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Nov. 6 election to decide president, Senate races

The days are dwindling away to the Nov. 6 election, where Jamaica Plain residents will have four different candidates to choose from for the U.S. presidency. JP residents will also help decide a U.S. Senate race and several ballot questions.

U.S. President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney are the candidates for the Democratic and Republican parties, respectively. Gary Johnson is representing the Libertarian Party on the ballot, while Jill Stein got the nod from the Green Party.

Incumbent Scott Brown (Republican) faces Elizabeth Warren for a U.S. Senate seat.

There are two other contested local federal races. Incumbent Stephen Lynch (Democrat) is battling Joe Selvaggi (Republican) for the U.S. Congressional 8th District seat. Democrat U.S. Rep. Mike Capuano (7th District) will face Independent Karla Romero.

On the state level, Democratic Reps. Jeffrey Sánchez (15th Suffolk District), Liz Malia (11th Suffolk District) and Russell Holmes (6th Suffolk District) and Democratic Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz (2nd Suffolk District) all will not face an opponent in election.

For the Governor’s Council, which confirms judicial appointments, among other duties, Democrat Robert Jubinville faces Republican Earl Sholley for the District 2 seat. Democrat Christopher Iannella, a JP resident, does not face a challenger for the District 4 seat.

JP residents will have the opportunity to decide several ballot questions.

Question 1 concerns automobile manufacturers being required to provide diagnostics to consumers and repair shops. But legislation recently was passed and then signed by Gov. Deval Patrick that requires automobile manufacturers to do just that. The question, though, will be on the ballot, and one advocacy group is still urging residents to vote yes.

Question 2, if approved, would allow terminally ill patients who have been given six months or less to live the ability to obtain lethal drugs to commit suicide.

Voting yes on Question 3 would legalize medical marijuana.

JP residents also have the chance to vote on two non-binding ballot questions. One asks if the state representative from the district should vote in favor of a resolution that calls for Congress to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision.

The Citizens United ruling was a landmark 2010 decision in which the Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment prohibits the government from restricting independent political donations by corporations and unions.

The other non-binding question on the ballot, which was backed by the Jamaica Plain-based Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants, urges the U.S. Congress to tax the rich, prevent budget cuts, end the Afghanistan war and invest in jobs.

 

Peter Shanley:
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