do you live in the 5th Congressional District? don't forget to vote today!

[hammercock.livejournal.com]

Somerville isn't actually in that district, but Ron suggested to me that there are enough readers from surrounding communities that are to warrant a friendly reminder that today is the special election to fill the Congressional vacancy left by Ed Markey's rise to the Senate.

When I voted at 10:15 a.m., I was just the 26th person to have cast a ballot in my ward and precinct. Why should more of us get out there to vote? Consider that Markey held this seat from 1976 to 2013. Now think about who has the chance to hold it for potentially the next few decades, and how few votes are currently set to decide who will represent us. It matters.

The candidates are:
Democratic: Katherine Clark
Republican: Frank Addivinola
Justice Peace Security: James Hall
Independent: James Aulenti

Here's an article detailing some of the basic differences between the D and R candidates. It's pretty much your standard D/R divide these days. James Aulenti has a campaign website, and so does James Hall.

If you're unsure whether you live in the 5th Congressional District, you can check this map to find out.

Comments

[ron_newman]

If you live in Arlington, Medford, Belmont, or Watertown, you're in the 5th district. Please go vote today.

If you live in Cambridge, you may or may not be in the 5th district -- check the map linked above, or enter your address into http://WhereDoIVoteMA.com . If the result says this

   Congressional: VACANT -- FIFTH DISTRICT

please go vote today.

[ronhaha108.livejournal.com]

I voted @ 5:30 in Medford, the parking lot was empty and I was the only person there voting... sad...

[hammercock.livejournal.com]

Katherine Clark has been declared the winner, taking 66% of the vote (40,172 votes) to Frank Addivinola's 32% (19,319 votes). Overall electorate turnout was a measly 13%, with local lows of 8% in Revere and Waltham and a local high of 48%(!) in Winchester. Boston.com has a breakdown of results by town (http://boston.com/news/special/politics/2013/5th-us-house/mass-us-house-5th-results.html) for anyone who's curious.

Thanks to all who bothered to vote today!

[courtney o'keefe (from livejournal.com)]

I'm not surprised with Winchester as they had an important ballot question, as well.

[ron_newman]

What was the question in Winchester?

The turnout in Clark's home town of Melrose was better than most (20%), but that's sort of like saying the Celtics are better than the rest of the Atlantic Division.

[courtney o'keefe (from livejournal.com)]

The question was to raise taxes to fund a new high school. The question passed, so they'll be spending $129 Million on the school. The vote was 5,098 to 2,402.

[ron_newman]

look at Cambridge and LOL: Clark 3,964 (93%), Addivinola 247 (6%)

Clark won many towns by large margins, but nowhere else like that.