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Belmont Town Election 2012

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Town Election, 2012

Rojas: 'Thank You, Belmont'

Newly-elected selectman calls campaign "a humbling experience."

  • ELECTIONS
  • Wednesday, April 4, 2012

A heart-felt thank you to all of the voters of Belmont for entrusting me with this great responsibility. This race was a true learning experience and I will be a better Selectman because of it. Its closeness confirms the belief I held when I started my campaign that we must all work together on common goals for our future. I pledge to be a Selectman for all residents and respectfully request your thoughts and comments on the many issues facing our Town. During this campaign I got to know my opponent, Dan Scharfman, and we developed a friendly relationship and had a good time. He is a true gentleman, a dedicated official and an asset to the Town. Together we hopefully demonstrated that a respectful, civil campaign of ideas is not only …

Town Election, 2012

Certified Town Election Shows Little Change

Rojas winning margin wider than announced Monday; Town Meeting caucuses in Pct. 4 and 8.

It took nearly the entire day Tuesday but the 2012 Belmont Town Election has been certified by Belmont Town Clerk Ellen Cushman. See the pdf file on this webpage for the final vote count. And the final, final numbers show that Andy Rojas winning margin in his Board of Selectmen race with Dan Scharfman was by a wider margin than what was announced on Monday night: by three additional votes. After adding overseas votes and those that needed hand counting, Rojas was awarded six additional votes and Scharfman three. The revised, certified totals now show Rojas with 2,171 and Scharfman with 2,136. Their race remains one of the closest in Belmont history. The results also show that some long-time Town Meeting members did not win re-election …

In this Article:

Rojas Elected to Selectmen in Squeaker; Lougee, Griffiths on School Committee and Town Clerk

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Town Election, 2012

Message, Money Sealed Rojas 'Big' Victory

For the School Committee, a schools skill set trumped town pride.

It all came down to Precinct 6 and Andy Rojas and his supporters were a bit nervous.  Despite having a nearly 100 vote lead, the candidate for the Board of Selectmen in the annual town election Monday, April 2, knew that "6" – which borders the home district of challenger Dan Scharfman – would likely be the difference maker, one way or the other. When the tally was phoned in from the polling station, the totals from the precinct wasn't encouraging: 242 for Rojas and 333 for Scharfman. But a quick calculations found that Rojas would keep his lead – but just barely. In the end, Rojas would win a seat on the Board of Selectmen by the thinnest of margin, 32 votes, out of more than 4,400 cast. The reason behind Rojas' historic victory – the …

Town Election, 2012

Rojas Thrilled, Humbled with Razor-Thin Victory

Considering remaining on Planning Board until Cushing Village proposal is decided.

It was one of the closest races in Belmont town election history but when he results came in at about 8:20 p.m. from Precinct 6, Andy Rojas said he knew he had edged out the School Committee's Dan Scharfman for the open seat on the Board of Selectmen. “It was exciting as the numbers came in, precinct by precinct, and I knew it was going to be very close,” said Rojas. “Right now, it’s difficult for me to consider all the responsibility I will have but I know I will do my best for the town.” Winning by 32 votes of roughly 4,400 cast – a margin of less than 1/10 of a percent – taught Rojas that every single thing he did throughout the campaign including talking to residents, attending forums, appearing in debates and on the Belmont Media …

In this Article:

Rojas Elected to Selectmen in Squeaker; Lougee, Griffiths on School Committee and Cushing Village Submitted to Belmont Planning Board

Belmont_Conservative

10:49 am on Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Good for you Rojas. Please remember to be a voice for all of the moderates in the town who lean on the conservative side, especially fiscally-speaking.   more ›

Monday, April 2, 2012

Town Election, 2012

Rojas Elected to Selectmen in Squeaker; Lougee, Griffiths on School Committee

Roughly a quarter of electorate voted in 2012 Town Election; Millane to Assessors.

In one of the closest races in Belmont election history, the Planning Board's Andres Rojas defeated School Committee member Dan Scharfman by a mere 32 votes, 2,165 to 2,133, for a seat on the Belmont Board of Selectmen. Rojas replaces Angelo Firenze on the three-member board. Belmont saw 4,413 votes cast as 26.1 percent of registered voters entered one of the town's eight polling stations on Monday, April 2. The victory is historic as the New York-born Rojas – a Cambridge-based architect – becomes the first Hispanic and first minority member of the Board.  The School Committee will see its first educator elected in many years as Pascha Griffiths finished a close second to leading vote getter Ann Lougee. Matt Sullivan, who abandoned a run …

Matt Sullivan

6:40 am on Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Congrats to Anne & Pascha! Good luck!   more ›

Town Election, 2012

Slow but Steady Turnout Could Reach 25 Percent

The pace of residents voting is picking up as vote nearing normal town election average.

After a very slow start, the number of voters in Belmont's town election is making steady progress in the final hours.  Three contested town races, energetic candidates, well-attended campaign events and seemingly interested voters, it appears with less than an hour-and-a-half remaining before the precinct polling stations close,  that about one-in-four registered voters just might cast a vote, hitting the average for most town elections.  For the candidates in the contested races, the day included voting, working, a little politiking and hoping to see more voters coming out to the polls.  According to Town Clerk Ellen Cushman, number of voters remain low and activity at the town's eight precincts has been slow but steady with the number …

Town Election, 2012

Belmont Media Center to Cover Town Election Results at 8 p.m.

Results from Town Hall and a panel discussing the results and politics.

The Belmont Media Center will broadcast live coverage of today's town election results beginning at 8 p.m. The coverage will be seen live on Channels 8 and 28 as well as live on the web at http://belmontmedia.org/watch/govt-ed-access  Viewers will be able to see and hear candidate interviews as well as the results as they are announced at Belmont Town Hall with Belmont Patch editor Franklin Tucker while hearing commentary from a panel of residents in BMC's Studio A.  The panel will consist of co-hosts BMC's Jack Kelly and freelance reporter Susan Danseyar along with former Selectman and School Committee member Ann Marie Mahoney, former School Committee chairman John Bowe and Paul Roberts who will provide analysis and discuss issues ahead …

In this Article:

Belmont Media Center and Belmont Town Hall

Town Election, 2012

(VIDEO) The Art of Sign Holding: Politics in Action

While national campaigns run on television ads, town elections are won with a stick and a sign.

Whether it is a national election, a Proposition 2 1/2 override or the annual town election, on the Saturday before the vote, the corner of Common Street and Concord Avenue in front of the Commuter Rail Tunnel in Belmont Center is THE location to get the message out for candidates and causes alike. And on Saturday, March 31, a collection of supporters (and candidates) took stick and sign in hand to remind residents in the vicinity to go out and vote for their particular candidate. And whether the sign holders are veterans or rookies, the message is the same: direct democracy is the preferred way to meet voters.

Town Election, 2012

Low Morning Turnout for Town Election

Numbers at select precincts falls short of Town Clerk's estimates as of 11 a.m.

The town is giving a party, said Town Clerk Ellen Cushman, and so far not that many guests have decided to attend. Despite three competitive races and dry conditions, voters are staying away from the polls as of 11 a.m., according to the number of ballots cast at five of eight precincts. Only Precinct 1, the home district of Selectmen candidate Dan Scharfman, is showing some activity with a little more than 200 voters entering the polling station at the Belmont Public Library. Precinct 5, the base for both candidates Andy Rojas (Board of Selectmen) and Matt Sullivan (School Committee) had pulled in 138 while neighboring Precinct 3 – both located at the Beech Street Center – had a sparse 128. At Precinct 2 in Town Hall, 145 ballots were …

Town Election, 2012

Town Election: Everything You Need To Know About Voting Today

How to ask for a ride to the polls, where to vote, the times, whose on the ballot and more.

The annual town election for town-wide offices and the election of all Town Meeting members take place today, Monday, April 2. Time Polling places open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Transportation to the polls The League of Women Voters of Belmont is offering rides to the polls from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 617-771-8500 to schedule transportation. Questions about or during voting Most questions – including who is eligible to vote in Belmont – that arise during voting can be answered by the precinct warden at the polling station. Other questions should be addressed to the Town Clerk's Office at 617-993-2600. Where Do I vote? Don't know where to vote? Call the Town Clerk at 617-993-2600, or read or download the handy map attached to this webpage that …

In this Article:

Need a Ride to Vote Monday? The League Will Help, Town Clerk, and League of Women Voters' Guide To Town Election Available Online

Belmont_Conservative

9:38 am on Monday, April 2, 2012

Best of luck to everyone who's running who holds conservative principles. I think you'll see that the public, in general, is steering away from the extreme left, and candidates who clearly represent that shrinking segment (even here in MA). I think the results of this local town election will prove what I stated above.   more ›

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