Yes we realize that’s it still several hours before the polls close but Village 14’s crack election analysis team has been talking to voters and looking at turnout and is now ready to project in three contests involving first time candidates.
- Josh Krintzman: ELECTED Ward 4 Council at Large.
- Rebecca Grossman: ELECTED Ward 7 Council at Large
- Kathleen Burdette Sheilds: ELECTED Ward 7 School Committee
For actual election results, here’s the link to the city’s ward by ward results page. In addition NewTV’s election coverage begins at 7 p.m. tonight on the Government Channel and Facebook Live.
You do no service to anyone by making projections like this so early in the day.
Projections before the polls close can affect election results, by mobilizing supporters of opponents or making complacent (i.e., lowering turnout) of supporters. There’s no need to do this.
Another V14 thread today says…. “This is what democracy looks like.” Well, this thread is a good example of what it should NOT look like. Through no fault of their own, the three winning candidates mentioned in this thread are running unopposed. But that doesn’t mean voters should lose their right to choose who their elected officials are. Choice = democracy! That’s why I continue to believe every local ballot in Newton should include the option to vote for “None of the Above.” No one should be able to elect themselves to any public office simply because they lack a challenger.
Ha ha!
These uncontested races make me wonder what happens if there are zero candidates for a specific seat. Does anyone know?
My bad – I didn’t look to see that they were unopposed.
Bold predictions, V14!
Thank you, Allison Sharma, who really did show us what democracy looks like by running her strong write in campaign. No matter the results, she took a bold step and renewed many people’s hope in our system.
@Newtoner, under the Charter, if there is a vacancy in the offices of the Mayor, City Council, or School Committee, “by failure to elect or otherwise,” the City Council must call for a special election.
In average, municipal elections in Newton gather 30% of registered voters. This means Newton has the 30% democracy. This is better than the 15% democracy in Plymouth, MA. That’s why voting is mandatory in Canada and Australia, for example.
Hats off to the v14 Election Desk. All that statistical modeling software you bought and the advanced analytics team you put together really paid off.
Is it still too close to call the Ruth Goldman School Committe Race? Looks like that one could be a squeaker too.
If there aren’t enough choices for a particular position to actually have a race (either someone running unopposed or two people running for a “not more than two” position), I generally leave it blank on the ballot. Hoping that a small message is sent. By the vote totals, they should see that they received fewer than the total number of voters. Like I said, a small message but not much else you can do.
If there are generally not enough choices for positions I think it calls for creating a charter Commission to create a system with fewer positions. Just sayin
@Anatol Zukerman: There is no mandatory voting in Canada, and voter participation there is quite dismal.
Anatol, voting is not mandatory in Canada.
@Greg: You’re absolutely right. Unopposed races is one of the reasons I voted yes.
Except for Ward 4 which has a larger than average write-in campaign, I’ll go out on a limb and project all the other unopposed candidates are also going to win!
A potential candidate had their signs too close to a polling place in Ward 4. They also took up several parking places in a small lot.
Also let’s wait to see who is really elected when the voting is over at 8 pm.
Hmm- just heading out to polls now. Thanks for giving me a heads up about these candidates which I just googled. Even though it doesn’t matter, I probably would have voted for all or nothing in uncontested wards but will now ONLY vote for Gentile & Laredo due to your projected winners ill-advised, anti-average Joe citizen stance on Charter reform and development.
Mr. office:
I’m sure your lack of votes in uncontected races will be a moral victory to remember forever!
May your red stapler and TPS reports live forever!
Good one Fig! #782 @ 4/4
Several literature cards at my voting “booth” with stickers listing the name of the Ward 4 write-in candidate. I asked woman if they were supposed to be there. “No, I’ll remove them now.”
Still some good anisette cookies left @ 7:30p!
I love that movie. Thanks for posting!