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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
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www.thewestfieldnews.com WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014
VOL. 83 NO. 259
Rep. JOHN VELIS Westfield residents that his first concern is issues impacting city resident, not politics. “I think the results show that the people of Westfield want to elect people who are concerned about representing them,” Velis said. “The peo-
ple of Westfield said today they agree with my political philosophy.” “I made a pledge in the special election not to put political party focus before what is in the best interest of Westfield,” said Velis. “My voting record shows that I am one of, if not the most, independent representative in the state.” “Over the next two years I will continue to be an independent voice, continue to make Westfield the best city in the state,” Velis said. “I represent 40,000 plus people, so every vote I take, I represent them and that’s what I will continue to do.” “I never ran against Dan Allie. I ran for Westfield,” Velis said. “What I did is run a positive campaign based on what I can do to represent the people of Westfield. I think See Velis, Page 3
Dan Allie (second from right) reviews the numbers with supporters Peter Fedora, Mark Butler and Vincent Barre as he watches the returns with supporters at East Mountain Country Club. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
resistance was always the most difficult line in the long run.” — Peter Cheyney
75 cents Don Humason chats with supporters Themis Rizos of Southampton and George Bitzas of Agawam at his victory party Tuesday evening at East Mountain Country Club.
Velis wins two-year term in citywide victory By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – John C. Velis took a second decisive victory this year to keep the state House of Representative seat for a full two-year term he initially claimed with a special election victory last March. Velis faced the same opponent in this election, Dan Allie, but his margin of victory was more substantial. Last March in the special election Velis won by 300 votes, in this election for a two-year term his margin of victory was more than 2,200. That margin of victory may reflect the fact that 52.64 of Westfield registered voters cast ballots in this election which not only had state and federal position, but a number of hotly contested referendum questions. Velis said the election victory validates his pledge to
“The line of least
(Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
Humason wins full two-year Senate term By Peter Francis Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Don Humason took the mike shortly after arriving at East Mountain Country Club about 9 p.m. Tuesday evening and said “We did it. Again.” He reported that his challenger, Democrat Patrick Leahy, had called just called him to concede. “He was very cordial,” said Humason. “I appreciate his words of congratulations and I accept them…. Far be it from me to gloat but I’ll do that just for a minute and say I’m certain my opponent doesn’t know what hit him.” Humason said that although the experts, and amateurs, will analyze the campaign to find out why he won, he told his supporters that he already knows that answer. “All of you is the reason I won,” he said. He gave special thanks to a long list of supporters but stopped when he got to his predecessor, and former boss, Mike Knapik. “Oh yeah, Mike Knapik” he said and went on to garner loud and long laughs when he
Don Humason plays with his son, Quinn, after speaking to his supports Tuesday evening at East Mountain Country Club. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen) continued “It’s really his fault I’m here. It’s his fault I’m here right now because if he had gotten out of the way I would have been here earlier.” “I’m so happy I could win this seat for you. You all deserve, and you have, my deepest gratitude” he said. “Now I will have the opportunity to go back to Boston from my own two year term” to continue to represent the district he won eleven months
earlier in a special election. “I know I’m going to be welcoming some new colleagues, both Republicans and Democrats over the next couple of weeks. There’s never a shortage of things to do” He said. Humason’s opponent, Leahy, had conceded earlier at a gathering of his supports at the Dam Café in Holyoke. “We started this as a grass See Humason, Page 3
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Unenrolled voters city’s largest voting bloc By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD - John C. Velis ascribed his victory at the polls yesterday to his independent voting record during his six-month tenure in the House of Representatives after winning a special election in March, a message that was apparently heard by members of the city’s largest voting bloc, citi-
zens who decline to identify with any party. Those unenrolled voters, formerly called Independents until that designation was hijacked, constitute more than half of the city’s registered voters. The number of unenrolled voters is 13,068 out of 24,316 voters registered in Westfield. Yesterday 12,800 voters went to the polls to elect federal and state officers, mostly candidates sponsored by the two major
political parties, the Democrats and Republicans, but in Westfield those traditional parties have only 6,601 and 4,508 registered members respectively, which when totaled are still lower than the actual voter turnout yesterday. Other parties, including the Rainbow Party, Pirates, Socialists See Unenrolled, Page 4
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Boldyga, Humason take Southwick by large margin By Hope E. Tremblay Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – The town overwhelmingly supported Republican candidates in the election, including incumbent state Rep. Nicholas Boldyga and incumbent state Sen. Donald Humason, who were both re-elected. Boldyga received 2,602 votes to challenger Democrat Sam DiSanti, who received 773 votes. Voters cast 2,593 votes for Humason, while Democratic challenger Patrick Leahy received 861 votes. After the polls closed, Boldyga was joined by family and friends at Roma Restaurant where he celebrated his victory. See Boldyga, Page 7
Republican Nicholas A. Boldyga, front center, is joined by his wife Jessica, front right, and two children Greyson and Avery, during a victory celebration at Roma Restaurant Tuesday evening after defeating Democratic challenger Samuel S. Di Santi in the State Representative race for the 3rd Hampden District which includes Agawam, Southwick and Granville. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
State Representative
VELIS John
Thank You For Your Support!