Time To Vote

We have a very interesting primary here in the Second Middlesex District. Our state senator, Charlie Shannon (D), died in April due to cancer complications, so we are having the Democratic primary vote today. I'm not even sure there's a Republican candidate, although I'm sure there must be a sacrificial lamb, as this district is, like much of Massachusetts, heavily Democratic and this primary is also almost certainly choosing our state Senator.

It has been pretty heavily contested by all four candidates. Lots of leaflets, a couple of televised debates (see the latest one here) and plenty of discussion on the various mailing lists (medfordmass Yahoo list) and web sites (see esp. Blue Mass. Group). There's two pretty progressive candidates (Jehlen and Mackey), an entrenched Democrat (Callahan), and somewhat of a more conservative wildcard (Casey).

I think I'm going to be voting for Jehlen, although I was more impressed with Mackey in the debate. Both have very similar positions that match mine:

• Pro-marriage and against any sort of Constitutional or otherwise anti-same sex marriage proposals
• Anti-capital punishment
• For a women's right to privacy and choice
• Work hard for education
• Increase local aid from the state, instead of hoarding it for the Treasury in order to make a case for income tax reduction

But I'm going to go for Jehlen because I think her track record is more recent and solid, and because Robert Reich endorsed her. Mackey has been out of government for a bit, and I think Jehlen has worked more closely with the current members of the government to get stuff done.

I still weep for Massachusetts because we didn't elect Robert Reich as the governor, and instead went with a conservative religious fraud in Mitt Romney. Mr Reich didn't even win the primary, as entrenched Democratic interests went for the more centralist candidate, instead of going with a true liberal. I even worked for the Reich campaign, the only time I've ever gotten involved at that level. It wasn't much - I just helped out with some technical stuff, supported the web page, and held a sign up at the polling place (which impressed my girls to no end!). But I felt like Mr. Reich spoke for me, a true-blue liberal, without all this centralist waffling that Democrats try to do, even in a liberal state like mine. I can only imagine how much nicer it would have been to have Robert Reich as governor in these progressive times, and how he would have been front and center in supporting two people's right to marry, instead of trying to find every blockade and loophole to halt progress. But irregardless of your leanings, I sure hope you all get out to vote. I like to bring the girls when we go, as they get a real feel for the process and I hope we're turning out two more committed voters. Edit: Fixed formatting