardian.…   more ›

Saturday, March 30, 2013

State House News Service Weekly Roundup: Hizzoner's Decision

Recap and analysis of the week in state government.

He's been omnipresent for 20 years from Roslindale to East Boston. His endorsement is coveted by city council hopefuls and U.S. senators alike. He occasionally mutilates the English language, mangles the names of sports stars, and commands loyalty unlike any public figure in Boston. He was mayor-for-life. Now he'll be mayor for only another nine months. This week, as House Speaker Robert DeLeo continued to wait for the rescue helicopter to take him away from Gov. Deval Patrick's "fantasy land" of higher taxes and trains, the Governor's Council was up to its old tricks and the race for U.S. Senate kicked into a higher gear. But little could compete with Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and "The Decision" that held foes and allies alike breathless…

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Lynne

10:53 am on Monday, April 1, 2013

I agree with DAD on that!   more ›

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Lynch, Markey Spar Over Health Care, Bank Bailouts

Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate debated Wednesday night at the Channel 5 studios in Needham.

In the days leading up to the first Democratic U.S. Senate debate, U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston) has been called upon frequently to explain the vote he took against the health care reform bill in 2010. Wednesday night, Lynch and U.S. Rep. Ed Markey (D-Malden), who represents Melrose, went several rounds on the topic. They faced-off for 30 minutes at the Channel 5 studios in Needham following a contest among the three declared Republican candidates. For Markey, President Obama's initiative, aimed at universal health care coverage, was "the proudest vote of my career." "Steve, when that vote came up you were wrong," Markey said. For Lynch, taxes and a lopsided deal for insurance companies were among the problems that outweighted …

Republican Senate Hopefuls Call for Repeal of DOMA in Debate

GOP candidates for U.S. Senate debated Wednesday night at the Channel 5 studios in Needham.

The Republican candidates for U.S. Senate leaned on their diverse backgrounds to explain positions on issues ranging from the economy and debt reduction to gay marriage Wednesday night. Gabriel Gomez, a former Navy SEAL and businessman from Cohasset, said that hearing from a variety of perspectives served him well in the military and that he would bring those lessons to bear working with fellow Republicans and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. State Rep. Dan Winslow (R-Norfolk), saying "Obamacare is bad for Massachusetts" and simply layers federal bureacracy on top of the state's system, highlighted an upcoming legislative proposal on Beacon Hill to reduce health care costs. Former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan talked about making …

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