By David Taber

(precinct breakdowns appear at bottom of article)

Approximately 11 percent of the city’s registered voters turned out on Wednesday to vote in the preliminary special election for the Alderman-At-Large seat vacated by State Rep. Denise Provost last fall.

      Unofficial tallies from the city election department showed 2,372 ballots were cast for Marty Martinez, who received 52.51 percent of the vote. Jack Connolly got 1,814 votes for 40.16 percent.  The two will be competing in the final election on May 15.  The third candidate, Robert Daut, whose entry into the race necessitated the preliminary ballot, received 308 votes. 

      Martinez won in six of the city‚Äôs seven wards, however Connolly outstripped him by a two-to-one margin in Ward 1 with 234 votes to Martinez‚Äôs 112.

      Davis Square resident Larry Hannay said he cast his ballot for Martinez because Martinez was the only candidate who had knocked on his door.

      ‚ÄúHe came around door to door, I appreciate that he takes the time to talk to people,‚Äù Hannay said of Martinez, who quit his job in order to run for Alderman full time.   

      Hannay said he received automated calls from Connolly and Daut. 

      He said there were no particular municipal issues he is concerned about, but he would like to see more affordable housing in Somerville.   ‚ÄúI hate the fact that there is no parking, as far as Davis Square is concerned,‚Äù he said.

Unofficial results from the Special Preliminary Election held on April 10, 2007 are:

Marty Martinez                     2372 votes              52.51%

Jack Connolly                         1814 votes              40.16%

Bob Daut                                  308 votes                6.82%

Write-ins and Blanks               23 votes                   .51%

Totals                                      4517 votes            100.00%

Break-down by Ward and Precinct and Official Results to be posted Wednesday.

Today is the Special Preliminary Election to fill the vacant Alderman-at-Large seat.

The Candidates are (in same order as on the ballot):

Robert F. Daut

John M. (Jack) Connolly, Jr.

Marty A. Martinez

If you are unsure of where you are supposed to be voting – this link from the City will help you.

Make sure you go and vote – the process doesn’t work unless everyone participates!

By David Taber

The nerve-racking test standing between high school seniors and graduation may take a hiatus as a requirement from Massachusetts public schools. State Rep. Carl Sciortino (D-Somerville) has filed a bill that would take the pressure out of passing Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment Standards (MCAS) testing for two years.

The proposed legislation calls for a 31-member committee to reexamine the standardized test high school students need to pass before receiving a diploma.

‚ÄúThe Board of Education created a very narrow test that doesn‚Äôt address a broad standard curriculum,‚Äù he said.  ‚ÄúThe English and math sections don‚Äôt even cover the entire English and math curriculum. We are saying that when you have a state standardized test nothing else matters, you force schools to teach to the test.‚Äù

By George P. Hassett

The attorney for Sgt. Jospeh McCain confirmed to The Somerville News today that McCain filed a federal lawsuit yesterday against Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Acting Police Chief Robert Bradley for their failure to promote him to lieutenant.

The Special Election primary is next Tuesday, so make sure you get out and vote for your  favorite ‚Äì we‚Äôre going out on a limb here, but we predict it will be Jack Connolly and Marty Martinez that will nominate and we will pretty much know about five minutes after the polls close‚Ķmake sure to look at our website for the count.  We just hope that new comer Bob Daut hangs in there and decides to get active in the city even more so when its all said and done.  Jack Connolly is hosting a fundraiser at Tingles Off Broadway Theatre with special guest appearance by the Lt. Governor Tim Murray this Wednesday evening.