Politics - Marblehead Current

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

24Jun

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

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

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 led the vigil with her friend Bella Takata. “It’s okay to be sad tonight, but tomorrow we fight.” The crowd was mostly made up of young women, including Katherine Ducharme, 19, of Marblehead. Vigil organizers Sophia Weiner (left) and Bella Takata on June 24...

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

22Jun

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Politics, Top Stories

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

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 Abbot Hall until 3:00 a.m., according to an official in the town clerk's office. Early results from Precincts 2 and 3 - which still excluded hand-count votes - showed Select Board incumbents Jackie Belf-Becker, Erin Noonan, Moses Grader, Alexa Singer a...

Marblehead voters OK $24.3M in capital projects

21Jun

By Marblehead News staff1 Comment

Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Politics, Top Stories

Marblehead voters OK $24.3M in capital projects

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," Select Board Chair Jackie Belf-Becker told Marblehead News as she watched results inside Abbot Hall. "We appreciate the support of the town." The spending voters approved can be broken down in four parts: $12.5 million on sidewalks and road improvements Almost $9 milli...

Marblehead voters turn down $3M permanent override for schools

21Jun

By Marblehead News staff1 Comment

Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Politics, Top Stories

Marblehead voters turn down $3M permanent override for schools

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 have filled what Marblehead Superintendent John Buckey said was a $3 million funding gap. The override would have increased the tax bill of the owner of a median single-family home assessed at $738,000 by $310.53 annually, but the voters did not have an appetite for...