$119K for election day

By Andrea Gregory

The city is looking at a $119,100 bill for hosting its upcoming special election. The hefty price tag could have been avoided had former Alderman-at-Large Denise Provost resigned one day later.
Provost simultaneously held down her local role with her newly elected state representative position for eight months. Officially, she left her alderman post on Oct. 31, which ultimately will force the city to eat the cost of a special election.

   Aldermen referred the request for funds to the Finance Committee for further discussion last week. The money will need to come from the current budget.
   Provost defends the timing of her resignation, saying that the voters should decide on her replacement.
   ‚ÄúI think the public prefers to have elected officials rather than appointed officials,‚Äù said Provost.
She said she witnessed three aldermen resign in her time and replaced by appointment. Two of those three were not elected to stay on the board at the following election. By bringing it to a vote the next alderman-at-large has a better chance of maintaining a lasting tenure, she said.
   Traditionally, when aldermen resign they make a recommendation to the board as to who should replace them. Provost decided to pass on this opportunity and let the voters make the call.
   ‚ÄúWhen I gave my remarks, I gave my opinion that the public is not keen on appointments,‚Äù she said.
   According to Jacklyn Rossetti, communications assistant for the city, the number of precincts involved dictates the cost of a special election. The last special election was in February 2006. It cost the city $33,500 per day, however, only voter in 11 of the city‚Äôs 21 precincts were called to the polls, said Rossetti.
   In 1999, Somerville held its last citywide special election. Rossetti said. It cost $55,000 per day. For the March 1999 primary, 883 voters showed up to cast ballots. The final vote that came two months later had a turnout of only 458 voters. The expenses for the two-day election were $110,000.
    Provost said some municipalities such as Boston and Pittsfield have altered their charter to avoid the process and steep costs of special election. When they are faced with a vacancy on their city councils the seat goes to the candidate that had the next highest votes in the previous election. If that were the case, the position would have been offered to Marty Martinez who earned the fifth highest vote total of the eight candidates that ran for an alderman-at-large seat in Nov. 2005.   Although it is too late to change the charter this time around, Provost said it might be something for the Board of Alderman to consider in the future.