Who’s Who Among Haverhill Candidates/Election Nov 4 2014

Hello Haverhill, we have an election coming up on November 4, and The Heartbeat of Haverhill wonders:

Do You Know Who You Are Voting For??

Last night The League of Women Voters of Greater Haverhill http://www.lwv.org/local-league/lwv-greater-haverhill  provided a great service to residents by introducing the candidates in a forum where questions were submitted to a moderator and each candidate was given a short time to answer. It was both a civil and informative exchange that allowed voters to base their choices on more than a party affiliation. THOH was heartened by the standing room only event and was told it was a record breaking number of attendees interested in what the candidates had to say to Haverhill. The event was recorded by HC Media for broadcast, and you can read more about it here: http://goo.gl/lI7E4T.

 

So which candidates do you know? We see the signs on lawns throughout the city, but can you match the photo with the name, and the office sought, and whether or not that person is the incumbent? Answers are at the bottom of this post.

One candidate was unable to attend, the photo is from http://vote-ma.org/.

 

THOH attended the candidates forum on Wednesday night hosted by the League of Women Voters of Greater Haverhill. It was an event where we were not only introduced to the candidates, but we also received a better understanding of roles the offices play in our lives. The Heartbeat of Haverhill is providing a link to additional information about each candidate via their website or Facebook page.

1. The Register of Probate is not a high profile position and yet it is one that most of us will experience at some point. According to mass.gov:  “The Probate and Family Court Department has jurisdiction over family-related and probate matters such as divorce, paternity, child support, custody, visitation, adoption, termination of parental rights, abuse prevention and wills, estates, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and changes of name.”

Michael E. Morales http://www.mikemorales.com/ of Andover is the opponent to incumbent Pamela Casey O’Brien https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pamela-Casey-OBrien-Register-of-Probate/455306611278707?sk=info of Saugus

2. The Massachusetts Governor’s Council, as described at mass.gov “also known as the Executive Council, is composed of eight individuals elected from districts, and the Lieutenant Governor who serves ex officio. The eight councillors are elected from their respective districts every two years. The Council meets weekly to record advice and consent on warrants for the state treasury, pardons and commutations, and recording advice and consent to gubernatorial appointments such as judges, clerk-magistrates, public administrators, members of the Parole Board, Appellate Tax Board, Industrial Accident Board andIndustrial Accident Reviewing Board, notaries and justices of the peace.”

Incumbent Eileen R Duff http://voteduff.com/ of Gloucester is being challenged by Maura L. Ryan-Ciardiello https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maura-Ryan-Ciardiello-for-Governors-Council/414882008521910 of Haverhill

3.  Senator in the General Court First Essex District pits incumbent Kathleen O’Connor Ives http://www.voteforives.com/ of Newburyport against Shaun P. Toohey http://www.tooheyforsenate.com/ of Haverhill

4. Representative in the General Court Fourteenth District is a contest between Rosemary Connelly Smedile http://www.rosemaryforrep.com/ of North Andover against incumbent Diana DiZoglio http://votedizoglio.com/ of Methuen

5. Representative in the General Court Fifteenth District incumbent Linda Dean Campbell  Linda.Campbell@mahouse.gov and opponent Al DiNuccio http://www.dinuccio.com/Al_DiNuccio.html  both of Methuen.

Now that you know who they are and what they look like, look for them around town and ask your own questions, so you can be the most informed voter possible on November 4. Also check with the League of Women Voters for your copy of the important referendum questions so you know before you go to the ballot.

But do you know who the most important person in the crowd was?   The voting public. If you don’t vote, you’ve basically forfeited your right to complain.

Last night’s forum sealed the deal and THOH knows who we are voting for, but this blog will not be used to endorse one candidate over another. We owe a great deal of gratitude to every person willing to take on public office. Thank you candidates! And thank you League of Women Voters of Greater Haverhill for presenting them to us!

 

(c) Alison B Colby-Campbell

Answers to photo identification:

L-R Top Row: Eileen Duff, Maura Ryan-Ciardiello, Michael Morales

L-R Middle Row: Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Kathleen O’Connor Ives, Linda Dean Campbell

L-R Bottom row: Diana DiZoglio, Shaun Toohey, Pamela Casey O’Brien

Unable to attend: Al DiNuccio