State Election on Tuesday and Absentee Ballots Due Monday
State Election – Tuesday, November 2
The polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. All precincts vote at the Middle School Gym, 88 Hayden Rowe Street (enter by Grove Street). Absentee ballot applications are due by noon on Monday, November 1. Please see the Hopkinton Town Clerk’s website for more information http://www.hopkinton.org/clerk/
Important Information on Ballot Question #3
Question #3 is about reducing the Massachusetts sales tax. A YES vote on Question 3 supports reducing the sales tax from 6.25% to 3%. A NO vote supports keeping the sales tax at its current 6.25%. The Massachusetts Municipal Association (an advocacy group representing municipal leaders) estimates that the state will cut local aid by 5%-10% if Question 3 passes; in that case, the MMA estimates that Hopkinton will lose $744,596 (This number includes School Aid and UGGA Source). Stand for Children (an advocacy group working for excellent public education) reports that Hopkinton will lose $1,253,766 in state aid if Question 3 passes (This larger number includes local aid, bridges and roads, Chapter 70, Special Education, Student Transportation and other school aid Source). The League of Women Voters has voted to oppose Question 3, in part because it shifts costs from the state to cities and towns, creating an even greater reliance on property taxes.
Groups Opposed to Ballot Question #3
Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA)
Stand for Children
League of Women Voters Massachusetts (LWVMA)
Massachusetts Parent Teacher Association (Mass PTA)
Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA)
All Four Gubernatorial Candidates Oppose Ballot Question #3:
Deval Patrick, Democrat
Charlie Baker, Republican
Tim Cahill, Independent
Jill Stein, Green-Rainbow
State Ballot Questions http://www.sec.state.ma.us/
QUESTION 1: Sales Tax on Alcoholic Beverages
This proposed law would remove the Massachusetts sales tax on alcoholic beverages and alcohol, where the sale of such beverages and alcohol or their importation into the state is already subject to a separate excise tax under state law. The proposed law would take effect on January 1, 2011.
WHAT YOUR VOTE WILL DO
A YES VOTE would remove the state sales tax on alcoholic beverages and alcohol where their sale or importation into the state is subject to an excise tax under state law. www.YesTo1.com
A NO VOTE would make no change in the state sales tax on alcoholic beverages and alcohol. www.NoOn1MA.com
QUESTION 2: “Chapter 40B” Comprehensive Permits for Low- or Moderate- Income Housing
This proposed law would repeal an existing state law that allows a qualified organization wishing to build government-subsidized housing that includes low- or moderate-income units to apply for a single comprehensive permit from a city or town’s zoning board of appeals (ZBA), instead of separate permits from each local agency or official having jurisdiction over any aspect of the proposed housing. The repeal would take effect on January 1, 2011, but would not stop or otherwise affect any proposed housing that had already received both a comprehensive permit and a building permit for at least one unit.
WHAT YOUR VOTE WILL DO
A YES VOTE would repeal the state law allowing the issuance of a single comprehensive permit to build housing that includes low- or moderate-income units. www.repeal40B.com
A NO VOTE would make no change in the state law allowing issuance of such a comprehensive permit. www.protectaffordablehousing.org
QUESTION 3: Sales and Use Tax Rates
This proposed law would reduce the state sales and use tax rates (which were 6.25% as of September 2009) to 3% as of January 1, 2011. It would make the same reduction in the rate used to determine the amount to be deposited with the state Commissioner of Revenue by non-resident building contractors as security for the payment of sales and use tax on tangible personal property used in carrying out their contracts.
WHAT YOUR VOTE WILL DO
A YES VOTE would reduce the state sales and use tax rates to 3%. www.RollBackTaxes.com
A NO VOTE would make no change in the state sales and use tax rates. www.votenoquestion3.com
Offices and Candidates on the Ballot November 2:
SENATOR IN GENERAL COURT, SECOND MIDDLESEX & NORFOLK DISTRICT
| GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR |
| PATRICK AND MURRAY Democrat http://devalpatrick.com/ |
| BAKER AND TISEI Republican http://www.charliebaker2010.com/ |
| CAHILL AND LOSCOCCO Independent http://www.timforgovernor.com/ |
| STEIN AND PURCELL Green-Rainbow http://www.jillstein.org/ |
| ATTORNEY GENERAL |
| MARTHA COAKLEY 46 Coolidge Rd., Medford Democrat Candidate for Re-election http://www.marthacoakley.com/ |
| JAMES P. MCKENNA 28 Miles St., Millbury Republican http://www.jimforag.com/ |
| SECRETARY OF STATE |
| WILLIAM FRANCIS GALVIN 46 Lake St., Boston Democrat Candidate for Re-election http://www.billgalvin.org/ |
| WILLIAM C. CAMPBELL 45 Arlington Rd., Woburn Republican http://www.billcampbell2010.com/ |
| JAMES D. HENDERSON 38 Brandymeade Cir., Stow Unenrolled http://www.jimforsoc.com/2010/ |
| TREASURER |
| STEVEN GROSSMAN 30 Huntington Rd., Newton Democrat http://www.stevegrossman.com/ |
| KARYN E. POLITO 11 Coachman Ridge Rd., Shrewsbury Republican http://www.karynpolitofortreasurer.com/ |
| AUDITOR |
| SUZANNE M. BUMP 409 North Plain Rd., Great Barrington Democrat http://www.suzannebump.com/ |
| MARY Z. CONNAUGHTON 1 Tomkins Ln., Framingham Republican http://www.maryforauditor.com/ |
| NATHANAEL ALEXANDER FORTUNE 152 Westbrook Rd., Whately Green-Rainbow http://www.natfortune.org/ |
| REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS, THIRD DISTRICT |
| JAMES P. McGOVERN 393 Burncoat St., Worcester Democrat Candidate for Re-election http://jimmcgovern.com/ |
| MARTIN A. LAMB 57 Wingate Rd., Holliston Republican http://www.martyforcongress.com/ |
| PATRICK J. BARRON 247 North Lake Ave., Worcester Independent http://www.barronforcongress.org/ |
| COUNCILLOR, SECOND DISTRICT |
| KELLY A. TIMILTY 103 Brookdale Ave., Dedham Democrat Candidate for Re-election (No Campaign Website Found on Google or Boston.com) |
| STEVEN M. GLOVSKY 36 Shaw Dr., Wayland Republican http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/profile.php?id=100000958666914 |
| RICHARD MITCHELL 204 East Central St., Natick Unenrolled http://voterichmitchell.com/ |
| SENATOR IN GENERAL COURT, SECOND MIDDLESEX & NORFOLK DISTRICT |
| KAREN E. SPILKA 18 Rome Way, Ashland Democrat Candidate for Re-election http://www.electkarenspilka.com/ |
| EDWARD BERGIN McGRATH 56 Lanewood Ave., Framingham Republican http://www.mcgrathforsenate.com/ |
| REPRESENTATIVE IN GENERAL COURT, EIGHTH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT |
| CAROLYN C. DYKEMA 429 Marshall St., Holliston Democrat Candidate for Re-election http://www.carolyndykema.com/ |
| JONATHAN A. LOYA 124 South St., Holliston Liberty http://www.electjonloya.com/ |
| DISTRICT ATTORNEY, NORTHERN DISTRICT |
| GERARD T. LEONE, JR. 171 Ash St., Hopkinton Democrat Candidate for Re-election http://www.gerryleone.com/ |
| SHERIFF, MIDDLESEX COUNTY |
| JAMES V. DiPAOLA 181 Kimball St., Malden Democrat Candidate for Re-election (No Campaign Website Found on Google or Boston.com) |
| MICHAEL S. TRANCHITA, SR. 69 Harvard St., Winchester Unenrolled (No Campaign Website Found on Google or Boston.com) |