How Hull Voted – State Primary, Sept. 8

STATE PRIMARY POLLS OPEN UNTIL 8 PM

By Susan Ovans

Today is the state primary election. Secretary of State William Galvin forecasts that less than 10 percent of registered voters statewide will go to the polls.
That number may be significantly higher in Hull, Hingham, Cohasset, and North Scituate, where five candidates are mounting write-in campaigns to replace veteran state representative Garrett Bradley, who resigned his seat last month.
Bradley's resignation came after the deadline to withdraw had passed. Voters who take a Democratic ballot will see his name on the ballot, but Bradley says he will decline the nomination if he wins today.
Two former Hull selectmen–John Brannan and Joan Meschino–are among the five running a write-in (also known as a sticker) campaign for state rep.
Brannan is a Republican. Meschino is a Democrat.
The winners of each party's election will compete in the November general election. There may also be a third nominee, from the United Independent party, if Cohasset's Keri Thompson secures enough votes to earn her place on the November ballot.
The polls at the Memorial School, 81 Central Ave., are open until 8 p.m.
To vote for a write-in candidate for state representative, you must find a campaign worker at the polls who has stickers, or you can "write in" your candidate's name and address on the STATE REPRESENTATIVE line. THEN YOU MUST FILL IN THE OVAL NEXT TO THE NAME (or sticker).
Here are the names and addresses as listed on the candidates' websites. [Kristen Arute's has no address listed. Keri Thompson instructs supporters to write in her name, followed by Cohasset.]
DEMOCRATS
• Stephen Burm, 5 Pine Grove Rd., Hingham
• Joan Meschino, 1 Bradford Ave., Hull
REPUBLICANS
• Kristen Arute, Hingham
• John Brannan, 11 Merrill Rd., Hull
UNITED INDEPENDENT PARTY
• Keri Thompson, Cohasset
Because the primary election falls on a Thursday this year instead of the regular Tuesday, many voters aren't aware that the polls are open today. And write-in campaigns are notoriously difficult.
The candidates have worked hard in the few weeks since Bradley announced his departure to make themselves known to the Third Plymouth District electorate. Please reward them for their efforts. Vote today. ∞

Rep. Garrett Bradley to resign

By Matt Murphy
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

Second Assistant House Majority Leader Rep. Garrett Bradley, a senior member of House Speaker Robert DeLeo's leadership team, will resign from the Legislature at the end of July to take a "more senior role" at his Boston law firm, the Hingham Democrat confirmed Monday afternoon.

Bradley intends to remain in the House through the close of formal sessions on July 31 before stepping down. His decision will open up a South Shore House seat, one that he's held for nearly 16 years, about a month before primaries are scheduled to take place.

"I would never not put one hundred percent into this job and I can see over the balance of this year and into the coming years I wouldn't have the time to do this job the way it should be done. It's bittersweet for me," Bradley told the News Service.

The coastal district Bradley represents covers Cohasset, Hull, five Hingham precincts and one precinct in Scituate.

His intention to resign was first reported Monday afternoon by the Boston Globe. Bradley said a "great opportunity" at Thornton Law Firm, where he is an attorney, presented itself within the past six weeks and would require extensive travel out of the state and the country.

On the firm's website, Bradley, a Boston College Law School graduate, lists his practice areas as complex financial fraud, whistleblower litigation and class action litigation.

Prior to his announcement, Bradley planned to seek a ninth term to the Third Plymouth District seat. He is the only candidate on the ballot from either party, according to the Secretary of State's office.

A spokesman for elections overseer Secretary of State William Galvin said June 8 was the deadline for candidates to withdraw their names from the Sept. 8 primary ballot. Other potential candidates for the seat can mount write-in primary campaigns. If Bradley wins the Democratic primary, he would have until Sept. 13 to withdraw his name from the general election ballot. An executive committee formed by the Democratic State Committee would then have the option to nominate a replacement candidate by Wednesday, Sept. 14.

In a press release, Bradley, whose wife Heather Bradley is a district court judge, cited a desire to spend more time with his three children, including his older daughter who is applying to attend college.

"I have made this difficult decision to leave this job that I truly love," Bradley wrote in the press release. "I do so hoping never to close the door on a future opportunity to serve the people of this great state."

[Michael Norton contributed reporting]

Candidates Make Final Push Before Today's Election

Hull Nantasket Chamber of Commerce's Candidates night, located at The Red Parrot.

Kelvin Jones photos for The Hull Times.

President Patricia Abbate addressed the crowd at the Hull-Nantasket Chamber of Commerce's candidates event last night at The Red Parrot.

Mark Abatuno, a member of the Chamber Board of Directors, and Robin Flint, the organization's administrator, at the check-in table.

State Senate candidate Patrick O'Connor (in suit) with a contingent of Hull signholders. At left is Bob DeCoste, O'Connor's Hull coordinator.

L to R: Interim Town Clerk Lori West, Senate candidate Joan Meschino, Selectman John Reilly, who are all running in today's election.

Anne Margaret Gould MacEachern, who is seeking reelection to the Hull Housing Authority.

Hull Housing Authority candidate Jim Richman and his wife, Gail.

Town Clerk candidate Pamela Sinton-Coffman addressed the crowd.

School Committeeman Dave Twombly is running for a third term on the board.

Jennifer Fleming [L], who is making her first bid for the school committee, and Jen Olivieri, one of the organizers for Move Hull Forward, which supports the debt-exclusion ballot question.

At center, Kimberly McNeil-Downs, candidate for school committee.

School committee candidate Susan Habchy listens to a question.

Selectman candidate Steve Forcum is one of the founders of ACT, the Association of Concerned Townspeople.

Planning board Chairman Jennifer Constable is looking to move to the board of selectmen.

John Brannan [R], candidate for reelection to the board of selecmen, and his wife, Lita, speak with a voter. 

Daniel Ciccariello is unopposed in his reelection campaign for Hull Municipal Light Board.

John 'Doc' Silva said he emerged from retirement to run for town moderator.

Feel Right at Home at Town Meeting

Hull's Annual Town Meeting begins Monday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m. at Hull High School. Registered voters should have received a copy of the meeting warrant, which lists all the articles that will be decided at the meeting, in the mail. If not, don't worry. You can access the warrant below. Other relevant documents on our home page under the headline "Straight from the Source."

And to learn more about what you can expect at town meeting, check out the Secretary of State's publication, "A Citizen's Guide to Town Meetings," which can be found below.

2015 Town and Schools Salaries Reports Online

The 2015 salaries reports for all town employees are included in the Annual Report booklet that voters can pick up at annual town meeting.

We’ve posted the reports online so that residents can consult the information while they're doing their pre-town-meeting research. Click either button below to download the files.

STATE SENATE PRIMARY ELECTION TODAY

The primary election to determine who will be the Democratic and Republican nominees to succeed longtime state senator Robert Hedlund is today. 
The Democratic candidates are Joan Meschino, a former Hull selectman, and current Hingham Selectman Paul Gannon.
On the Republican side, the candidates are former Hull resident Stephen Gill, who is now a Scituate attorney, and former Hedlund legislative director Patrick O'Connor, who is also Weymouth's council president. 
Polls at the Memorial School on Central Avenue are open until 8 p.m.

STATE OFFERS TAX AMNESTY

The Massachusetts Department of Revenue's tax amnesty program is underway and will last until May 31. The opportunity to catch up on back taxes and save on penalties is available to both individuals and businesses. The goal of the tax amnesty program is to bring those taxpayers who have failed to file returns or have underreported their taxes into compliance.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
• File delinquent returns or amend prior tax filings all online at mass.gov/TaxAmnesty. 
• Pay only the tax and interest owed. Tax penalties and any interest due on those penalties will be waived.
• Non-filers may benefit from a three-year limited look-back period.

"The 2016 Tax Amnesty Program is a win-win for the Commonwealth and taxpayers,” said Kristen Lepore, secretary of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance. "This is an opportunity to bring tax filers onto the books while allowing individuals and businesses to become compliant without any penalty."
A simple online amnesty return is available at mass.gov/TaxAmnesty. 
DOR will calculate the interest for each tax period and provide the total amnesty balance due. Filers will submit an electronic payment for the balance due with the amnesty return.
"I urge both individuals and businesses to step up and do the right thing and pay their back taxes with our easy-to-use online amnesty application," said Mark Nunnelly, commissioner of revenue. “After tax amnesty ends, penalties and our full enforcement measures will be back in place.”
ELIGIBILITY
Amnesty is available to any individual or business who has not currently registered with the Department of Revenue, or who has not filed a tax return that was due on or before December 31, 2015, or who has failed to report the proper tax due on a previously filed return for any tax return due on or before December 31, 2015.