Options abound for voters in November 8 midterm election

A changing of the guard in the state’s highest office, a slew of contested statewide races, and binding questions on everything from a new “millionaire’s tax” to driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants will be put before local voters in what is shaping up to be a highly consequential midterm election season in Massachusetts.

While most of the attention nationally will be on the battleground congressional races taking place outside of the Bay State, residents of Massachusetts still face plenty of choices with dozens of hopefuls vying for office.

Here in Canton, voters will have a hand in selecting a new state senator as they bid farewell to Walter Timilty, who will no longer represent the town due to recent redistricting. While Timilty is indeed vying for a fourth term against Braintree Republican Brian Muello in the newly redrawn Norfolk, Bristol & Plymouth District, Canton will slide over to the revamped Bristol and Norfolk District, which also includes the towns of Sharon, Foxborough, Mansfield, Norton, Attleboro and North Attleboro.

The incumbent in the Bristol and Norfolk District is Paul Feeney, a Foxborough Democrat who is seeking a third full term in a race that has grown to include two challengers: Republican Michael Chaisson, also of Foxborough, and Workers Party candidate Laura Saylor of Mansfield.

Chaisson, a political newcomer who owns a local construction business, was a late entry onto the November 8 ballot after running a successful sticker campaign during the GOP primary. On his campaign website, Chaisson said he decided to run in hopes of bringing balance and common sense back to Beacon Hill. He has pledged to guard against government overreach while fighting to protect citizens’ constitutional rights, improve schools, support small businesses and impose fiscal responsibility.

Saylor’s campaign website does not contain biographical information but spells out the platform for the Workers Party of Massachusetts, which is fundamentally anti-capitalist and seeks a “revolutionary transformation of society” in favor of the working class while supporting programs such as rent control, socialized medicine, free college and full rights for immigrants.

Feeney, the most politically experienced of the three, is a former union steward and Foxborough Select Board member who has worked on national campaigns, including as the state director for Bernie Sanders’ presidential run in 2016. Touting his reputation as “one of the hardest working public servants in the commonwealth,” Feeney prides himself on his delivery of constituent services and his advocacy for the cities and towns in the district. He is a strong proponent of universal affordable healthcare, debt-free public colleges and universities, investments in clean and renewable energy, a mandated living wage, and protections for reproductive rights, among other initiatives. His stance on these and a number of other key issues can be found on his campaign website.

While Feeney will have to fend off his two challengers if he wants to return to Beacon Hill in January, fellow incumbent William C. Galvin, a lifelong Cantonite and veteran state representative in the 6th Norfolk District, has an unimpeded path to reelection after defeating Stoughton’s Tamisha Civil in the Democratic primary. With no opponent in the general election, Galvin will cruise to a 17th consecutive term as the representative for the towns of Canton, Stoughton and Avon.

In the statewide races, another veteran officeholder named William Galvin — Secretary of State William F. Galvin (no relation) — finds himself in a three-way race as he seeks an eighth consecutive four-year term as the commonwealth’s chief record-keeping, public information, securities and elections officer. His challengers include Whitman Republican Rayla Campbell — who completed her dental assistant training in Canton, graduating tops in her class at Porter & Chester Institute — and Holyoke community activist and Green-Rainbow candidate Juan Sanchez.

Of course, the most prominent contested race in the commonwealth is the three-way battle of first-time gubernatorial candidates: Democrat Maura Healey, the current state attorney general; Republican Geoff Diehl, a former state rep. and Donald Trump campaign co-chair for Massachusetts; and Libertarian Kevin Reed, chairman and CEO of a small financial services firm.

Healey, who would be Massachusetts’ first openly gay governor if elected, is the heavy favorite going into Election Day with a 20-plus point lead in the polls. Diehl, meanwhile, has the backing of former President Trump and has campaigned on the promise of greater fiscal responsibility, elimination of COVID vaccine mandates, and protecting parents’ rights on matters of education and medical care. Whichever candidate assumes the governorship …

See this week’s Citizen to read the full version of this story. For information about voting in Canton, including precinct information and a link to a sample ballot, visit the Town Clerk’s Office at town.canton.ma.us/259/Town-Clerk. Not a subscriber? Click here to order your subscription today.

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Posted by Jay Turner on Nov 4 2022. Filed under Uncategorized. Both comments and pings are currently closed.