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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
“The poll that
matters is the one that happens on Election Day.”
— Heather Wilson
www.thewestfieldnews.com MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014
VOL. 83 NO. 257
75 cents
Ballot questions to be decided tomorrow By Peter Francis Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Four questions will appear on tomorrow’s statewide ballot, placing the fate of the state’s indexed gasoline tax and casino gaming law – along with whether or not to expand the state’s bottle bill and guarantee earned sick time for workers statewide – in the hands of the Commonwealth’s voters. Question one will decide whether or not the state will be able to adjust the gasoline tax every year according to the consumer price index without a vote of the state legislature. The question reached the ballot as a result of the Commonwealth’s first ballot question signature gathering effort since the early 90’s, which Westfield at-large City Councilor and candidate for state Representative, Dan Allie, played an integral role in. Opponents of the tax – who will be voting yes on the ballot – say it’s a perfect example
SEE ELECTION BALLOT PAGE 4
of taxation without representation, while proponents of the tax say that it will provide the revenue necessary to fix the state’s crumbling roads and bridges. “This initiative cuts no money to for bridge and road repair,” said Steven Aylward of the Committee to Tank Automatic Gas Tax Hikes. “It just requires the legislature to take a vote if and when they want to raise the tax.” “53 percent of all bridges in the state are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete… 27 bridges have been closed because they are unsafe,” according to the Committee for Safer Roads and Bridges. “Potholes and bad roads cost Massachusetts residents $2.3 billion a year in car repairs.” Question two will expand the state’s bottle bill, an influential piece of legislation that has been in effect in Massachusetts since the 1980s, which placed a nickel deposit on
beverage containers to encourage recycling. A yes vote for the measure will expand the number of beverages eligible for a nickel deposit to include all non-alcoholic, noncarbonated beverages such as sports drinks, iced teas and a number of other products that weren’t present on the market when the original bill went into effect. Groups such as the Massachusetts Sierra Club and MassPIRG claim that an expansion is a commonsense measure that will cut down on litter and increase recycling, while opponents – beverage distributors being chief among them – claim that curbside recycling is already effective enough and that unclaimed nickels do not go toward environmental programs but into the state’s general fund. “The bottle bill is a proven success. It has successfully reduced litter in our parks, beaches and roadways,” said Patrick Nagle, executive assistant for MassPIRG. “It has increased our recycling and reduced the cost
A Southwick voter checks in during the state primary. Most Massachusetts voters are continuing to shun political party labels when registering to vote.
See On The Ballot, Page 8
Allie, Velis state rep. rematch tomorrow
Middlesex, the state’s most populous county with 970,000 voters, has more than 36 percent Democratic voters and fewer than 10 percent Republican. According to data provided by Westfield City Clerk Karen Fanion, the makeup of the city’s voters mirrors the state averages and boasts an identical percentage of unenrolled voters, wth 53 percent of registered Westfield voters declining to enroll as Democrats, Republicans or members of another party. Democrats still make up a majority of Westfield’s voting block, with 6,588 of the city’s 24,176 registered voters, roughly 27 percent. The city also has a larger percentage of registered Republicans than the rest of the state, with 4,476 – almost 19 percent – of Westfield voters registered to the GOP.
By Peter Francis Staff Writer WESTFIELD – In a recent candidate forum the two men running to represent the 4th Hampden District in the state House of Representatives – Democratic incumbent John Velis and Republican challenger Dan Allie – touched upon everything from taxes and local aid to the four statewide questions on tomorrow’s ballot. Sponsored by The Westfield News Group and moderated by WNG President Patrick Berry, the two candidates answered questions and ran through their talking points, all the while lacking much of the firey rhetoric that defined their JOHN VELIS Dan Allie previous special election race last spring, in which Velis, a city attorney making his first run at elected office, defeated Allie, a first term at-large city councilor, by taking 53 percent of the 5,051 votes cast. This time around, both candidates took decidedly different approaches in trying to convince voters in attendance at Westfield Vocational-Technical High School and watching on TV to support them. Allie attempted to convey himself as the doggedly determined grassroots warrior for lower taxation with a far gentler tone than what marked his previous run for the seat, while Velis spoke with the calm, cool and collected demeanor of a man now armed with the most valuable of assets – a voting record. “Every single vote that I took was what was in the best interest of Westfield – nothing more, nothing less,” said Velis. “I’m happy to report that now that I have a record that I’ve done exactly what I said.” “I don’t look at a vote through the prism of what would a Democrat do? What would a Republican do? It’s how do I help the people of Westfield,” he said. Velis stated that his voting pattern since April – in which he voted against tax increases – has made him one of the most independent legislators in Massachusetts. Meanwhile, Allie stressed his acute business acumen and his experience as a family man, a city councilor and a veteran. “I’m deeply concerned with what our politicians are doing at every level of government and the direction our state and country are going in,” said Allie. “I’m concerned about the economy and I have the practical and fiscal experience of making budgets and meeting payrolls.” When asked of what he made of state Sen. Don Humason, Jr. declining to answer who he would
See Parties, Page 8
See Rematch, Page 8
(File photo by Frederick Gore)
Fewer voters enrolling in political parties By Peter Francis Staff Writer BOSTON (AP) — Most Massachusetts voters are continuing to shun political party labels. More than 53 percent of the state’s 4.3 million registered voters are independent, having decided not to enroll as a Democrat or Republican. According to numbers released by the state secretary’s office Tuesday, a little more than 35 percent of voters are registered as Democrats while fewer than 11 percent are registered Republicans. Suffolk County, which includes Boston, continues to be the most heavily Democratic county, with more than 53 percent of voters registered Democrats. Barnstable County has the highest concentration of Republicans, who make up nearly 16 percent of registered voters.
of waste disposal for taxpayers in our cities and towns. As a result, it is very popular with the public.” “Question two would cost nearly $60 million a year, more than three times the price of curbside programs, while increasing recycling rates by less than one percent,” said Robert Moylan of Comprehensive Recycling Works. Still others oppose the expanded bottle bill for the same fundamental reason they oppose the gas tax, as the law would gradually increase the value of the deposits
Incumbent Humason, challenger Leahy ready for tomorrow By Peter Francis Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The candidates for the 2nd Hampden-Hampshire District State Senate seat – incumbent Westfield Republican Don Humason, Jr. and Holyoke Democrat Patrick Leahy – sparred on issues ranging from gun crime to four statewide referendum questions on the November 4 ballot at a forum sponsored by The Westfield News Group last month. Humason touted his 11 years as Westfield’s State Representative in Boston, which challenger Leahy – a police officer and Realtor making his first run for public office – believes is the district’s problem. “My opponent has said the experiences he has in the Statehouse makes him a better candidate for state office and I couldn’t disagree more,” said Leahy. “We need people in Boston who have worked in the real world,
who have seen the laws that are passed in Boston and how they’re actually applied on the streets, from the hilltowns to the downtowns,” he said. Despite Leahy’s attempts to paint him as an insider, Humason replied that he’s still in touch with the people he represents. “I only work in Boston – I live in the real world,” said Humason. “I grew up right here in the city of Westfield… I’ve held all sorts of jobs and it wasn’t until I got to college that I decided the direction I wanted to take was public service.” “I think it’s a little disingenuous for a police officer to say that I can’t do the job because I’m in public service.” he said. When asked who the two candidates would support in Westfield’s race for State Representative, Humason refused to answer the ques-
Massachusetts State Senator of the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire District Donald Humason Jr., left, and candidate Patrick T. Leahy, right, answer questions during a candidate forum at Westfield Vocational-Technical High School sponsored by The Westfield News Group and the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
tion. “Regardless of who takes that position – the incumbent (John Velis) or the challenger (Dan Allie) – I pledge to work side by side with them,” said Humason. Leahy said he’d vote Velis if he resided in Westfield before taking a tacit jab at Humason, who endorsed Allie prior to their spring special election. Regarding the statewide ballot questions, Humason replied “yes, no, no, no”, stating he would vote to repeal the automatic gas tax, but against expanding the state’s bottle bill, repealing the state’s casino gaming law and the earned sick time questions. Leahy didn’t say if he was for or against the gas tax but said he would vote to repeal the casino law and in See Humason, Leahy, Page 8