Senate hopefuls bring in big names for last campaign stops
ATTLEBORO — With voter turnout expected to be on the low side for a special Senate election Tuesday, both parties brought out their big names over the weekend to push people to the polls.
The independent candidate in the district, Joe Shortsleeve of Medfield, doesn’t have a party to back him, so he relied on “flash mob” events across the district to gin up interest in the race.
Democrat Paul Feeney of Foxboro got help from a steady stream of party leaders, including U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy, Sen. Ed Markey and Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
Republican Jacob Ventura, who was endorsed by Gov. Charlie Baker last week, campaigned with Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and party officials in Walpole Sunday.
Various turnout predictions say only about 15 percent of registered voters in the Bristol and Norfolk District will cast ballots Tuesday in the special election to replace former Sen. James Timilty, who resigned.
That means the election could be decided by only the most loyal of partisan voters.
Ventura and Feeney want as many of those loyalists from their party to turn out and used big-name leaders to motivate the base.
Shortsleeve, meanwhile, needs to attract independents and disaffected party members to the polls in a district that is 60 percent independent, or unenrolled.
“All I’ve got is the people. I don’t have a party,” Shortsleeve said.
Feeney most definitely has a party — the Democratic Party — and its leaders have gone all out for him.
Kennedy campaigned Friday, Markey on Saturday and Warren on Sunday.
Warren came to American Legion Post 312 in South Attleboro Sunday and told about 50 campaign volunteers that special elections are “tricky. It’s all going to be about turnout.”
She urged the volunteers to knock on as many doors as possible between now and Tuesday to get Feeney supporters to the polls.
Feeney, she said, has dedicated his life to helping working class families and they share the same middle class values.
She said Feeney is a clear alternative to the two other candidates who support President Donald Trump and his policies favoring “the thin slice at the top.”
Feeney said his concern for working people is reflected in his issues of improving health care, establishing a $15 minimum wage, and providing equal pay for equal work by women.
Ventura and Polito spent Sunday evening walking down Red Gate Road in Walpole, knocking on doors and encouraging citizens to vote in the election.
“Walpole is a very important town in this district and we’re trying to win it,” Ventura said. “I’ve been in almost every neighborhood in this town meeting with voters.”
Polito said thanks to his background, Ventura is an ideal candidate.
“He’s worked in the private sector and understands those interests,” she said. “To have his leadership when it comes to balancing budgets with fiscal discipline while being responsible is something that Governor Baker and I value.”
Shortsleeve said he and a band of supporters drove around the district over the weekend, holding “flash mob” events.
Word would be sent out on social media about where to meet up and supporters would show up at places with signs and wave to passing motorists.
“A whole bunch of people would just show up all at once,” he said, adding it was a high-energy event.
The special election involves a district that includes half of Attleboro, part of Sharon and all of Seekonk, Rehoboth, Norton, Mansfield, Foxboro, Walpole and Medfield.
Jim Hand may be reached at 508-236-0399 or jhand@thesunchronicle.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @TSCpolitic
![[] i . i I I I l. .. j I _ 135 TOWN OF MEDFIELD Decision #2.38 February 25, 1974 DECISION OF THE BOARD OF APPEALS ON THE APPEAL AND PETITION OF Paul G and Jeanne D. Foucre, 73 High Street, Medfield, Massachusetts. on appl;ication filed with the Board of Appeals for zoning on December 19, 1973·, by: Paul G. and Jeanne D. Foucre of 73 High Street, Medfield, Massachusetts, the applicants seek a variance to allow building on lot 17 adjacent to their home on lot 18. The property lies in an R-T Zone. Notice of said application was duly published in the Suburban Press on January 10 and 17, 1974. All abutters and cognizant Town Boards and officials were notified. A meeting was held at the Town Hall on January 24, 1974, at 7:45 p.m. Mr. Charles Kenny, Chairman, presided. Attorney Steven Gordet represented the applicants. He stated that the applicants purchased the lot where they reside an April 1961. They later purchased the adjacent lot (17) in June 1963 as an investment. At·that time the lot having a frontage of 150 feet was a "legal" lot • . Subsequent to their purchase mne Zoning Bylaws were amended in Section 6.2 to re·quire a frontage width of 175 feet in an R-T Zone. Attorney Gordet stated that the applicants have no present intention to construct a home or sell the lot. The meeting was then open to those in attendance. Several letters from abutters in favor of the variance with the understanding that the use be limited to ·the construction of a residence were read into the record. ·T_hose abutters in attendance also spoke in favor. of the appliq_ation. ' ' The Board of Appeals finds that, at the time of- purchase, lot 17 had a legally required frontage, the lot size is substantially the same as other lots in the area and the granting of the variance would not be detrimental to the. neighborhood •. Accordingly, the Board··hereby grari.ts.-the··variance· ·on the condition that lot usage be restricted to the. construction of a residential ·(single family) structure similar to those in the neighborhood. ;'" This decision was UNANIMOUS. . t/ T. -(g)n/ G](https://medfield02052.blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/high-st-75-decision-238.jpg?w=500)
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