Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

March 8, 2016

Local Political Rumblings – State Representatives and State Senators (March 2016)

Filed under: elections — Tags: , , , — Robert Winters @ 1:53 am

Local Political Rumblings – State Representatives and State Senators

Mar 8 – Cambridge has 3 State Senate districts and 5 State representative districts. Of these, only one district (Rep. Marjorie Decker) lies wholly within the City of Cambridge. All 40 State Senate seats and all 160 State Representative seats are up for reelection this coming November (and every even year), though many of these seats are uncontested (a sad state of affairs). So what’s the current status for this year’s state elections? Here are a few facts (and a rumor or two):

First, Sen. Anthony Petruccelli announced that he is resigning his First Suffolf and Middlesex Senate seat and a Democratic primary election is scheduled for Tues, April 12 to fill the vacancy. In the primary there are 7 Democratic candidates seeking this State Senate seat (and the eventual winner will still have to face reelection in November). The candidates are State Rep. Jay Livingstone (Beacon Hill) who has garnered the endorsement of all of Cambridge’s city councillors, Joseph Boncore (Winthrop), Lydia Edwards (East Boston), Diana Hwang (East Boston), Steve Morabito (Revere), Dan Rizzo (Revere), and Paul Rogers (East Boston). The general election, likely a formality with the only non-Democrat being Donald Logan Willyard (R-Revere), is scheduled for Tues, May 10.

It is rumored that City Councillor Leland Cheung may challenge Sen. Pat Jehlen for her Second Middlesex Senate seat this fall.

I have not yet heard of any potential challengers to Sen. Sal DiDomenico for his Middlesex and Suffolk Senate seat.

State Senate Districts - Cambridge

On the State Representative side, City Councillor and State Rep. Timothy J. Toomey will be seeking reelection to his 26th Middlesex State Rep. seat. He will be challenged by activist Mike Connolly who ran unsuccessfully against Toomey several years ago. In the interim, Connolly ran unsuccessfully for Cambridge City Council last November.

State Rep. Marjorie Decker will likely again be challenged by perennial candidate Lesley Phillips for the 25th Middlesex seat.

I have not yet heard of any challengers to Rep. David Rogers (24th Middlesex) or Rep. Jonathan Hecht (29th Middlesex), though I’m sure there are some potential candidates at least thinking about it. As for the 8th Suffolk State Rep. seat currently occupied by Jay Livingstone, that all depends upon how he fares in the April 12 primary. If he is successful, that would open up his State Rep. seat and we’ll have to wait and see who expresses interest in that seat. If unsuccessful, Rep. Livingstone could try again for the Senate seat in the fall or seek reelection to his current State Rep. seat.

If anyone knows of any other emerging candidates for the fall elections, please let me know. – Robert Winters

State Rep. Districts - Cambridge

Meet the Senate Candidates – March 8th (Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association meeting)

The Democratic and Republican primaries for Anthony Petruccelli’s open Mass. Senate seat is April 12; the election will be May 10th.

On Tuesday, March 8, the Cambridgeport Neighborhood Assn. will host a Meet the Candidates as part of their March meeting at the Central Square Library. From 6-6:30pm there will be time to mingle with the candidates; from 6:30-7:30pm candidates will present short statements, followed by a short Q&A.

Attending will be: Joe Boncore, Lydia Edwards, Diana Hwang, Jay Livingstone, Steve Morabito, and Dan Rizzo.

At 7:30pm, City Arborist David Lefcourt and Maggie Booz, Co-chair of the Cambridge Committee on Public Planting, will speak about the care of young City trees. A short update about Magazine Beach and the listserv will follow.

The meeting will be in the 2nd floor Community Room at the Central Square Library at 45 Pearl Street. Refreshments will be served. All are welcome.

March 2, 2016

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 117-118: March 1, 2016

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge InsideOut,elections — Tags: , , — Robert Winters @ 12:03 am

Cambridge InsideOut Episode 117 (Part 1) – Super Tuesday

This episode was broadcast on Mar 1, 2016 at 5:30pm. In this episode we talked about Super Tuesday and where the presidential primaries stand. The hosts are Judy Nathans and Robert Winters. [On YouTube]

Cambridge InsideOut Episode 118 (Part 2)

This episode was broadcast on Mar 1, 2016 at 6:00pm. The hosts are Judy Nathans and Robert Winters. [On YouTube]

February 24, 2016

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 115-116: Feb 23, 2016

Filed under: Cambridge InsideOut,City Council,elections — Tags: , , , , — Robert Winters @ 12:37 am

Cambridge InsideOut Episode 115 (Part 1) – Presidential Politics

This episode was broadcast on Feb 23, 2016 at 5:30pm. In this episode we stepped outside of Cambridge and talked about the presidential primaries a week before Super Tuesday. The hosts are Judy Nathans and Robert Winters. [On YouTube]

Cambridge InsideOut Episode 116 (Part 2) – More Local Matters

This episode was broadcast on Feb 23, 2016 at 6:00pm. The hosts are Judy Nathans and Robert Winters. [On YouTube]

February 20, 2016

Campaign Finance – 2015 Cambridge City Council Candidates

Filed under: 2015 Election,Cambridge,campaign finance,elections — Tags: , , , — Robert Winters @ 9:08 pm

Vote!This year (2015) is a municipal election year and the roster of candidates is now final. Here is where the campaign accounts stand for incumbents and challengers for Cambridge City Council. This information will be updated as the year progresses.

It will be interesting to see how the new individual contribution limit of $1000/year (up from $500/year) affects campaign receipts and expenditures.

City Council Campaign Finance - 2015 (based on bank reports, updated Feb 20, 2016)

CandidatesStartEndOpenReceiptsExpendBalance#1 Votes$ per #1 Vote
Benzan, Dennis1-Jan-1515-Feb-16$8207.45$70200.89$78273.51$134.84
1159$67.54
Carlone, Dennis1-Jan-1515-Feb-16$4272.67$33079.30$37256.45$95.521002$37.18
Cheung, Leland1-Jan-1515-Feb-16$6002.06$95266.51$39430.61$61837.961189$33.16
Connolly, Mike16-Jul-1515-Feb-16$0.00$50381.44$39581.86$10799.58841$47.07
Courtney, Kim1-Jan-1515-Dec-15$0.00$1869.94$1869.94$0.0072$25.97
Davidson, Mariko25-Jun-1515-Feb-16$0.00$15232.25$15232.25$0.00853$17.86
DeGoes, Plineo16-Jun-1515-Dec-15$0.00$4550.00$4550.00$0.0051$89.22
Devereux, Jan1-Jan-1515-Feb-16$0.00$55720.44$53162.94$2557.501307$40.68
Dietrich, Xavier13-Jul-1515-Dec-15$0.00$2360.00$2360.00$0.0027$78.90
Kelley, Craig1-Jan-1515-Feb-16$2601.58$39626.05$37858.49$4369.141434$26.40
Levy, Ilan13-Jul-1531-Dec-15$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00153$0.00
Maher, David1-Jan-1515-Feb-16$28741.21$55839.21$83063.27$1517.151637$50.74
Mahoney, Paul F.2-Jul-1515-Feb-16$0.00$5075.00$2376.64$2698.36251$9.47
Mazen, Nadeem1-Jan-1515-Feb-16$12273.54$69320.74$81508.96$85.321929$42.25
McGovern, Marc1-Jan-1515-Feb-16$6098.45$67556.62$72900.57$754.501202$60.65
Mello, Gary1-Jul-1531-Dec-15$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00119$0.00
Moree, Gregg1-Jul-1515-Feb-16$0.00$13320.00$13316.42$3.5878$170.72
Sanzone, John1-May-1515-Feb-16$0.00$3085.28$2280.50$804.7832$71.27
Simmons, Denise1-Jan-1515-Feb-16$7447.29$59939.41$61288.24$6098.461715$35.74
Toomey, Tim1-Jan-1531-Dec-15$18782.29$48207.68$60573.92$6416.051416$42.78
vanBeuzekom, Minka 1-Jan-1515-Feb-16$7380.40$46013.45$52113.55$1280.301014$51.39
Waite, Romaine2-Jul-1515-Feb-16$0.00$3687.95$3687.95$0.00
274$13.46
Williamson, James1-Jul-1531-Dec-15$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.0072$0.00

The table can be sorted by category in ascending or descending order by clicking on the category name in the top row.

The $ per #1 Vote figures will continue to rise as expenditure reports continue to be filed.

All 2015 Campaign Finance Report Summaries (PDF) – last updated Feb 20, 2016

You can also look up these periodic reports (and more) yourself at the OCPF website.

The information in the tables below was compiled in early December 2015. Some additional receipts, expenditures, returned donations, etc. have occurred since then. The tables may be updated at some point in the future to reflect these changes.

Dollars Spent per #1 Vote

DollarVote2015

Percentage of Campaign Receipts from Cambridge

CambridgePct2015

Additional Campaign Finance Details

Finance2015Details

January 26, 2016

Catching Up on the Cambridge News (Jan 26, 2016)

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge Redevelopment Authority,elections — Tags: , , — Robert Winters @ 11:15 am

The Cambridge Redevelopment Authority announces the second year of the FORWARD FUND.

Forward Fund 2016This micro GRANT PROGRAM is intended to support civic improvement projects and creative physical interventions that better Cambridge’s built environment for the benefit of all the city’s residents, workers, and visitors by non-profit organizations, community groups, and small businesses throughout Cambridge, MA.

We’re awarding Planning & Design grants up to $5,000; Innovation & Experimentation Capital grants up to $10,000; and Infrastructure Capital grants up to $10,000 for a wide variety of projects that contribute to the civic and social capital of Cambridge. LEARN MORE

Cambridge Launches New Snow Center Website: www.CambridgeMA.gov/snow

Snow SidewalkJan 25, 2016 – The City of Cambridge has launched a new Snow Center website, www.cambridgema.gov/snow, to provide residents with timely updates on the city’s response to winter storms and to provide useful winter storm information that can be viewed quickly and easily in one location.

Through the online Snow Center, Cambridge residents can stay informed of when a Snow Emergency has been declared or lifted; register to receive emergency alerts; find out about Snow Emergency off street parking locations; or learn if city offices or programs have modified hours of operation.

“After last year’s record-breaking snow season, we made it a priority to learn lessons not only about how to improve our operations, but also about additional ways to communicate timely, useful information to residents,” said Owen O’Riordan, Commissioner of Public Works. “The Cambridge Snow Center website will be a great tool for helping the public access information about the city’s snow operations, parking regulations, and other frequently asked questions, all in one, easy-to-view location.”

The Cambridge Snow Center also includes a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section with helpful information on property owner responsibilities and the Snow Exemption Program, as well as a What’s Happening section displaying real time snow related social media updates and news stories; and finally a Useful Information section with additional resources and important phone numbers and websites.

Residents can also use the new City’s non-emergency reporting system, Commonwealth Connect, www.cambridgema.gov/CommonwealthConnect to report an icy or snowy street or unshoveled sidewalk. To receive voice, text, and email notification of declared Snow Emergency Parking Bans in the city, residents can sign up for receive CodeRed alerts directly from the City’s Snow Center.

Voter Registration, Absentee Ballots and Extended Office Hours for the March 1, 2016 Presidential Primary

Vote!The Presidential Primary will be held on Tuesday, March 1, 2016. For Cambridge residents not already registered, the last day to register to vote is Wednesday, February 10, 2016 until 8 p.m. The Office of the Secretary of State has developed an Online Voter Registration System at www.registertovotema.com. Individuals may use the online system to submit an online application, update their address, or change their party affiliation. You must have a valid driver’s license, learner’s permit, or non-driver ID issued by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). You must also have a signature on file with the RMV. If you do not have an RMV ID you can use the system to create an application. Print and sign the completed form and mail or bring it to the office of the City Cambridge Election Commission.

Absentee Ballots are now available at the Cambridge Election Commission office. Any voter who is unable to go to the polls on Election Day due to physical disability, religious belief, or absence from the City may request an Absentee Ballot from the Commission. The deadline to apply for an Absentee Ballot is Monday, February 29, 2016 at Noon. Absentee Ballots may be mailed to voters, or such voters may choose to vote at the Commission office during regular city office hours: Monday, 8:30am-8:00pm; Tuesday-Thursday, 8:30am-5:00pm; Friday, 8:30am-Noon. The office will also be open for Absentee Voting on Friday, February 26th from 8:30am until 5:00pm and on Saturday, February 27th from 9:00am until 5:00pm. The polls will be open on Election Day from 7:00am until 8:00pm.

For any additional information, please visit the Cambridge Election Commission office at 51 Inman Street, call (617-349-4361) or visit our website at www.cambridgema.gov/election.

December 6, 2015

Who Voted in the 2015 Cambridge Municipal Election?

Filed under: 2013 Election,2014 Election,2015 Election,Cambridge,elections — Tags: — Robert Winters @ 3:17 am

Who Voted in the 2015 Cambridge Municipal Election?

For the November 2015 Municipal Election, there were 63,338 registered voters with identified birthdates. Their median age was 38.7. Here’s how their ages as of Election Day (Nov 3, 2015) were distributed (in 3-year intervals):

Registered Voters - 2015
Registered Voters – 2015

Of these registered voters, 17,885 voted in the 2015 municipal election. Their median age was 56.0. Here’s how their ages as of Election Day (Nov 3, 2015) were distributed (in 3-year intervals):

Registered Voters 2015
Registered Voters Who Voted in the 2015 Municipal Election

For the November 2014 State Election, there were 66,315 registered voters with identified birthdates. Their median age was 37.9. Here’s how their ages as of Election Day (Nov 4, 2014) were distributed (in 3-year intervals):

Registered Voters 2015
Registered Voters – 2014

Of these registered voters, 32,569 voted in the 2014 State Election. Their median age was 49.3. Here’s how their ages as of Election Day (Nov 4, 2014) were distributed (in 3-year intervals):

Registered Voters 2015
Registered Voters Who Voted in the 2014 State Election

For the November 2013 Municipal Election, there were 70,601 registered voters with identified birthdates. Their median age was 37.0. Here’s how their ages as of Election Day (Nov 5, 2013) were distributed (in 3-year intervals):

Registered Voters - 2015
Registered Voters – 2013

Of these registered voters, 17,800 voted in the 2013 Municipal Election. Their median age was 56.4. Here’s how their ages as of Election Day (Nov 5, 2013) were distributed (in 3-year intervals):

Registered Voters 2015
Registered Voters Who Voted in the 2013 Municipal Election

Changes from 2013 to 2015:

The total number of voters in the 2013 and 2015 Cambridge Municipal Elections were comparable, but there were some noticeable differences by age. Here’s a table showing some of this information:

age voted
2015		 2015 pct.
turnout
 voted
2014		 2014 pct.
turnout 		voted
2013		 2013 pct.
turnout 		2013 to 2015
change
18-20 205 15.5 392 21.6 291 12.4 –86
21-23 303 8.2 884 25.1 361 10.1 –58
24-26 666 12.4 1956 32.6 620 9.7 +46
27-29 878 12.8 2423 33.5 763 9.5 +115
30-32 787 12.6 2329 34.8 791 10.5 –4
33-35 841 17.3 1974 37.1 742 12.5 +99
36-38 797 21.7 1680 43.3 632 14.6 +165
39-41 709 24.1 1406 46.8 677 21.2 +32
42-44 741 30.3 1355 50.8 763 27.0 –22
45-47 786 32.8 1331 56.7 733 29.5 +53
48-50 759 35.4 1297 57.7 788 33.5 –29
51-53 855 38.6 1485 64.6 915 38.7 –60
54-56 931 42.2 1571 68.4 1050 42.9 –119
57-59 1086 46.5 1692 70.0 1095 45.4 –9
60-62 1067 45.1 1824 74.4 1200 47.5 –133
63-65 1171 50.0 1797 75.6 1229 50.8 –58
66-68 1219 53.0 1775 78.3 1172 53.1 +47
69-71 1035 56.0 1428 77.8 1015 57.1 +20
72-74 880 57.3 1108 79.5 738 59.0 +142
75-77 608 57.4 797 76.6 596 58.4 +12
78-80 500 57.7 638 76.3 460 55.8 +40
81-83 351 52.2 483 70.0 382 53.9 –31
84-86 285 47.9 402 66.7 321 54.3 –36
87-89 202 47.6 263 58.8 224 48.0 –22
90-92 137 42.5 163 51.3 139 41.1 –2
93-95 59 33.0 71 38.0 64 37.6 –5
96-98 17 22.7 29 39.2 27 30.3 –10
99-101 10 35.7 14 36.8 11 27.5 –1
102-104 0 0.0 2 16.7 0 0.0 0
105-107 0 0.0 0 0.0 1 25.0 –1
Total 17885 28.2 32569 49.1 17800 25.2 +85

2013 to 2015

November 17, 2015

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 91 and 92 – Digging into the ballot data

Filed under: 2015 Election,Cambridge InsideOut,elections — Tags: , , , — Robert Winters @ 11:09 pm

Cambridge InsideOut this week took a close look at the ballot data from the 2015 Cambridge municipal election.

Cambridge InsideOut Episode 91 (Part 1)

This episode was broadcast on Nov 17, 2015 at 5:30pm. The hosts are Judy Nathans and Robert Winters. [On YouTube]

Cambridge InsideOut Episode 92 (Part 2)

This episode was broadcast on Nov 17, 2015 at 6:00pm. The hosts are Judy Nathans and Robert Winters. [On YouTube]

References materials for these shows

October 21, 2015

PR Election Mechanics – Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 83 and 84

Filed under: 2015 Election,Cambridge,elections — Tags: , , , — Robert Winters @ 9:28 am

Cambridge InsideOut this week focused on some of the history of Proportional Representation elections (Single Transferable Vote), the mechanics of The Count, and the role of candidate slates.

Cambridge InsideOut Episode 83 (Part 1)

This episode was broadcast on Oct 20, 2015 at 5:30pm. The hosts are Judy Nathans and Robert Winters. [On YouTube]

Cambridge InsideOut Episode 84 (Part 2)

This episode was broadcast on Oct 20, 2015 at 6:00pm. The hosts are Judy Nathans and Robert Winters. [On YouTube]

Background material for these programs can be found here: http://rwinters.com/insideout/2015oct20/

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