2 upsets mark Holyoke voting

Wednesday, November 07, 2007
From The Republican

By KEN ROSS
kross@repub.com

HOLYOKE - Political newcomer Timothy W. Purington defeated incumbent John P. Lecca, pulling off one of two upsets in yesterday's low-key municipal election.

"I'm thrilled by the results," Purington said.

The other upset was staged by Howard B. Greaney Jr., who defeated incumbent Michael J. Moriarty for an At-Large School Committee seat by a vote of 2,829 to 2,785.

"We just worked and worked and worked and we got our message out," Greaney said.
And the newest At-Large City Council member is Rebecca Lisi, who beat out three challengers for the seat vacated by Raymond H. Feyre, who did not run for re-election.

"I find it to be a great honor," Lisi said. "I'm glad the citizens of Holyoke are trusting me with this responsibility."

All the other political races were won by incumbents, including Mayor Michael J. Sullivan, who ran unopposed.

Along with the political races, residents also favored a nonbinding ballot question to reduce the size of the 15-member City Council by a tally of 2,783 to 2,338.
Voter turnout was relatively low. A total of 31.8 percent or 6,147 of the city's 19,613 registered voters cast ballots in the election, according to City Clerk Susan M. Egan.

"I thought it (voter turnout) would be a little higher," Egan said yesterday. "I think this morning's rain really turned off a lot of people."
Along with Lisi, seven At-Large City Council members were re-elected. Elaine A. Pluta captured the most votes. The other six in order of the number of votes received were Joseph M. McGiverin, Peter R. Tallman, James M. Leahy, Patricia C. Devine, Kevin A. Jourdain and John E. Whelihan.

As for the ward City Council races, Purington pulled off the only upset, defeating Lecca by a vote of 365 to 301. Purington credited his win to his hard work as a campaigner.

"I feel like I really put a lot of work into understanding the ward," Purington said. "I worked really hard. I listened to people. My platform was really based on what constituents wanted and they rewarded me."

As for the other ward City Council races, Ward 1 incumbent Donald R. Welch defeated M. Jeanne R. Forget.

In the Ward 3 City Council race, Anthony Martin Keane outpaced Richard P. Purcell for the post currently held by Helen F. Norris, who did not seek re-election.

In Ward 5, incumbent John P. Brunelle defeated Linda L. Vacon.

There were also contested races for two, ward School Committee seats. In Ward 6, incumbent William R. Collamore beat Daniel C. Burns. In Ward 7, incumbent Margaret M. Boulais survived a challenge by Nicole S. Muller.

In the School Committee At Large race, Greaney, a retired teacher, ousted Moriarty. Greaney attributed his win to a strong grassroots campaign. He also referred to a Moriarty as a formidable candidate.

Moriarty thanked Greaney for a clean campaign. "We both made a case for why we should be on the School Committee. The results weren't what I wanted but it was the will of the voters," Moriarty said. Moriarty said he will ask for a recount since he lost by less than 1 percent of the vote.

Purington wins the general election 365-304

Complete Holyoke results
Posted by The Republican Newsroom November 06, 2007 21:23PM
Categories: Politics

HOLYOKE - In the Holyoke School Committee at-large race, retired teacher Howard B. Greaney Jr. ousted Michael J. Moriarty, who served as vice chairman for two terms in the past on the committee. Greaney attributed his win to a strong grassroots campaign.

Voter turnout was 31.8 percent, 19,613 voters.

"We just worked and worked and worked and we got our message out," Greaney said.

"We are going to do a great job for the citizens of Holyoke and especially the children," Greaney said.

Greaney referred to Moriarty as a formidable candidate. Moriarty thanked Greaney for a clean campaign.

"It was a decent campaign. ...We both made a case for why we should be on the School Committee. The results weren't what I wanted, but it was the will of the voters," Moriarty said.

Moriarty said he will ask for a recount since he lost by less than 1 percent of the vote.


Here are the unofficial results of Tuesday's municipal election in Holyoke.

Total voters : 19,613
31.8%

City Council
At Large
James M. Leahy* (i) 3,271
Elaine A. Pluta*(i) 3,608
William J. Bevan 1,977
Kevin A. Jourdain* (i) 3,079
Peter R. Tallman* (i) 3,353
Patricia C. Devine *(i) 3,227
John D. Pierce Jr. 1,106
Joseph M. McGiverin* (i) 3,487
Rebecca Lisi* 2,950
John E. Whelihan *(i) 2,756
Bruce F. Mitchell 1,974

Ward 1
Donald R. Welch*248
M. Jeanne R. Forget 101

Ward 3
Anthony Martin Keane *750
Richard P. Purcell 361

Ward 4
Timothy W. Purington*365
John P. Lecca (i)304

Ward 5
John P. Brunelle *(i) 684
Linda L. Vacon 595

School Committee
At Large
Michael J. Moriarty (i) 2,785
Howard B. Greaney Jr.*2,829
Ward 6
Daniel C. Burns 332
William R. Collamore *(i) 485

Ward 7
Margaret M. Boulais* (i) 667
Nicole S. Muller 501

Ballot question
Should the city of Holyoke reduce the size of the City Council?
Yes 2,783
No 2,338

(*) Denotes winner
(i) denotes incumbent

Hopefuls list funds by donors

From The Republican
Sunday, November 04, 2007
By KEN ROSSkross@repub.com

HOLYOKE - At Large City Councilor Kevin A. Jourdain jumped to the top of the campaign fundraising list, thanks in part to two $500 donations from Republican Presidential candidate W. Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann.

Such information was listed in the final campaign finance reports submitted by candidates before Tuesday's election, when polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The final campaign finance reports were due on Monday. Prior to then, candidates were required to submit campaign finance reports on Sept. 17.

Mayor Michael J. Sullivan, who is running unopposed in Tuesday's municipal election, still has the most money: $7,914 even after spending $1,671 between Sept. 17 and Oct. 29.

In his Sept. 17 report, Jourdain had a mere $396 in his campaign coffers, placing him low on the list of money raised by candidates. But Jourdain now has $6,614. And that doesn't even include the $953 he spent between Sept. 17 and Oct. 29.

In the Sept. 17 campaign finance reports, fellow At Large City Councilor Patricia C. Devine was the second most successful fund-raiser after Sullivan. Devine raised $7,439. She also spent $4,537 before Sept. 17. Since then, Devine has eased off on her fund-raising efforts. She now has $1,123 left over after spending $2,283 between Sept. 17 and Oct. 29.

After Jourdain, At Large City Councilor James M. Leahy has the third most money left over: $5,363. He spent $210 between Sept. 17 and Oct. 29.

At number four is At Large City Councilor Elaine A. Pluta with $4,576 left over after spending $1,020 during the latest six-week campaign period.

Fifth is At Large School Committee candidate Howard B. Greaney Jr., who has $3,560 after spending $1,345. His opponent, incumbent Michael J. Moriarty, has $1,749 putting him in seventh position. This comes after Moriarty spent the most of any candidate, $3,820.

Sixth on the list is Ward 4 City Council candidate Timothy W. Purington, who still has $3,261 and spent $2,148. His opponent, incumbent John P. Lecca, did not file a campaign finance report this week. For the previous reports due Sept. 17, Lecca had $487 remaining.

As for other contested ward races, Ward 1 City Councilor Donald R. Welch has $1,009 and spent $416. His rival, Jeanne Forget, did not raise or spend any money.
In the Ward 3 City Council race, Anthony Martin Keane still has $1,060 compared to Richard P. Purcell, who has $473 left over. Purcell spent $954 during the latest six-week campaign period. Keane spent $1,551.

In the Ward 5 City Council race, challenger Linda A. Vacon has $1,094 left over compared to $168 for incumbent John P. Brunelle. Vacon didn't spend any money. Brunelle spent $100.

In the Ward 6 School Committee race, incumbent William R. Collamore didn't raise money and challenger Daniel C. Burns doesn't have any money left after spending $391.

In the Ward 7 School Committee race, incumbent Margaret M. Boulais still has $525 compared to $1,024 for challenger Nicole S. Muller. Muller spent $59. Boulais spent $894.

As for the remaining eight At Large City Council candidates, next on the list is:
Candidate Rebecca Lisi, who still had $2,906 and spent $251 during the latest campaign period.
Council President Joseph M. McGiverin, who has $1,644 and spent $2,319.
Councilor Peter R. Tallman, who has $1,333 and spent $232.
Councilor John E. Whelihan, who still has $161 and spent $899.
Candidate William J. Bevan, who has $37 and spent $2,612.
Candidate Bruce F. Mitchell, who has $5 and spent $981.
Candidate John D. Pierce Jr. did not file a report.

Do you really feel like Ward 4 has become cleaner, safer, and stronger in the past four years?