Williams Takes Pledge of No New Taxes, Rush Calls it an Election Gimmick

State Senate battle heating up with election on Nov. 2.

Democrat Mike Rush says that his opponent's tactic of signing a No New Taxes pledge is an election gimmick. Republican Brad Williams feels otherwise, so much that he sent a certified letter to Rush's house wanting him to take the pledge. Both state Senate candidates offered their thoughts on taxes, the Citizens for Limited Taxation pledge and each other. "I wanted to take the pledge because as a financial person in the private sector I have seen a pattern of tax increases across Massachusetts all different ways that are: a) hurting our business environment and driving jobs out of state, and b) unnecessarily increasing the cost of living for Massachusetts residents," said Williams, the Republican candidate for the Suffolk Norfolk State …

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Open Letter from Williams Calls for 5 Debates with Rush

Republican candidate for state Senate, Brad Williams, calls for a series of debates with Rep. Michael Rush, the Democrat in the race.

Dear Representative Rush, Let me first congratulate you on your primary day victory on September 14. As both of us know, there are two different and distinct parts of the campaign season. The primary election culminated the first component, and now we enter an exciting and frantic final forty-five days. I firmly believe that the foundation of the American political process is an informed electorate. We have a fundamental responsibility, as candidates for public office, to express clearly our beliefs and policy positions. By doing so, we ensure the outcome of the November 2 election will be the product of knowledgeable and dedicated voters. I believe the best way to achieve this result is public debate between candidates.   I propose a …

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Week in Review

Week's Highlights: Primary Elections, Neighborhood Meeting

With primary elections in the past, winning candidates back on the trail for November election.

It was a big week for several politicians as they faced voters on Tuesday to see who would move on to the general election in November. While Dedham town clerk Paul Munchbach thought voter turnout would be the usual 30 percent, actual numbers said it was closer to 25 percent. In the state Senate race, it was Michael Rush from West Roxbury who beat out Michael Walsh for the Democratic nod. Rush will now face Brad Williams in November. In the congressional primaries, incumbent Stephen Lynch, a Democrat, will face Vernon Harrison in November after Lynch defeated challenger Mac D'Alessandro. For Norfolk County district attorney, current state Sen. Michael Morrissey (D-Quincy) beat out two challengers in the Democratic primary. There wasn't a …

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Morrissey Beats 2 Challengers in Dem Nod for Norfolk DA

Mike Morrissey won the Democratic nomination for Norfolk District Attorney Tuesday night, and will face Independent candidate John Coffey of Dedham in November.

State Sen. Mike Morrissey (D-Quincy) came out victorious for the Democratic nod for Norfolk County district attorney in Tuesday's state primary. Morrissey won the election by more than 5,000 votes. State Rep. Joseph Driscoll was the runner up in the election, and Michael Chinman placed third. There was no Republican candidate on Tuesday's ticket. Morrissey, born and raised in Quincy, has been a state legislator for more than 30 years. Since 1992 he has been the state senator in the Norfolk district. Morrissey was the only candidate with no experience as a prosecutor, while Chinman resigned from his job in March as a Middlesex County assistant district attorney to run for the top job in Norfolk. Driscoll prosecuted cases in Braintree. …

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Rush Takes State Senate Primary, Struggles in Suburbs

State Rep. Michael Rush will face Brad Williams in the November general election after disposing of Michael Walsh in Tuesday's primary.

With a giant hug for his mom and a kiss on the cheek for his dad, Rep. Michael Rush celebrated a primary victory for state Senate Tuesday night against opponent Michael Walsh. Rush greeted supporters at the Corrib Pub at around 9:30 p.m. after he received word he won the primary over Walsh. With about 90 percent of precincts reporting at 11 p.m., Walsh had earned 58 percent of the vote. But while the celebration lasted a few hours, Rush recognized his campaign work wasn't over yet. "For me, I never take anything for granted," he said in an interview. "I'll work very hard until the final in November." Rush will face Republican Brad Williams, who won an unopposed race Tuesday. As for his next opponent and their differences, Rush would only …

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Lynch Hits D'Alessandro on 'Negative' Mailings at Norwood Forum

The two Democratic candidates for Congress were at a public event for just the second time this campaign season.

In just their second on-stage appearance together on Thursday, the two Democratic candidates for Congress, Mac D'Alessandro and Stephen Lynch, got a bit testy toward the end of their time on stage. When the opponents were asked how they differed from  one another, Lynch, the incumbent, called out his challenger for caricature representations in mailings of him. One reported mailing has Lynch with elephant ears and a tusk, portraying him as a Republican, calling attention to his voting record. "Even though it's been done to me, I think you just want to bring out the best in the political process," Lynch said. "I would never engage in a negative campaign or send nasty things out in the mail." For the two minutes he addressed elderly voters …

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