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“Thinking isn’t
agreeing or disagreeing. That’s voting.” — Robert Frost
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014
VOL. 83 NO. 210
75 cents
Low turnout projected for primary By BOB SALSBERG Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Low voter turnout is expected for the primary election despite contested races for governor and other statewide offices, the state’s top elections official said Monday. “I think there hasn’t been a great deal of enthusiasm so far,” Secretary of State William Galvin said. Treasurer Steven Grossman, Attorney General Martha Coakley and former federal health care administrator Don Berwick are seeking the Democratic nod for governor;
former Harvard Pilgrim Health Care executive Charlie Baker and tea party-affiliated business owner Mark Fisher are vying for the Republican nomination in Tuesday’s voting. Galvin forecast that approximately 550,000 people would vote in the Democratic primary and up to 170,000 would cast ballots in the Republican primary. Total turnout for both parties is unlikely to exceed 15 to 20 percent of the state’s registered voters, he said. If correct, those numbers would fall significantly short of the 2006 primary election,
Voters head to polls for primary By STEVE LeBLANC Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Candidates for every office from governor to state representative are revving up their get-out-the-vote efforts as they work to pull sympathetic voters to the polls on a Primary Day officials warn could see a low turnout. At the top of the ticket are the Democratic and Republican primaries for governor. On the Democratic side Attorney General Martha Coakley — the front-runner in polls — is working to fend off challenges from state Treasurer Steven Grossman and former federal health care administrator Don Berwick. The GOP ballot includes former Harvard Pilgrim Health Care executive Charlie Baker and tea party-affiliated business owner Mark Fisher. Baker has maintained a hefty lead in polls. Another top race is the Democratic contest for attorney general pitting former assistant attorney general Maura Healey against former state Sen. Warren Tolman. Whoever wins will face Republican John Miller in November. Among the congressional races, the most closely watched primary is in the 6th Congressional District, where nine-term incumbent Rep. John Tierney is facing four Democratic challengers. Tierney has targeted one of those challengers — businessman and Iraq War veteran and businessman Seth Moulton — with television ads linking him to Republicans who support gun rights and oppose abortion rights. Whoever wins the Democratic primary will face former Republican state Sen. Richard Tisei in November. The other down ticket races have received less attention. One is the contest for treasurer. Three Democrats are vying for their party’s nomination to succeed Grossman: former Brookline See Primary, Page 3
the last time the incumbent governor wasn’t running and there was a contested Democratic primary that attracted nearly 912,000 voters. Galvin’s projections were based on the number of absentee ballots cast this year compared to previous years and on the volume of inquiries to his office from voters about issues such as where they should vote. While skeptical of turnout, “I would be happy to be wrong,” Galvin added. One factor that he said could drive the numbers up was the success of get-out-the- A sign located in the Southwick Town Hall helps guide voters to the polls for today’s primary elecSee Turnout, Page 3 tions. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
City of Westfield Polling locations by Ward WARD 1 PRECINCT A
Chief explains hiring decision By Carl E. Hartdegen Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Westfield Police Chief John Camerota, speaking for the police commission, said last night that the city’s new Manager of Animal Control Operations was hired by the city’s Personnel Director because the commissioners properly relinquished their authority when he polled them. At last night’s Police Commission meeting, Camerota said that he asked the individual members of the commission separately if they “wanted to relinquish their authority over the next hiring of the animal control director and all of the individuals said yes.” He had prefaced his explanation by
SOUTHAMPTON ROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 330 SOUTHAMPTON ROAD
WARD 1 PRECINCT B
WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL 177 MONTGOMERY ROAD
WARD 2 PRECINCT A
FORT MEADOW SCHOOL 35 WHITE STREET
WARD 2 PRECINCT B
SOUTH MIDDLE SCHOOL 30 WEST SILVER STREET
WARD 3 PRECINCT A
FRANKLIN AVENUE SCHOOL 22 FRANKLIN AVENUE
WARD 3 PRECINCT B
WESTFIELD VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL 33 SMITH AVENUE
See Decision, Page 8
WARD 4 PRECINCT A
CHIEF JOHN CAMEROTA
Lewd display leads to arrest
JUNIPER PARK LAB ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 715 WESTERN AVENUE
By Carl E. Hartdegen Staff Writer WESTFIELD – An uninvited visitor to a Cross Street apartment was arrested after he pushed the tenants outside and urinated from a second floor window while calling attention to his genitalia early Saturday mornRANDY D. PATTERSON ing. Officer Matthew Preuss reports that he responded to a 2:10 a.m. call from a resident who said that a friend of his entered his home uninvited and while apparently under the influence of an unknown substance. The caller said that he had never seen the man, Randy David Patterson, 21l of 284 long Hill Road, Bolton, in the condition he was in and said he called police because he was beginning to become violent. He said that he had asked to man to leave but was unable to effectively insist because Patterson is bigger than he is. “The renters stated that since Patterson is a large and muscular guy, he was able to force them out of the apartment,” Preuss reported. “They stated that they
WARD 4 PRECINCT B
THE HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 34 WESTERN AVENUE
WARD 5 PRECINCT A
MUNGER HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 33 MALLARD LANE
WARD 5 PRECINCT B
MUNGER HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 33 MALLARD LANE
WARD 6 PRECINCT A
PAPER MILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 148 PAPER MILL ROAD
WARD 6 PRECINCT B
PAPER MILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 148 PAPER MILL ROAD
See Arrest, Page 8
Town Clerk candidates selected By Hope E. Tremblay Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – The Board of Selectmen hired for two open positions in the Town Clerk’s office last night. Five candidates recommended by Town Clerk Michelle Hill were interviewed by the board. Following the interview process, selectmen Russell Fox and Joseph Deedy met with Hill during a brief executive session. Selectwoman Tracy Cesan was present for the interviews but was called to a family emergency and did not vote. She did write down her top three candidates before excusing herself. Lisa Davidson and Melissa Barnes were the top candidates selected, with Jeremy Daigneault named a third candidate. “There are two positions but we’re naming three people in case there is a problem with one of the first two,” said Fox. “Michelle Hill’s office needs to get them up and running.”
Rosemary Barnett and Stephanie Woodard also were interviewed. Each candidate was asked the same set of five questions. Davidson has worked for Big Y for 22 years and said customer service is a priority. When asked how she would handle helping a difficult customer, Davidson said first she would remain calm. “You have to always stay calm, because if you’re calm, you’re better able to keep them calm,” Davidson said. The board asked Davidson about a time she was a team player. She said at Big Y, everyone pitches in. “If it’s busy you do whatever has to be done,” she said. “If I’m in the safe, I will ring or do whatever needs to be done.” Asked where she sees herself in five years, Davidson replied “hopefully working here.” See Clerk Candidates, Page 8
Ryan Liquors is located at 31 Franklin St., Westfield. (photo by Frederick Gore)
Board clears Ryan’s, issues warning By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The License Commission found that there was no violation of state or city law when stolen rings were found in the possession of the store manager during a larceny investigation. Liquor license holders cannot “allow any
illegality” on their premises, which was what the members of the commissioned focused on last night prior to voting after receiving a report from the Westfield Police Department. Police were investigating a string of larceny incidents in which jewelry was taken See Ryan Liquors, Page 8
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