Politics - Marblehead Current

State Rep.-elect Jenny Armini gets sworn in today, restoring 8th Essex District representation

4Jan

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Culture, Local News, Politics, Top Stories

State Rep.-elect Jenny Armini gets sworn in today, restoring 8th Essex District representation

State Rep.-elect Jenny Armini gets sworn into office today, restoring the 8th Essex District's representation in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Her oath of office comes nearly a year after her predecessor, former state Rep. Lori Ehrlich, resigned in January of 2022 for a job with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Marblehead Current sat down with Armini in the fall to discuss what she hopes to do on Beacon Hill; the newspaper's story from that interview can be found below. Jenny Armini was recently in Pleasant Street’s Starbucks when, in relatively short order, it became apparent in at least one way why she topped a six-way primary for the 8th Essex District Democratic nomination in September. “Hi Jake,” Armini said to the barista, clad in a red apron, be...

Lori Ehrlich, former Marblehead state representative, gives farewell address

12Dec

By Lori EhrlichNo Comments

Local News, Politics, Top Stories

Lori Ehrlich, former Marblehead state representative, gives farewell address

The full text of the speech that former state rep. Lori Ehrlich presided over on the floor of the Massachusetts House of Representatives on Monday, Dec. 12. Ehrlich was the 8th Essex District representative for 14 years until she joined the Biden Administration as the Federal Emergency Management Administrations Region 1 administrator on Jan. 31. Marblehead resident Jenny Armini will succeed her when state lawmakers are sworn into office on Jan. 4, 2023. Former state rep. Lori Ehrlich of Marblehead presides over her farewell speech in the chamber of Massachusetts House of Representatives. COURTESY PHOTO / STATE REP. JAMIE BELSITO Thank you Mr. Speaker, and through you to the members. It is a distinct honor and delight to be able to say that one…..last…..time. Deep appreci...

30Nov

By Marblehead League of Women VotersNo Comments

Local News, Municipal Matters, Politics

League of Women Voters Observer Reports, Nov. 30, 2022

The Marblehead Current is pleased to be supplementing its coverage of public meetings with Observer Reports provided by volunteers from the Marblehead League of Women Voters. To learn more about the League and its activities, see my.lwv.org/massachusetts/marblehead. Fair Housing Committee, Nov. 21 At the Oct. 17 meeting, Select Board Chairman Moses Grader made a presentation to the committee informing them that the Select Board (SB) would be reorganizing the Fair Housing Committee.The purpose of the reorganization is to strengthen the FHC by having town officials serve on the board, broadening the committee mandate, empowering them to put initiatives into action, and enhancing communications and interactions with other town boards/committees. On Nov. 16, the Select Board voted to re...

Once a critic, Moulton says Pelosi broke ‘one of the toughest glass ceilings’

17Nov

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Local News, Politics, Top Stories

Once a critic, Moulton says Pelosi broke ‘one of the toughest glass ceilings’

Congressman Seth Moulton was a prominent face behind two unsuccessful challenges to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s leadership of House Democrats after the 2016 election and the 2018 election. He has never minced words with regard to his past dissatisfaction with the San Francisco Democrat's leadership. On Thursday, that past history pivoted to “water under the bridge.” Moulton characterized his former political foe as “a historic speaker and legendary Democrat” in a press statement on Thursday afternoon after Pelosi, the first woman to hold the House speakership, announced she would not seek a leadership position when the 118th Congress gavels into session in January. She will, however, remain in Congress to serve her two-year term. The announcement arrives weeks after the...

School Committee, Select Board set timeline to fill Barron vacancy

16Nov

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Municipal Matters, Politics, Top Stories

School Committee, Select Board set timeline to fill Barron vacancy

Marblehead Select Board has laid out a timeline and process to fill the School Committee seat vacated by Emily Barron in late October. Select Board Chairman Mosses Grader made the public announcement during a Nov. 16 meeting in Abbot Hall’s Select Board Room - with School Committee members and Superintendent John Buckey present. Press-ReleaseDownload More details on how and where residents can submit application materials surfaced on Thursday in a press release. Candidates will need to concurrently send application materials to the School Committee and the Select Board. Two copies of a cover letter and a detailed should be submitted, both on the same day – one to the School Committee and one to the Select Board (by mail, hand-delivered, or by email, addresses belo...

ELECTION 2022: Healey, Driscoll turn corner office blue in historic win

8Nov

By Colin A. YoungNo Comments

Local News, Politics, Top Stories

ELECTION 2022: Healey, Driscoll turn corner office blue in historic win

Voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly chose Democrat Maura Healey as the next governor of Massachusetts, entrusting the two-term attorney general whose election marks a litany of historic firsts to succeed popular Republican Gov. Charlie Baker as the state continues to find its footing in a post-pandemic world. Republican Geoff Diehl was little match for Healey, who has been considered the Democrats' odds-on favorite to become the state's chief executive for almost the entirety of her relatively short political career and who entered the governor's race in January after Baker opted not to seek reelection. With about 28 percent of the votes counted at 10:45 p.m., Healey was leading Diehl 63 percent to 35 percent. The Associated Press had called the race in favor of Healey more than two ho...

Marblehead polls open for 2022 state election

8Nov

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Local News, Municipal Matters, Politics, Top Stories

Marblehead polls open for 2022 state election

Marblehead polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov.8 for the 2022 State Election. The Marblehead ballot features contests for the entire slate of constitutional offices, the 6th Congressional District and the town’s state representative and senator. Voters will also weigh in on four referendum questions that appear to be stealing candidates and be the draw Tuesday. Voters must votes in their designated polling place - which include the following locations Precinct 1: Old Town House, One Market Square Precincts 2 and 3: Abbot Hall Auditorium, 188 Washington St. Precincts 4, 5 and 6: Judy and Gene Jacobi Community Center Gym, 10 Humphrey Street A sample Marblehead ballot for the state election, according to Secretary of State William Galvin’s website: ...

Ballot questions drawing voters more than candidates, Galvin says

7Nov

By Sam DoranNo Comments

Local News, Politics, Top Stories

Ballot questions drawing voters more than candidates, Galvin says

Races for governor, other statewide offices, and most legislative seats aren't generating much enthusiasm -- it's the four ballot questions that voters seem to be agonizing over, the state's top elections official said Monday. Longtime State Secretary William Galvin forecast that around 2.2 million of the state's 4.8 million registered voters, or around 45 percent, will cast ballots this cycle. "I hope I'm wrong," Galvin said of his estimate. If his projection tracks, voter participation would be down sharply from the 60 percent turnout in the last midterm and gubernatorial election in 2018, and that's despite the addition of mail-in voting options that were not in place for the election four years ago and are designed to boost turnout. It would also ebb to a low water mark fo...

Barron vacancy to be left open, Marblehead School Committee members decide

1Nov

By William J. Dowd1 Comment

Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Municipal Matters, Politics, Top Stories

Barron vacancy to be left open, Marblehead School Committee members decide

For the next eight months, the recent Marblehead School Committee seat that resident Emily Barron vacated will remain empty until the 2023 municipal election. The School Committee made the call on a split vote among the four remaining members during a Tuesday evening meeting. School Committee members Alison Taylor and Sarah Fox voted to keep the seat vacant, arguing the Marblehead voters should decide. "It would be my recommendation at this time to leave the seat open, to be determined by the voters," said Fox, who chairs the School Committee. "Papers would be available, as is typical, in March." She went on to note the four members meet the quorum threshold required under state law. "So at this point, that is my recommendation: Is to let the voters decide w...

Marblehead native, activist Siskind returns to North Shore on eve of high-stakes election

26Oct

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Local News, Politics, Top Stories

Marblehead native, activist Siskind returns to North Shore on eve of high-stakes election

Marblehead native and national political activist Amy Siskind is coming back to the North Shore to speak at the Women’s Fund of Essex County annual luncheon on Nov. 3. The event is just five days before the midterm elections, and Siskind is feeling anxious. Amy Siskind Courtesy photo “A national ban on abortion and losing gay marriage, gay rights, contraception – these are the things I worry about as a Democrat,” Siskind told Marblehead News. “This election could determine whether we’re going to end up being an authoritarian state. In Pennsylvania, Arizona, Nevada – a lot of people running are election deniers. This could be a set up for (the election in) 2024.” Siskind grew up in Marblehead, playing field hockey, basketball and softball at Marblehead High School. She graduated...