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: âChapter 40Bâ 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 townâs 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 MURRAYÂ Â Â Â Â Â Democrat http://devalpatrick.com/ |
| BAKER AND TISEIÂ Â Â Â Â Â Republican http://www.charliebaker2010.com/ |
| CAHILL AND LOSCOCCOÂ Â Â Â Â Â Independent http://www.timforgovernor.com/ |
| STEIN AND PURCELLÂ Â Â Â Â Â 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) |