There was a large local turnout for the Nov. 6 election with Jamaica Plain residents facing long lines at some polling stations. President Barack Obama won reelection, challenger Elizabeth Warren topped incumbent U.S. Senator Scott Brown, and the state approved medical marijuana.
JP residents also saw the beginnings of the 2013 mayoral race. Will Dorcena, a former At-Large City Council candidate, had campaign signs for mayor up near some polling stations.
The race for the U.S. Senate seat was a competitive one with JP bearing witness to that. Both Democrat Warren and Republican Brown set up campaign offices in Hyde Square and both made numerous campaign stops in JP rallying supporters. It was the first time in local political memory that Republicans had a local campaign office.
Warren visited her one-week-old campaign office at 405 Centre St. on Election Day, where City Councilors Felix Arroyo and Tito Jackson also were helping her. In the end, Warren garnered the victory, winning 74 percent of the Boston vote and probably better than that in JP.
There were two other contested local federal races. Incumbent Stephen Lynch (Democrat) beat challenger Joe Selvaggi (Republican) for the U.S. Congressional 8th District seat.
Democrat U.S. Rep. Mike Capuano (7th District) won reelection over 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 won reelection and did not face an opponent.
For the Governor’s Council, which confirms judicial appointments, among other duties, Democrat Robert Jubinville beat Republican Earl Sholley for the District 2 seat. Democrat Christopher Iannella, a JP resident, won the District 4 seat running unopposed.
JP residents also had the opportunity to help decide several ballot questions. Some JP residents did not receive the state booklet detailing each ballot question.
A woman, who wished not to be named, called the Gazette to say that many residents at the 147-unit Forbes Building at 545 Centre St. did not receive the booklet. The booklet was also not received on at least part of St. Rose Street and part of Centre Street in Canary Square. But the Gazette did receive one at its post office box.
Question 1 concerned automobile manufacturers being required to provide diagnostics to consumers and repair shops. Legislation recently was passed and then signed by Gov. Deval Patrick that requires automobile manufacturers to do just that. But the question remained on the ballot and it was approved.
Question 2 would have allowed terminally ill patients who have been given six months or less to live the ability to obtain lethal drugs to commit suicide. The measure appeared to fail in a close vote that was still being counted at the Gazette’s deadline.
Question 3, which concerned the legalization of medical marijuana, was approved.
Two other, non-binding questions that appeared on local ballots were approved by large margins. One, organized by JP’s Mass. Alliance of HUD Tenants and other groups, asks elected officials to call for cuts in military spending to sustain social programs. The other asks elected officials to call for restrictions on the free speech rights of corporations and nonprofits enabled by the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling.
The Warren campaign office in Hyde Square on Election Day. (Gazette Photo by Peter Shanley)
- U.S. Senator-elect Elizabeth Warren gives her victory speech at a downtown rally on Nov. 6. (Photo by Frederick G.S. Clow)
