Lynn Voter Turnout/Results 2012

Out of a possible 50,604 votes, 31,866 Lynners voted in the presidential race with 72.07% of the vote going to President Obama and 26.56% going to former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. Third party candidates also made a showing with 259 people voting for Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson (0.81%) and 113 voters casting a ballot for Green Party candidate Jill Stein (0.35%). Overall, voter turnout in the presidential race was 63%.

In the Senate race, Democratic candidate Elizabeth Warren earned 65.13% of the Lynn vote compared to Republican incumbent Scott Brown's 34.74%.

For U.S Congress, incumbent John Tierney took 69.81% of the vote compared to Republican challenger Richard Tisei's 26.21% and Libertarian candidate Daniel Fishman's 3.72%.

In the one contested state representative race, Democratic incumbent Robert Fennell beat Republican candidate Dwight 'Dusty' Caufield 81.63% to 16.82% to remain 10th Essex District State Representative.

Lynn voters also voted 'Yes' on the right to repair (Question 1) and for medical marijuana (Question 3), but 'No' on physician assisted suicide (Question 2).

Check out LynnHappens for a complete breakdown of Lynn's voting results: http://lynnhappens.com/?p=6454

10th Essex District State Rep Election Q & A: Dwight 'Dusty' Caufield

Dwight 'Dusty' Caufield is currently running for 10th Essex District State Representative this fall as the Republican candidate for office. His opponents are Robert Fennell (D), the incumbent, and write-in candidate Gardy Jean-Francois (D). See below for the answers to a few questions posed to Mr. Caufield regarding his candidacy.

What are your reasons for running for state representative?

Lack of Leadership - Lynn has been used as the dumping ground for the North Shore. We need Jobs not group homes, halfway houses, methadone clinics etc.

Transparency - The Legislator continually keeps the public in the dark on issues by closed committees and secret ballots. They work for us and have a right to know how they vote and what goes on in committees.

Job Development - Without jobs we will never see any improvement in the Lynn area. Without jobs these empty houses will stay empty. We need to work with the city to entice investors to bring work to the city. If they hire a Lynn resident they get tax breaks for an example.

What do you consider to be your top issues? 

1. Bring jobs into the city instead of methadone clinics. Developing the waterfront has been an issue since the 70's and not much has been done. Do they think an investor will want to get involved when he sees a methadone clinic will be next to his hotel? See above Job development. 

2. Term limits - I am running against a man who has been in office 18 years and has zero bills, this his is only one example. Public service should be some one who wants to help out the community not enrich himself and his friends. They stay too long and they are owned by the party and special interest groups. One of the few things my opponent has accomplished is helping a powerful friend build in Peabody make money at the expense of a Lynn neighborhood.

3. Family Values - I believe more has to be done to keep families together and to get them involved in the community. I have seen instances where a child won't play sports because the single parent cannot afford the fee. Families breaking up because they are losing their house. This is very stressful on families and a little help is all they need to get over the rough spots.

What separates you from your opponents?

What makes myself  different from the other candidates is the fact that have a very diverse background. Professionally I have worked in the Health Care Industry (Mass Gen Hosp), Manufacturing (Gillette/Proctor and Gamble Corp.), The Arts (Symphony Hall), and Teaching (Peterson School of Engineering).

I also grew up in three sections of Lynn: East, West and also the Highlands. Product of the Lynn School system and also Lynn athletics. As an adult and father I have also been involved with Lynn athletics for the youth of the area.

Anything else you would like to add?

  

This election is about Lynn and the mediocre representation we have put up with for too long. This is just not good enough for the Lynn I grew up in and should not be an option. I see empty houses and no jobs to help them along. It is easy to get some funds from a broke Government to move things along but without a sustained and strong economy Lynn will always be Mediocre.

For more information, see: http://dwightcaufieldforstaterep.com/
Also see:  Lynn District Candidate: State is Taking Advantage of Lynn (The Daily Item)

10th Essex District State Rep Election Q & A: Gardy Jean-Francois

Despite a campaign setback that resulted in his name being taken off the ballot, Gardy Jean-Francois has decided to continue his bid as the Democratic candidate for the 10th Essex District State Rep against incumbent Robert Fennell via a sticker or write-in campaign. See below for his answers to a few questions posed about his candidacy.

Why are you running for 10th Essex District State Rep? In the face of your recent election setback, why are you continuing on with a sticker campaign?

I am running to be the state Representative for the 10th Essex District for the following reasons: first and foremost, I love the community and I firmly believe that we have so much potential in the City of Lynn but we are lacking of leadership. I want to bring your pain, frustration, and your anger to the State House and address them appropriately. I want to be a strong voice for the 10th Essex District and bring common-sense solutions to local issues. I want to bring government back to the people and most importantly a fresh start to our district.

What are the top 3 issues that you would address if elected?

I am also running for office because  I want to respond to the constituents needs not special interests by establishing a local office within the district and I am committed to bring resources to address issues such as: EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY, and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I am on a mission to accomplish that vision.

What qualities or qualifications differentiates you from your Democratic opponent?

I have the ability to communicate in 4 different languages. I know the majority of the residents of the district. I know their names and and their faces and most importantly they know my name and my face. I am highly engaged in the community, I am accessible and fully aware of the problems we are facing as a community.

I am ready to fight for resources to address the overcrowded class sizes in our school.

To provide more funding for early childhood education.

To expand kindergarten hours.

To provide more funding to build new schools and renovate existing buildings

To improve our education system.

To provide incentives to businesses in order to create business expansion, creation and extension.

To reduce the commercial tax in our city which is the highest in the

North shore.

To fight crimes, gangs and and drugs in the city.

Massachusetts' unemployment rate is 6.3%. Lynn's unemployment rate is 17%.  As your State Representative I will aggressively work with my colleagues on both sides of the House for incentives to create jobs in our district. The 10th Essex District deserves effective government and a Representative who really cares about the district. It is time for a change. The incumbent had 18 years to make the district a better place to live, work and raise your children but never did. The residents of the district will do a lot better under a new leadership.

Anything else you would like to add?

On Thursday September 6, 2012, I am respectfully asking the voters of the 10th Essex District to voice your choices by either writing my name or using the stickers to vote for a better future for the 10th Essex District.

Please visit our website www.gardystaterep.com for more information and please do not hesitate to contact us via email at ELECTGARDY@GMAIL.COM to request your stickers or you can also call us at 781- 354 - 2402 for comments or suggestions.