Politics - Marblehead Current

06 Sep

Jenny Armini wins the 8th Essex District contest

Will Dowd0 CommentsLocal News, Municipal Matters, Politics, Top Stories

Marblehead resident Jennifer Armini, a speechwriter and co-founder of the grassroots political group ElectBlue, won the 8th Essex District primary, according to an unofficial tally. Armini topped the ticket by a 308-vote margin, having captured 2,309 votes out of 8,361 or 27.61 percent. Swampscott resident Tristian Smith followed Armini with 2,001 votes, and then Swampscott resident Douglas Thompson with 1,555. Armini received concessions and congratulations from Thompson, Marblehead resident Terri Tauro, and Swampscott resident Polly Titcomb. On election night, Armini said she spoke with Smith,…

06 Sep

Nine apply to fill Marblehead Municipal Light Commission vacancy

Will Dowd0 CommentsLocal News, Municipal Matters, Politics, Top Stories

The Marblehead Select Board and the Marblehead Light Commission will have nine candidates to pick from when they convene a joint meeting to fill the vacancy created by Karl A. Johnson on July 13. Johnson’s resignation, citing health reasons, arrived two weeks after the 2022 municipal election. Whomever the Select Board and Light Commission end up appointing in a Sept. 14 meeting in Abbot Hall will serve until the 2023 municipal election, when voters will elect someone for what will then be the remaining year…

06 Sep

For state primary, polls across Marblehead open until 8 p.m.

Will Dowd0 CommentsLocal News, Municipal Matters, Politics, Top Stories

Marblehead voting precincts open at 7 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m. for the 2022 state primaries today. Voters must cast ballots at their designated precints: Precinct 1: Old Town House, One Market Square Precincts 2 and 3: Abbot Hall Auditorium - 188 Washington St. Precincts 4, 5 and 6: Judy & Gene Jacobi Community Center Gym, 10 Humphrey St. In the 2022 election cycle, a dozen county, state and federal offices open up on Tuesday, Nov. 8. In the Sept. 6 state primary, Marblehead voters will play a…

31 Aug

LETTER: ‘Why we are wholeheartedly supporting Doug’

Letter to the editor0 CommentsPolitics, Viewpoints

We are writing to urge voters in the 8th Essex district to elect Doug Thompson for state representative. Much has been written about Doug’s extensive experience in the public and private health care sector, including his time as the CFO of MassHealth where he managed an $8.5 billion to $9 billion budget. And many may already know about Doug’s comprehensive plans with respect to health care and climate change. (If not, you can read about them at www.doug4rep.com.) And, unlike at least one candidate, some may…

30 Aug

8th Essex District candidates spar in final debate before Sept. 6 primary

John Lamontagne0 CommentsLocal News, Politics

The half-dozen candidates running for the 8th Essex District seat sparred in the final debate before the Sept. 6 state primary on Monday night. And they sparred before a crowd gathered in Marblehead High School’s auditorium over who had the right experience to succeed Marblehead resident Lori Ehrlich, in an election contest that candidates have struggled to single themselves out from the pack. The hour-long debate, which Thor Jourgensen of Essex Media Group moderated, saw candidates touch on wide-ranging issues, from the MBTA’s failings, health…

29 Aug

Markey endorsement of Smith, latest in series, triggers response from women seeking 8th Essex seat

Kris Olson0 CommentsLocal News, Politics, Top Stories

Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey The Aug. 24 endorsement of U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, along with endorsements of several other high-profile Massachusetts political figures announced by the campaign of Tristan Smith, "highlight the structural failures of our political system" and appear to be the product of "generational loyalty... maintained, if only in part, by significant financial contributions," the four women competing with Smith in the Democratic primary to represent the 8th Essex District said in a joint statement Aug. 29. The statement, authored by candidate Polly…

26 Aug

For the state primary, in-person voting in Marblehead kicks off Saturday

Will Dowd0 CommentsLocal News, Municipal Matters, Politics, Top Stories

The 2022 Massachusetts primary on Tuesday, Sept. 6 is a little over two weeks away, but in-person voting gets underway in Marblehead on Saturday, Aug. 27. Marblehead Town Clerk Robin Michaud will offer six days of early voting in Abbot Hall, 188 Washington St., at the following dates and times: This is the first election since the June municipal election, during which the town depleted ballots before polls closed. Michaud said she doesn't expect a shortage of Sept. 6 ballots, given the state dictates ballot…

23 Aug

LETTER: Doug Thompson for 8th Essex District seat

Submitted Content0 CommentsOpinion, Politics, Viewpoints

Thank you to all 6 courageous public-service oriented candidates for State Rep. in the 8th Essex District. Here is why I will be voting for Doug Thompson on Sept. 6: His career in public service began right out of college with case management for homeless people. In time he moved on to a degree at the Kennedy School at Harvard and into health care agency work, including authoring a public health plan in the Clinton administration and finally becoming CFO of Mass Health, overseeing an $8 billion budget. All this…

22 Aug

Marblehead municipal meetings, week of Aug. 22 – 26

Will Dowd0 CommentsCommunity Resources, Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Municipal Matters, Politics

Tuesday, Aug. 23 2 p.m., Policy Subcommittee Meeting of Marblehead School Committee, front conference room of the Marblehead administration Building, 9 Widger Road. On the agenda: Review of nondiscrimination, nondiscrimination and harassment, reconsideration of instructional resources, student dress code, bullying prevention and physical restraint of students. marblehead_school_committee_-_policy_subcommittee_agenda_8-23-2022Download 2 p.m., The Abbot Public Library Renovation Committee Meeting via Zoom. Attend virtually HERE. On the agenda: Schedule, new business and updates from the owners project manager, director and designer abbot_public_library_building_renovation_committee_agenda_8-23-22Download Wednesday, Jan. 24 1 p.m., Joint meeting…

22 Aug

Marblehead lands $140K grant to finance rail trail segment

Will Dowd0 CommentsCommunity Resources, Local News, Municipal Matters, Nonprofit corner, Politics, Top Stories

Late last week, Congressman Seth Moulton and the Essex National Heritage Area announced Marblehead will receive a piece of a recently awarded $1.2 million in federal funding to finance work related to the the town's rail trail. The 70-mile shared-use trail runs from New Hampshire to Boston, connecting 20 communities to "employment centers, neighborhoods, schools, parks, recreational facilities and natural areas" in Essex County. marblehead_trail_plan_finalDownload "Marblehead is pleased to have received $140,000 for the design and intersection improvements and and the planned surface upgrade for…