Politics - Marblehead Current

21 Aug

QUESTIONS FOR 8TH ESSEX CANDIDATES: No. 1 — Please introduce yourself

Will Dowd6 CommentsLocal News, Politics, Top Stories

The Marblehead News posed a series of common questions to the six Democratic candidates for state representative from the 8th Essex District. There is no declared Republican candidate, meaning the winner of the primary Tuesday, Sept. 6 is likely to head to Beacon Hill to serve Marblehead, Swampscott and a portion of Lynn. Over the next two weeks, the Marblehead News will post the candidates' responses to our questions, side by side, alternating the order as we go. Q1. Tell us about yourself (occupation/education, appointed…

20 Aug

Essex County’s Coppinger, Leigh complete ‘Know Your Sheriff’ questionnaires

Marblehead News staff0 CommentsLocal News, Politics

Incumbent Essex County Sheriff Kevin Coppinger and his challenger, Virginia Leigh, have completed questionnaires about their candidacies as part of the ACLU of Massachusetts' Know Your Sheriff campaign. Incumbent Essex County Sheriff Kevin Coppinger is being challenged by Virginia Leigh. You can read their responses here: CoppingerLeigh Both candidates are Democrats and will appear on the Sept. 6 primary ballot. There is no declared Republican candidate, meaning the winner of the primary will likely secure a six-year term in office. According to the ACLU, the…

16 Aug

Work of Marblehead group studying hybrid public meetings gets underway

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

A half-dozen members of a new town committee that will study the cost implications and logistics around technological infrastructure necessary to give hybrid access to all Marblehead public meetings convened their inaugural meeting in Abbot Hall on Tuesday morning. The study group, known as the Article 44 Committee, was established when the Town Meeting adopted the-then town moderator Gary Spiess' motion for its formation on the Town Meeting floor in May. His recommendation that a study committee be established arrived after resident Lynn Nadeau, who…

16 Aug

In Marblehead, candidates make their case for 8th Essex District seat

Will Dowd0 CommentsLocal News, Politics, Top Stories

In the lead up to the the 8th Essex District Democratic primary on Tuesday, Sept. 6, the race's half-dozen candidates have agreed on nearly every issue in public forums - but they’ve struggled to separate themselves from the contest's pack. The candidates, in an attempt to bring distinction to their candidacies, noticeably spoke to their professional and life experiences during the Marblehead Democratic Town Committee picnic on Monday evening. The annual gathering - which raises money for an academic scholarship - was staged on the…

24 Jun

In Marblehead, SCOTUS decision sparks candlelight vigil at Abbot Hall, draws over 150

Leigh Blander0 CommentsLocal News, Politics, Top Stories

More than 150 people gathered at twilight on the lawn of Abbot Hall to protest the Supreme Court’s ruling ending the constitutionally protected right to abortion. The two Marblehead 16-year-olds who organized the vigil said they want to stand in solidarity with women, especially in other states, who will be deeply impacted by the decision. MHS teens (left to right) Rachel Alpert, Katherine Twomey, Angelina Nguyen, Jasmina Kurtovic and Song Waitekus at the vigil on June 24, 2022. “This really sucks,” said Sophia Weiner, who…

22 Jun

Q1 appears to pass, Q2 fails as vote count goes deep into night

Leigh Blander0 CommentsLocal News, Marblehead Public Schools, Politics, Top Stories

After several hectic hours when ballots ran out in all six Marblehead precincts, some initial election results showed voters approving Question 1, a $24.3 override for town capital spending, and rejecting Question2, a $3 million override for the schools. (Read more about the override votes on Wednesday, June 22.) The town-wide ballot shortage forced election officials to print paper copies of ballots, which could not be run through voting machines. That prompted a hand count that continued late into the night. Election workers were at…

21 Jun

Marblehead voters OK $24.3M in capital projects

Marblehead News staff1 CommentLocal News, Marblehead Public Schools, Politics, Top Stories

In the Tuesday election, Marblehead approved a Proposition 2 1/2 debt-exclusion override to finance a $24.3 million smorgasbord of capital improvement projects over the next five years. According to preliminary machine and hand counted results, the first of two Proposition 2 1/2 override questions on the day's ballot was approved by a vote of 3,352 "yes" votes - or 57 percent - to 2,177 "no" votes. A total of 5,845 ballots were cast in a turnout that depleted the town's stockpile of ballots. "It's great,"…

21 Jun

Marblehead voters turn down $3M permanent override for schools

Marblehead News staff1 CommentLocal News, Marblehead Public Schools, Politics, Top Stories

In their annual election on Tuesday, Marblehead voters tuned down a proposed $3 million permanent override that sought to supplement the town's $43 million education budget. According to preliminary machine and hand counted results, the Proposition 2 1/2 override was defeated by a vote of 3,921 "no" votes - or by 67 percent - to 1,798 "yes" votes. A total of 5,845 ballots were cast in a turnout that depleted the town's stockpile of ballots. The measure would have raised Marblehead's levy limit and would…