By Tracy F. Seelye, Express editor editor@whitmanhanson express.com
In a state primary election noted mainly for low voter participation, there was little by way of surprises in the outcome Tuesday.
Democrat Martha Coakley and Republican Charlie Baker, as expected, carried their respective nominations for governor in the Nov. 4 general election. For lieutenant governor, Democrats statewide also tapped Maura Healy over Warren Tolman for attorney general. Locally, it was not a day of heightened activity at the polls. Less than 20 percent of registered voters cast ballots.
From the start, local town clerks were not certain that percentage would make it out of the single digits.
“I don’t think you’ll see 20 percent — not in Whitman,” said Town Clerk Dawn Varley Tuesday morning. “I can’t speak for the state.”
She said primaries don’t generally bring out the voters.
The reasons suggested by local observers ranged from the timing of the election so early in September, a lack of local contests or general apathy.
Neither state Rep. Geoff Diehl, R-Whitman, or Rep. Josh Cutler, D-Duxbury, faced primary challenges. There was a 15-percent turnout in Whitman during the 2010 primary.
“I think November will be busy, but I think we’ll be lucky to get 3 percent,” Varley said. “I could be wrong.” When all the votes were counted, a total of 13% of Whitman registered voters cast their ballots.
Only a handful of residents were in line when polls opened at 7 a.m., according to Varley who said, “usually we have half a dozen people out there.”
There are 9,795 registered voters in Whitman — 2,356 Democrats and 1,138 Republicans. There are 6,253 unenrolled and a scattering of several minor parties.
There are 6,975 registered voters in Hanson, including 1,466 Democrats, 1,053 Republicans and 4,427 unenrolled.
“It’s going to be a very low turnout,” agreed Whitman School Committee member Dan Culity, holding a sign for Republican Register of Probate candidate Andrew Burbine outside the polls. “People don’t care, unfortunately. They should, because it’s a big decision. It’s just a shame.”
Selectman Dan Salvucci, also holding a Burbine sign, said voting is vital.
“You have to vote,” he said.
In Hanson, it took about two hours before they reached 200 voters, said Town Clerk Beth Sloan.
“I don’t think we’ll get 12 percent,” she said. “I don’t have many absentees this time, either.” Only 35 absentee ballots had been cast.
“If that’s an indication of your turnout …” she said. “I don’t think people are paying attention yet.”
Local vote totals for Whitman in the Democrat primary election were:
• Senator in Congress — Edward J. Markey (D) 598
• Governor — Donald M. Berwick (D) 139
Martha Coakley (D) 347
Steven Grossman 345
• Lt. Governor — Leland Cheung (D) 132
Stephen J. Kerrigan (D) 422
Michael E. Lake (D) 154
• Attorney General — Maura Healy (D) 480
Warren E. Tolman (D) 329
• Secretary of State — William F. Galvin (D) 664
• Treasurer — Thomas P. Conroy (D) 184
Barry Finegold (D) 251
Deborah B. Goldberg (D) 336
• Auditor — Suzanne M. Bump (D) 639
• Representative in Congress — Stephen F. Lynch (D) 681
• Councillor [Fourth District] — Christopher Iannella (D) 609
• Senator in General Court [2nd Plymouth & Bristol] —Thomas P. Kennedy (D) 650
• Register of Probate [Plymouth County] — Mark E. Linde (D) 212
Matthew J. McDonough (D) 485
• County Treasurer — Thomas J. O’Brien (D) 618
• County Commissioner — Scott M. Vecchi (D) 606
Local vote totals for Whitman in the Republican primary election were:
• Senator in Congress — Brian J. Herr (R) 356
• Governor — Charles D. Baker (R) 341
Mark R. Fisher (R) 113
• Lt. Governor — Karyn E. Polito (R) 389
• Attorney General — John B. Miller (R) 375
• Secretary of State — David D’Arcangelo (R) 364
• Treasurer — Michael J. Heffernan (R) 360
• Auditor — Patricia S. Saint Aubin (R) 347
• Senator in General Court [2nd Plymouth & Bristol] — Viola A. Ryerson (R) 345
• Representative in General Court [7th Plymouth] — Geoff Diehl (R) 418
• District Attorney — Timothy J. Cruz (R) 401
• Register of Probate [Plymouth County] — R. Andrew Burbine (R) 283
Anthony T. O’Brien Sr. (R) 103
Joseph M. Truschelli (R) 46
• County Commissioner — Sandra M. Wright (R) 354
In Hanson’s Democrat primary election:
• Senator in Congress — Edward J. Markey (D) 376
• Governor — Donald M. Berwick (D) 88
Martha Coakley (D) 223
Steven Grossman 246
• Lt. Governor — Leland Cheung (D) 94
Stephen J. Kerrigan (D) 290
Michael E. Lake (D) 81
• Attorney General — Maura Healy (D) 300
Warren E. Tolman (D) 241
• Secretary of State — William F. Galvin (D) 446
• Treasurer — Thomas P. Conroy (D) 106
Barry Finegold (D) -171
Deborah B. Goldberg (D) 236
• Auditor — Suzanne M. Bump (D) 404
• Representative in Congress [9th District] — William Keating (D) 399
• Senator in General Court [2nd Plymouth & Bristol] Thomas P. Kennedy (D) — 429
• Representative in General Court [6th Plymouth, Hanson ballots] — Josh S. Cutler (D) 418
• Register of Probate [Plymouth County] — Mark E. Linde (D) 103
Matthew J. McDonough (D) 349
• County Treasurer — Thomas J. O’Brien (D) 406
• County Commissioner — Scott M. Vecchi (D) 395
In Hanson’s Republican primary election:
• Senator in Congress — Brian J. Herr (R) 382
• Governor — Charles D. Baker (R) 364
Mark R. Fisher (R) 111
• Lt. Governor — Karyn E. Polito (R) 415
• Attorney General — John B. Miller (R) 386
• Secretary of State — David D’Arcangelo (R) 379
• Treasurer — Michael J. Heffernan (R) 382
• Auditor — Patricia S. Saint Aubin (R) 369
• Representative in Congress [9th District] — Mark C. Alliegro (R) 73
John C. Chapman (R) 73
Vincent A. Cogliano Jr. (R) 180
Daniel L. Shores (R) 119
• Representative in General Court [2nd Plymouth & Bristol District] — Viola A. Ryerson (R) 377
• District Attorney — Timothy J. Cruz (R) 411
• Register of Probate [Plymouth County] — R. Andrew Burbine (R) 163
Anthony T. O’Brien Sr. (R) 231
Joseph M. Truschelli (R) 38
• County Commissioner — Sandra M. Wright (R) 375.
Correction:
Hanson results in the Sept. 9 primary for state representative in the 6th Plymouth District were misreported in the Sept. 11 Whitman-Hanson Express. Joseph Sheehan of Pembroke received 125 votes in precinct one, 136 votes in precinct two, 131 votes in precinct three for a total of 392 votes. There were no write-in votes and 92 blanks cast — 26 in precinct one, 38 in precinct two and 28 in precinct three. Candidate for state senate in the 2nd Plymouth & Bristol District Viola Ryerson received 377 votes in the Hanson Republican Primary, with no write-in votes and 107 blanks. The Express apologizes for the omission
