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Category Archives: Elections & Voting

Justin Hurst

Hurst Blasts Sarno As Vote-Buying Maelstrom Consumes Close of Springfield Campaign…

UPDATED

With his mayoral campaign in mortal danger, Springfield at-large Councilor Justin Hurst held a defiant press conference Thursday morning, vigorously denying his campaign engaged in vote-buying. The allegations, which are reportedly now before federal and state investigators, arose after early-voters swamped Election Commission staff Saturday.

Briefings: The Count Set to Return to Ward 5 in Holyoke…

One Holyoke election is heading into overtime. Guy O’Donnell, who challenged Ward 5 City Councilor Linda Vacon in last week’s election, has filed for a recount. Fewer than 20 votes or about 1% separated the two in unofficial results the City Clerk’s office has posted.

Beacon Hill Cartographers Unveil Proposed Legislative Districts for 2022…

With the much-delayed Census figures in hand, the Massachusetts legislature set to drawing new maps for the state House and Senate. On Tuesday, the Joint Committee on Redistricting released its drafts. The new lines are not wholly without controversy. The Committee will hear from the public Friday even as a constitutional deadline begins to bear down. In the 413, the process may have delivered as well as it could.

Council Lifts Oyola from Election Chiefdom to Springfield City Clerk-dom…

SPRINGFIELD—Gladys Oyola, the head of the Springfield Election Commission, will be the next City Clerk after the City Council unanimously selected her. Last week, a search committee had slimmed down a field of 72 applicants down to three. On Monday, Oyola, an unsurprising though eminently qualified choice, prevailed.

Springfield City Hall

Springfield to Have One Ballot Lap in 2021, Ward 1 Candidates Waltzing in…

Barring any signatures challenges, the midterm ballot in Springfield looks ready to go and two prominent open races will want for competition. Moreover, the field will be thin enough to avoid the need for a preliminary. Still, a full complement of contenders will challenge at-large councilors and half of the ward Council seats will have races.

Gomez Exits Council, Leaving Ex-Colleagues a Big Decision…

UPDATED 2/3/21 1:14PM: To include details of Gomez’s resignation letter. Springfield State Senator Adam Gomez, who also held the Ward 1 City Council seat, has announced his resignation from the municipal legislature. In a press release his senate office issued, Gomez said he was leaving

Down for the Recount in the 7th Hampden District…

The United States Presidential election appears to be sewn up, but one local House race remains in limbo. Ludlow School Committee member James “Chip” Harrington, the Republican candidate for the 7th Hampden House district, is preparing to request at least a partial hand recount of