Election Day: Voting Guide
The at-large city council race is the only contested race Charlestown voters will see on the ballot next week.
Compared to other districts around the city, Charlestown's got a very short ballot this coming Election Day.
This Tuesday is strictly a municipal election and the only contested race Charlestown voters will have a stake in is the the At-Large City Council race. Charlestown's (District 1) representative on the council -- Sal LaMattina from East Boston -- is running unopposed.
Four at-large seats are available on the council. All four incumbents are running alongside three challengers this year. The candidates are as follows. (They'll appear in this order on the ballot.)
- Will Dorcena 63 Gordon Avenue, from District 5
- Ayanna S. Pressley, 1910 Dorchester Ave., from District 3 (incumbent)
- Felix G. Arroyo, 93 Wachusett St., from District 6 (incumbent)
- John R. Connolly, 12 Shaw St., from District 6 (incumbent)
- Michael F. Flaherty, 1726 Columbia Road, from District 2
- Stephen J. Murphy, 141 Warren Ave., from District 5 (incumbent)
- Sean H. Ryan, 264 Lamartine Street, from District 6
Learn about the candidates and their positions on schools, gambling, non-profit expansion and the BRA in this Patch article about a candidates forum.
You can learn more about the candidates on their campaign web sites:
- www.willdorcena.com
- www.ayannapressley.com
- felixarroyo.com
- www.connollyforboston.com
- www.michaelflaherty.com
- stephenjmurphy.com
- www.seanryanforcitycouncil.com
If you're interested in seeing how the voting districts break down in Boston (to understand where the candidates are from, you can look at this map on the city's web site. This page has more general info about the districts too: www.cityofboston.gov/citycouncil/districts.asp
You can also find some general info about elections on the city's web site: cityofboston.gov/elections.
Where to vote
Polls are open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Zelma Lacey House, 9 West School St.
Voting takes place in the community room. (Districts 1 & 3) - Harvard-Kent Elementary School, 50 Bunker Hill St.
Voting takes place in the gymnasium. (Districts 2 & 4) - Clarence R. Edwards Middle School, 28 Walker St.
Enter through the rear entrance from Eden Street. Voting takes in the gymnasium. (Districts 5 & 6) - Golden Age Senior Center, 382 Main St.
Voting takes place in the building (District 7)
What district are you in? Look up your address on the Secretary of State's web site.
A push to 'get out of the vote'
Vote Charlestown, a new non-partisan initiative, is hoping to get local voters to the polls on Tuesday. Learn more about the work the group is doing here.
PGRD
10:23 am on Sunday, November 6, 2011
I live in Charlestown and no idea about any of these people. They have made no effort to contact me, even in these times of extreme political crisis and popular anger about the ineptness of those who we elect to govern us.
Vote Charlestown
1:45 pm on Sunday, November 6, 2011
It s still important that you make your voice heard so that in the future they start to pay attention to Charlestown That is our goal with vote Charlestown....
PGRD
2:47 pm on Sunday, November 6, 2011
None of them deserve my vote. They have made no effort to earn it.
Mum22
2:50 pm on Monday, November 7, 2011
I'm surprised you've gotten nothing. I've gotten mailings from all of these candidates except for two. I've also gotten emails. But, even if I hadn't, I would read the papers or do some research so that I could have some background info when I cast my ballot. I see it as my obligation to show up each and every election day.
Mark Micheli
7:17 pm on Monday, November 7, 2011
This article will give you some quick information on the city council candidates: http://patch.com/A-nm1d