Hold me to it!
Here are my predictions for the election. They do not constitute an endorsement. It's not necessarily who I'm voting for; nor are they necessarily whom I'm advising you to vote for. I think that by this late date, all of you readers have probably already picked your candidates. So the purpose of this article is just for me to guess at the results and the numbers.
I do have one endorsement, however:I will be blogging, as best I can, on election night and you can learn the results here!
I am voting for (and encourage your support for) Robin Snyder for School Committee. The other nominee, Steve Levine, cares about the schools but doesn't have the requisite skills to keep our schools at the highest possible level of achievement. Robin does, and she will make a great member of that committee.
Again, here are my predictions. They are listed as they will appear on the ballot.
Turnout:
23.5% Overall
Town Moderator:
44%: Tom Fiore
√ 56%: Chris Mehne
(88% of ballots cast - which means that 12% of the voters will leave this race blank)
Selectman:
√ 45%: Jim Kane
27%: Andy MacIsaac
28%: Rashid Shaikh
(92% of ballots cast)
School Committee:
47%: Steve Levine
√ 53%: Robin Snyder
(73% of ballots cast)
Library Trustee:
(Elect three)
√ 85% Laurie Hogan (incumbent)
√ 93% Carl Larson (incumbent)
√ 75% Walter Avis
(66% of ballots cast)
Housing Authority:
√ 100%: Paul Campaniello
(53% of ballots cast)
Town Meeting:
Sorry, I have no idea. Good luck to you all.
(Update on 4 May at 11:45am: I added my predictions above for Library Trustees.)
32 comments:
If your prediction is right, school/override supporters sweep. Hang on to your wallets everyone!
I agree on Robin- she would be great for that job based on what I've seen of her. I don't know her personally, but she seems to have what it takes. She'll get my vote. I think some of your other predictions may not ring true..time will tell for sure. I hope the voter turn out is as high as you predict though- that will be nice.
Steve Levine is going around spreading false information about Robin Snyder. He is accusing Robin, if elected, of advocating for the elimination of school buses which is far from the truth. Robin is NOT in favor of eliminating school buses as she sees that they are a valuable asset. She has ONLY said that she would support that idea only if there were no other alternative. She favors protecting teachers first over buses.
Get your information straight Steve!
My predictions:
Rashid....he's AGAINST new taxes
Fiore...always stood up against the Bos
Steve Lavine...says more then Robin
Mark,
I think you are totally discounting Rashid's support. In these economic times I think we can split people in to 2 groups. Those who feel comfortable and those who don't. My friends who are comfortable keep telling me to vote Kane, my friends who aren't are all supporting Rashid. I think there are way more people worried about their financial future and are going to vote Rashid. Will they ultimately be disappointed with his "savings", maybe, but I think a lot of people are going to want to see him at least try. I think it goes more like Rashid 37%, Jim 32%, Andy 23%. I also think Tom F and Steve L win. I'm also fairly confident that the overall turnout will be less than 20%. That's a very sad statement, but I believe it will hold true.
I have received an e-mail from Mr. Levine stating the reasons why he is the better qualified candidate. The problem I have with his e-mail is that it is factually incorrect and blatantly mischaracterizes what his opponent said at the LWV Debate last week. I was in the audience and Ms. Snyder, when asked about budget cuts, simply said one area she would look at is busing. She did not say she would cut busing. She simply provided a concrete answer to the question asked. On the other hand, Mr. Levine gave a non-answer and spoke about all he knows, blah, blah, blah. Ms. Butt, a Levine supporter, then restated Robin's response and said something to the effect of, "You would cut busing." Ms. Snyder quickly responded that she did not say she would cut buses, she stated she believes that programs and teachers have been cut to the core and the schools need to look elsewhere. I am shocked that Mr. Levine would stoop to such a level to try to get votes. This type of behavior makes me wonder why he is even running? Mr. Levine needs to pay more attention to the details of the school budget, etc. During the debate he stated that funding for special needs students "really doesn't come from the town budget." This man believes he is the best candidate and doesn't even know how the budget works!
Robin is quiet and thoughtful and her main goal is to continue to work hard for the students and citizens of this town. She is by far the better qualified candidate for the school committee seat.
Vote for Robin Snyder on May 5th.
Based on the posts, this blog is heavy with people that would like to raise taxes. Yet most voters don't agree with raising taxes. My prediction is that enough 'no override' people will come out to elect Rashid Shaikh.
WE ARE CHEAP
Heaven help us, but the BOS meetings will be fun to watch if Rashid gets the seat.
I just added my predictions for Library Trustees to the article.
Library Trustee:
(Elect three)
√ 85% Laurie Hogan (incumbent)
√ 93% Carl Larson (incumbent)
√ 75% Walter Avis
(66% of ballots cast)
If Tom Fiore is supposed to be the "Proven Independent" in the Moderator's Race then I guess Steve Levine in the "Proven Liar" of the SC race and here's the proof: Mr. Levine has put out the following false email: I am pledging to you in writing, that I will NEVER vote to eliminate School Bus service in Shrewsbury. We absolutely need our School Busses!!
My opponent has said repeatedly, that the FIRST thing she would do, to balance the budget, would be eliminate bus service – and that although it might be a hardship, it is ultimately a “parents problem” to get kids to school and not an educational issue. I disagree. I know what pick up and drop off is like even now...and surely it’s just not practical to think we can get rid of bus service to save money. Anyone who saw the debate knows what Ms. Snyder said. She was answering to a hypothetical and she is right, the SC is in the business of educating not transportation. When push comes to shove I will take a teacher over a bus any day.
I knew that before the end of the race Mr. Levine would employ some the same shady practices he employs in his professional like. The man is a liar!!!!
Please let's tone it down on the "liar-liar-pants-on-fire" talk. It doesn't help anybody.
I watched the LWV Debate and I could not agree more with Lousie's comment...Right On!!!
Steve, get your facts straight before you send out emails soliciting votes based on inaccurate information.
My vote is for Robin. She may not say as much as Steve, but what she says has substance and is factually correct.
The email from Steve, from my point of view, was "bush league" and a 11th hour panic move from a political hack.
mark my friend you opened up this can of worms.
I think Steve is pretty much on the mark. He has my vote! Go Steve!! Stop splitting hairs people.
"Steve is … on the mark" (2:29pm) ??
About what? Maybe you were referring to something else.
It's not true what he's accusing of Robin. He doesn't have the ability to do the job.
Here is the winning ticket:
BOS = Rashid
SC = Robin
TM = Chris
This is not a pro or con override issue people this is about managing your town best. Please vote for the people who can do that best!
Steve is a master of spin and telling people what they want to hear. Steve has lost 2 SC elections so now he is stooping to the lowest levels to try and pull this one off. Let's tell Steve one more time that his style does not play well in Shrewsbury. We want Robin, who is honest and straight forward and understands the true plight of the schools to help shape our schools.
Vote Robin for School Commitee
Louise and Bruce have really hit the mark. Steve cannot be trusted further than he can be thrown. I have known him for years, and have always had concerns about his "civic-mindedness".
Here's something else to think about....Steve Levine and Ben Tartaglia are not on the ballot to stand as town meeting members. IF you don't want to even represent your own precinct, why represent the town? It is shameful that a current selectman cannot "legally" move or second a motion before town meeting and it say little about the interest level of a candidate for school committee if the won't bother to stand for town meeting rep whether they win or lose the election.
Saw John and Mo out holding signs for Kane and Fiore this evening.
Yes they were! I say if you want someone independent and not associated with the "same old-same old" vote for Chris Mehne. He will be a breath of fresh air in that smoke-filled back room of the current good ole boys.
Hello previous poster. Since the good ole boys also support Kane, will you be supporting Rashid since Andy has no chance?
May the best dark horse win. I will vote for the creative guy, Andy MacIsaac.
Tom Fiore will lose and lose big and that is based on the fact that he is the least objective and independent of anyone running in all the races!
Why does all this have to turn so ugly when it's really about who could offer the most to the town and do the best job?
Anyone that uses their campaign to talk about the other candidate is shaky at best to begin with, they can't stand on their own. It appears they need to use the demise of another to get ahead.
These are NOT the type of people I want on a board- will they talk down all the others everytime their point is not heard? Sounds that way doesn't it. It's that old Spots on a leopard thing.
We know what some of these leopard spots look like already, why would we vote for bad leopards? Come on have some guts and do the right thing and not just more of the good old boy stuff.
Rachid, Mehne, and Snyder!
Off to vote shortly...want to be part of that 10% that will show.
Hello All,
Andy, Chris, and Robin are the three candidates that will best serve our town in a time of change, diverse philosophies, and financial uncertainty.
They are calm, thoughtful and extremely intelligent. This has less to do with their educations (although one could argue Harvard, BC, and RPI are top notch schools) but more to do with their rational, analytical, and thorough way of problem solving.
I think all of their characters are beyond question and that can be illustrated by the classy campaigns they all ran.
Please join me in supporting these wonderful people who will work hard for you and listen to your ideas and feedback.
They want to do things that make you the voter/tax payer/client/consumer most proud of your town with the maximum of services and the least cost.
A vote for these three incredible people is truly a vote for Shrewsbury at its best!
Respectfully, Chris Juetten
Only 1 out of the 3 candidates has actually posted to their site actual plans of action. Some have talk- which is cheap and as we have seen low. I wish they had specifically set out a plan and not just talked the talk. A real plan ie: here's how I can see us cutting xyz- not we need to look at xyz. I think enough looking at xyz has been done.
Still up in the air on my vote at this point- won't be voting till 6pm...so have time.
Here's what are the issues rolling in my head- I don't want more taxes, we can't afford them, I'm not asking for more services, I think there are things that could be done differently or appear as if they could, not one person right now seems to question except for unprepared Ben. We can't keep going the way we are right now. So who will be able to provide this for me??? I'm so torn. Anyone else feeling this way too???
Sorry Chris but Rashid get this vote. Being recently laid off make me realize that I can't afford Andy or Jim.
"...maximum of services and the least cost."
This characterizes Rashid's campaign, not Andy's. Andy is pro-override. Chris, you do yourself a disservice with mis-statements like this one.
Rashid is a lot of hot air. He and SRT represent the group that wants everything, but won't pay a dime for it. Some of his ideas appear to have merit, but he will never generate enough support. The bottom line is there is not enough money to go around. We need to cut or reduce the nice to have services. Ben has his knickers all in a bunch over the crossing guards. See, Ben only wants what helps his cronies or age group. He is not a selectman who truly represents the good of the entire town. I am afraid Rashid will be more of the same.
Rashid is the only one I've heard actually say lets not cut lets not do anything till we try a few of these things on my list. Lets try- I've heard cut or override from both the other candidates..Rashid gets my vote too...he's got ideas on paper to try, the others have ideas, nothing on paper!
All the candidates seem very intelligent, but that's not the only qualification for the job. I think folks say negative things when they are scared of change, and I do think Rashid brings a new way of doing business to town- but I say bring it on. We need NEW ways.
Go Rashid-
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