The Newburyport Blog

Election day in Newburyport, MA and it’s raining.

Well, it’s not only raining, but it’s pouring.

Which traditionally means that people are more likely not to vote, because who wants to go out in the literally pouring rain?

To see the weather forecast, press “WEATHER” at the top right hand side of the Newburyport Blog. It will take you to the weather channel and you can see all kinds of nifty stuff, like the radar, and when the rain is going to let up.

The good news is that the rain is supposed to let up by 3 pm this afternoon, and stop around 5 pm.

That gives folks in town an un-drenched time to go vote later in the day.

And it also gives folks coming home from work an un-drenched time to vote before the polls close at 8 PM.

After the polls close at 8 PM, I am going to wander down to Newburyport City Hall. And after our Newburyport City Clerk, Richard Jones, most graciously gives me a copy of the “unofficial results” of the election, I will post them on the Newburyport Blog.

I am also going to try and scan the paper that our city clerk gives me, so that folks can see the exact break down of the election results.

It would be lovely to be able to have a “virtual vote.” You can go and practice voting on Tom Salemi’s Blog, Newburyport Posts. Tom has a break-down of the candidates and what they are running for.

It doesn’t count though as the real thing.

The most official version of who is running for what is from the Newburyport City Clerk’s office (PDF Version). You can print it out, mark it up, and take it with you when you go vote today.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Politics matters.

Who you vote for matters.

My old friend Frank Schaeffer (see early entries) has written a new book “Crazy for God, How I helped Found the Religious Right and Ruin America.”

(Note: that was the original subtitle, not the one the publisher eventually went with, but it’s the one I like. Please see Mr. Schaeffer’s website for the correct, official subtitle.)

The book talks about many things, including a first hand account of how the Religious Right came about and why it is so powerful. But it also talks about the negative impact that can come about when people only pay attention to the emotional and visceral aspects of politics and don’t think through the potential consequences.

(Mr. Schaeffer is doing a reading of “Crazy for God” at 7 pm, on Thursday, November 8, 2007, at the Bookrack at the Tannery, in Newburyport, MA. C-SPAN will be covering the reading (you may get to be on TV if you go), and Mr. Schaeffer is always entertaining. This is a vast understatement.)

That principal not only applies on the national level, but it also applies on the local level as well.

Who you vote for matters.

In 2 earlier entries I’ve broken down some of the candidates into (fairly simplistic) categories. (Please scroll down the Newburyport Blog to see the 2 entries.) Those categories indicate how candidates would most probably handle your life–your city government, which impacts your life in all sorts of ways.

So when you vote this week on, Tuesday, November 6, 2007, remember, your vote matters.

A neighbor of mine said, “I vote so that I have the right to complain.” Hopefully, if you vote, the issues that matter to you, would have a chance of being addressed, and you may not want to complain quite as much as you might want to otherwise.

Tuesday night I will probably go down to City Hall around 8:00 PM when the polls close, and would most likely put up the results of the Newburyport election 2007, on the Newburyport Blog.

And Tom Salemi on his blog, Newburyport Posts, gives you a chance to practice voting. He also has a great break-down of the candidates and what they are running for.

Also, it’s really fun.

Please press here to check it out.

Tom also has a great idea for the most official version of who is running for what, and that is the information from the Newburyport City Clerk’s office (PDF Version).

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

How I would vote.

Instead of “endorsing” candidates, I thought I would share how I would vote on Tuesday, November 2, 2007. (Note: This would be how I would vote, and what I would look for in a candidate. It would not be the only or right way to vote.)

Many of you who have been following the Newburyport Blog, probably already have a some idea who I would be hoping for.

My leanings would be towards folks “In the Middle” and “Progressives.” But that’s just me.

I lean towards folks who are for historic preservation, rather than folks who would be for “property owner’s rights” or “developers’ rights.” I would like to see more “overlays” to ensure that our historic assets, the engine of Newburyport’s economy, are not destroyed.

I’m a big proponent of Open Space and Affordable Housing.

I like to see the bills paid.

I would like to keep our downtown as “authentic” as possible, and see some sort of “economic overlay” for downtown that controls the number of chain stores, so that we do not become one more bland place to live and visit.

I’m for more park and less parking on the Central Waterfront.

I’m for a Senior Center at Cushing Park. (I think we have a community center at the Newburyport Library, a truly nurturing and an incredible destination.)

I have no idea what the solution could be for the conundrum of our schools. I am hoping for thoughtful and civil folks in all civic areas, to wrestle with that very difficult dilemma.

Getting the Crow Lane Landfill horror finally resolved (which I think everyone in Newburyport, MA would like to see happen).

And I look for folks who are not rigid in their approach. Who have the ability, although they might see things one way, to realize that a different approach could be more appropriate and helpful for the citizens of Newburyport, Massachusetts.

And I am also looking for folks who would understand that whatever issue they could be voting on, would impact in some way, all of the residents of Newburyport, MA (young, old, middle-aged, rich, poor and middle income people), and would make that part of their decision making process.

(Again, for more information on various candidates, please check out “Election 2007, Newburyport–Blogs and Websites” at the right hand side of the Newburyport Blog.)

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

(Editor’s Note: Tom Salemi on his blog Newburyport Posts gives you a chance to practice voting. He also has a great break-down of the candidates and what they are running for.

Tom also has a great idea for the most official version of who is running for what, and that is the information from the City Clerk’s office (PDF Version).)

Ok I’m going to do the really, really simple thing again.

My understanding from talking to folks, is that many people simply cannot or are not able to find time to investigate candidates who are running for public office in Newburyport, MA. And many folks would be more likely to vote if they had a one word “label.” (Sorry, but I’m afraid it’s true.)

(I realize that a simple “label” could not possibly describe any candidate’s position, and would not do justice to the nuances of a candidate’s view on different issues. For more detailed information, please check out the candidates’ websites, which are listed at the right side of the Newburyport Blog.)

For MAYOR of Newburyport, MA
__________________

Progressive:

Jim Stiles
__________________

Conservative:

John Moak
__________________

ELECTION DAY: Tuesday, November 6, 2007

__________________

Again, please check out the candidates’ websites which are listed at the right side of the Newburyport Blog, for more detailed information.

And also (again) see Tom Salemi’s account of the mayoral debate on his blog, Newburyport Posts.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport