Despite Frank Addivinola’s early evening robocalls proclaiming a path to victory through low turnout, an upset was not on the agenda in Tuesday’s Fifth Congressional District special election . Katherine Clark soundly trounced the Boston Republican 66 percent to 32 percent. Two independent candidates pulled in the remaining percentage points
Official figures won’t be available for a few days, but turnout was abysmal all over the district. Secretary of State William Galvin predicted that turnout would settle in at 10 percent. He blamed voter weariness with special elections and holiday preparations. Keller@Large is not a fan of the “voter fatigue” excuse that he continually hears. One NECN reporter tweeted, “Fifth election since April. Apathy or exhaustion?”
Back-to-back specials may promote apathy. A pair of special primaries to fill Dan Winslow’s former House seat attracted only 2 percent of eligible voters. But no matter what the contest, apathy is a voter trait that distinguishes the United States from most other countries. Columbia University’s Howard Steven Friedman, a United Nations statistician and health economist, found that the US was dead last in voter turnout for congressional/parliamentary elections compared to 13 other similarly wealthy countries with large populations.
Two countries in that group compel citizens to vote. Australia fines people who do not vote; Belgium tosses people off the voter rolls if they continually fail to go to the polls. The author noted that such laws wouldn’t resonate here (although it might be interesting to see the fur fly if someone was bold enough to send up those trial balloons).
The reforms that might increase turnout, such as same day registration or moving Election Day to Saturdays, are still political hot potatoes in most jurisdictions.
In Massachusetts, some sparks might be provided by more competitive elections. A consistent roster of serious Republican candidates who are more tune with the Bay State’s mostly unenrolled electorate (which is usually the case in gubernatorial contests) might persuade more voters to go to the polls in other races. A GOP candidate like Addivinola, who, for starters, continually labels his opponent a socialist in a bid to score points is not especially viable.
But his tough stance on immigration, combined with his professed willingness to work across the aisle, may have resonated in some quarters. It is worth noting that in Woburn , Addivinola beat Clark 53 percent to 45 percent. He also came close to victory in Winthrop , 49 percent to 51 percent; and Southborough, 48 percent to 50 percent. Indeed, a MetroWest Daily News analysis found that in the 495 region “Clark’s margin, while healthy, was much narrower.”
–GABRIELLE GURLEY
BEACON HILL
The enhanced ethics rules covering the Massachusetts Gaming Commission require that commission chairman Steve Crosby recuse himself from any action on the eastern Massachusetts casino, writes Pioneer Institute’s Greg Sullivan, the former state inspector general.
MUNICIPAL MATTERS
State officials place about 60 homeless families with 140 children at a Days Inn in Shrewsbury, prompting town officials to scramble to provide them services and school placements, the Telegram & Gazette reports.
Worcester plans to pay interim City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. $144,000 for nine months work, the Telegram & Gazette reports.
A Lawrence bar with a history of code violations run by a tax deadbeat may be closed permanently by city officials, the Eagle-Tribune reports.
The Marshfield police chief is seeking a hearing to charge a local family with hunter interference after they blew an air horn to scare off ducks in a no-hunting area where three hunters had set up.
Outgoing Boston Mayor Thomas Menino raises concerns about income inequality with city business leaders, State House News reports.
A recently approved pay hike for Boston police could set back the city’s 2025 deadline for fully funding its pension liabilities.
Former Boston city councilor Chuck Turner talks to the Herald.
The New Bedford City Council has approved a range of safety initiatives to protect immigrants after reports of a spate of violence against the city’s large Central American population.
Amesbury city councilors are upset at the town’s outgoing mayor for backing a proposed medical marijuana farm.
CASINOS
The state Gaming Commission suggests Suffolk Downs seek a second vote in Revere, this time on whether a proposed gambling casino would be located there rather than in East Boston. Suffolk Downs officials say they will likely pursue that course, the Lynn Item reports. NECN video is here.
NATIONAL POLITICS/WASHINGTON
House and Senate budget negotiators reach a deal to avoid another government shutdown, the Washington Post reports. Influential conservative naysayer William Kristol actually thinks it’s a good deal for Republicans.
Governing reports that states and their redistricting efforts are to blame for the gridlock in Washington. Scot Lehigh sounds a similar chord.
A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll finds President Obama’s disapproval rating at 54 percent — the highest of his presidency.
Secretary of State John Kerry asks Congress for some leeway on Iran, saying the administration’s policy is “test, but verify.”
BUSINESS/ECONOMY
General Motors names it first female CEO, the Daily Beast reports.
Welcome to Boston: Hundreds of attendees at two Boston conventions this fall have reported their credit card numbers stolen and used for purchases.
Members of Boston’s entrepreneurial startup community start up a spat after a group convenes a meeting that charges innovators for access to venture capital investors.
Globe columnist Larry Harmon says unions need to show some flexibility to help jump-start the stalled $1.6 billion redevelopment of downtown Quincy.
A survey of nonprofit foundation chief executives finds they believe congressional gridlock and spending cuts are the biggest obstacles in dealing with major social issues and the sluggish economy is a barrier to their missions.
EDUCATION
Lawrence teachers ask state lawmakers to restore bargaining rights taken away when the state took over the city’s schools, the State House News reports.
Paraprofessionals in the Fall River schools protested outside the School Committee meeting to call attention to the fact they have been without a contract since 2009.
The Boston Teachers Union has filed a grievance over recent teacher evaluations in which black, male, and older teachers more frequently got poorer ratings than did other instructors.
HEALTH CARE
A Brookline psychiatric hospital that has been cited for serious safety and patient-care violations was given limited ability to resume admitting patients.
The Fairhaven Planning Board, which had been discussing a moratorium, has endorsed a zoning change for Town Meeting to vote on to allow a medical marijuana facility in the town in one of the industrial areas.
TRANSPORTATION
Residents near Marshfield Airport are upset that work is continuing on the $15.3 milion runway improvement weeks after the state issued a noncompliance notice when local officials failed to adhere to a variance order on the project.
ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT
Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey refuses to sign a petition developed by Massachusetts and a handful of other northeast states asking the Environmental Protection Agency to crack down on pollution coming from other parts of the country, Governing reports. The Supreme Court hears a key case on cross-state pollution.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
The Globe’s Bella English visits with a family whose youngest daughter was killed in the Newtown school shootings as the first anniversary of the horrific day approaches.
Police in Dracut are swamped with more than 100 false burglar alarm calls a month and are thinking about charging $50 per call, the Lowell Sun reports.
A Marblehead man pleads guilty to raping a woman and posting pictures of the crime on Facebook, which refused to take the pictures down until it received a court order, the Salem News reports.
MEDIA
The Gannett Co. plans to insert parts of USA Today into local papers it owns, the New York Times reports.
Does Facebook want to be an online newspaper?
