The News Endorses

This year’s statewide general election is an important step in helping Somerville out of the recent fiscal slump we have found ourselves in as a city. There are important choices to make on this year’s ballot so let’s get to it.

Deval Patrick for Governor
We did not endorse him in the primary but in the general election, Deval Patrick has proven himself to be the only candidate with honest, realistic plans for education, the economy and public safety. His stance on the income tax rollback is especially courageous. At a time when politicians are happy to pander to the ignorance of the masses, Patrick has been truthful and direct about the need to maintain the tax rate at 5.3%. And for that he deserves your vote.

Martha Coakley for Attorney General
Martha Coakley has performed her duties as Middlesex County District Attorney with toughness and integrity. Even in an elected office, Coakley has not allowed politics to interfere with her job as her office has unfailingly presented the victim’s interests and concerns to the court no matter who the accused may be. Her opponents’ attacks are dishonest and disingenuous. Vote Coakley for Attorney General Nov. 7.
William Galvin for Secretary of State
Incumbent William Galvin is facing his second fringe opponent in this year‚Äôs election cycle — surprising for a man who has been a truly outstanding Secretary of the Commonwealth and deserves your vote to re-elect him to the third-ranked state constitutional office.  Since first elected to this office in 1994, Bill has taken an office more widely known for regulating and monitoring local, state and federal elections and brought new innovations and ideas into the other lesser known responsibilities of the Secretary ‚Äì the Corporations Division, liaising with the U.S. Census Bureau and regulating fraud activity through the Securities Division. Those who have known Bill throughout his years as a State rep. and as Secretary of State know him to be an efficient and dedicated public official who has always remembered where he came from and always remained accessible.  Vote to return William Galvin as Secretary of State ‚Äì because we need leadership and experience like his on Beacon Hill when others come up short.
Tim Cahill for state Treasurer
Tim Cahill proved himself as an informed, intelligent official this year in Somerville when he stood up to criticism that he was responsible for the rapidly rising costs of the Argenziano School construction. His reasoned and articulate responses to misplaced attacks hold more weight than his opponents’ tacky and negative campaign assaults. Vote Cahill for Treasurer Nov. 7.
Michael J. Callahan for Governor’s Council
Callahan, the incumbent, faces three opponents on this year’s ballot. They may have spotted him as vulnerable after he blew the bank on last year’s failed run for state Senate. What they don’t see is his integrity and thoughtfulness in selecting and rejecting candidates for the bench. Return Callahan to his position as the Sixth District representative on the Governor’s Council.
Gerry Leone for District Attorney
He doesn‚Äôt have an opponent, but Gerry Leone is sure to be an excellent district attorney and he has our vote of confidence. 

Ballot Questions
Question 1 would give local authorities the option of granting wine-only licenses to qualified food stores.  The question is carefully worded so that only stores that stock a wide variety of food products would qualify. Studies show that the increased competition would save Massachusetts consumers between $26 million and $36 million annually.  Massachusetts is one of only 16 states that do not allow wine sales in grocery stores. The liquor lobby has been running a scare campaign designed to convince the public that wine sales in grocery stores would jeopardize public safety. Don‚Äôt let them scare you, vote yes on question 1.
   Question 2 is a complicated but important issue. Here is the language of the proposal: This proposed law would allow candidates for public office to be nominated by more than one political party or political designation, to have their names appear on the ballot once for each nomination, and to have their votes counted separately for each nomination but then added together to determine the winner of the election.
   It would allow for third (and fourth) parties to have a voice in choosing candidates, without diluting election majorities. Fusion voting will make third parties relevant and force the two major parties to start listening. Vote yes on question 2.
   Question 3 would allow unions to organize workers in some 9,000 mom-and-pop day-care centers run out of homes across the state. It will improve care by stabilizing the work force and will give the underpaid workers a collective voice to bargain for benefits, training, and higher state subsidies. Professionalize the day care centers children go to everyday and vote yes on question 3.
   Question 4 would instruct state Rep. Denise Provost, D-Somerville, to vote in favor of a resolution calling upon the President and Congress of the United States to end the war in Iraq immediately and bring all military forces home. International resolutions passed on a local level such as Question 4 are only appropriate when there is a consensus in the community. We believe that across many of the lines that divide us, members of our community agree the Iraqi war has been misguided, futile and not worth the cost of one more life lost. We urge you to vote yes on question 4.
   Questions 5 and 6 are the flip side to question 4. Question 5 calls for Provost to vote in favor of a non-binding resolution to return Palestinian refugees to their land of origin and question 6 instructs her to vote for resolutions calling on ‚Äúall governmental entities of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts‚Äù to sell any investments they hold in Israeli bonds or in companies that supply military equipment to Israel. A discussion of municipal investments in foreign companies is a good one to have and this community should continue such discussions but until we can come to a consensus on this divisive issue, we urge you to vote no on questions 5 and 6.