Special election

[sonofabish.livejournal.com]

While looking on the city website for the library hours, I came across this notice:

Board Of Aldermen Sets Calendar For Special Election To Fill At-Large Vacancy

SOMERVILLE – Board of Election Commissioners Chairman Nicholas Salerno announced today the dates and deadlines approved by the Board of Aldermen Thursday for the City’s Special Election for Alderman at Large. The election will be held to fill the Board seat vacated when State Representative Denise Provost resigned on October 26, 2006. The Preliminary Election will be held Tuesday, April 10, 2007, and the Final Election is scheduled for Tuesday, May 15, 2007.


Anyone have any links to the candidates?

Comments

[agnosticoracle.livejournal.com]

There are 3 people running:

1. Marty Martinez (I just came from a fundraiser so I make no claims to being non-biased)
2. Jack Connelly
3. Robert Daut

This is a gross over simplification of both Somerville politics and the candidates but should provide some labels at least. Marty is the progressive Democrat supported by the progressives in Somerville. Jack is the establishment Democrat supported by the establishment Democrats in Somerville. Robert is a relative unknown that doesn't seem to have any real support.

Jack use to be the ward 5 (davis square) alderman until he lost to progressive Rebekah Gewirtz (http://www.rebekahgewirtz.org/) in the last election. Marty is a long time community activist and co-founder of Progressive Democrats of Somerville.

Marty's web site is here:

http://www.martyforalderman.com/

I couldn't find any for the other folks. I trust someone else will put up a link if they find them.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Do you think Jack isn't progressive because he is established? From what I've seen, he seems pretty progressive, but perhaps I am missing something.

[agnosticoracle.livejournal.com]

Jack isn't a conservative fundamentalist or anything. The distinction between the establishment Democrats and progressive Democrats in Somerville tend to be about openness in government and outreach to residence who haven't lived in Somerville all their lives. Nine of the current ten Alderman were born in Somerville, while only about 50% of Somerville residence were.

[foxalbers.livejournal.com]

Just out of curiosity, how does outreach to life-long Somervillians and outreach to new-comer Somervillians differ?

[agnosticoracle.livejournal.com]

Ideally you want both. Even good intentioned people are likely to reach out more in their own circles. So having a good mix of life long residence and folks who moved here more recently is the ideal situation.

[ron_newman]

Jack was, and Rebekah now is, the ward 6 alderman -- not ward 5.

[agnosticoracle.livejournal.com]

*doh*

Jack Connolly!

[foxalbers.livejournal.com]

I did a quick google search for Jack Connelly, and found out that his name is actually Jack Connolly.

There's a hideous looking website up, but it's for his old Ward 6 re-election campaign. http://www.aldermanjackconnolly.com/

He is also a "featured property" (http://www.somerville.com/viewprop.php?pid=78") at the real estate website Somerville.com!