Still slow going at the polls (Special Election today!)

[Ian David]

Still slow going at the polls

Posted on April 13, 2010 by Steven Ryan
Filed Under election, politics | Leave a Comment

I just swung by the Hillside School after hunting and gathering Ginger Peanut Noodle Salad at Trader Joe’s and things are still pretty quiet. Kate Tedoldi, the warden for precinct B, estimated only about a 10 percent turnout. At the time, 533 ballots were cast but it should be noted many Needhamites cast two ballots – one for the state primary and one for the town election.

As for what voters had in mind, Mary Dowd said she came to the polls for the primary. She felt “it’s pretty sad” that there were hardly any contested races in the town election. As for the primary, she apparently went with Peter Smulowitz.

“I was looking for new blood,” she said.

Anne Nydam felt it was “her duty” to come to the polls despite the lack of contested races. In the state primary, she apparently leaned toward Lida Harkins.

“I didn’t have a particularly strong feeling; there were things I liked and disliked about both candidates,” she said. “I didn’t like the somewhat negative campaigning of Smulowitz. I also thought you want someone who is going to win the general election, which is probably Harkins.”

More:
http://blogs.wickedlocal.com/needham/2010/04/13/still-slow-going-at-the-polls/

hat-tip to: http://twitter.com/harmonywu/status/12131385740