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Long count finally ends
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The Patriot Ledger |
Paul Curtis |
When the results of voting in the Sept. 19 Republican primary were announced, it appeared that Curtis, a Plymouth resident, had narrowly defeated Olly deMacedo of Kingston, who had run a brief but intensive write-in campaign. With just a handful of votes separating them, deMacedo requested for a recount and wound up winning by 24 votes.
Now Curtis chides the state Republican Party, saying it tried to push him out to make way for deMacedo after Rep. Thomas O’Brien, D-Kingston, announced that he would not accept his party’s nomination,
Although he acknowledges that some anger toward the state GOP may linger, Curtis says his support for Calter is born of respect for the Democratic candidate.
Despite the party difference, they have views in common, Curtis said. He thinks Calter would work hard on veterans issues, which were a cornerstone of Curtis’ campaign.
“I like to err on the side of honesty, and I think Mr. Calter is an honest man,” Curtis said. “That’s the first thing you have to look at when you go into the voting booth. And I’m very impressed with his sincerity about helping veterans. He seems to take that very seriously.”
Calter and Curtis first met on primary day and talked for several hours. Later, they met for breakfast several times to exchange ideas, thinking they would be each other’s opponent, Calter said last night.
Then, as Calter stood outside the former Bickford’s restaurant on Main Street holding a campaign sign last Saturday afternoon, Curtis stopped and asked if he could stand there, too.
“That afternoon, he told me he’d like to endorse me if I didn’t mind,” Calter said. “I said, ‘Paul, that would be a real honor and privilege.’”
Calter said he and Curtis have “very different politics” but share core values regarding veterans, seniors and education.
“It was really these core values that Paul and I share that resulted in his standing up for my candidacy,” Calter said.
DeMacedo said he was not surprised by the turn of events; he described it as an example of what America is about.
“I know that Paul was disappointed in the results of our primary,” deMacedo said, “and as I’ve said to everyone, this is what makes America wonderful: people can support whoever they want to support.”
DeMacedo said he heard about the Curtis endorsement at around the same time he learned that he had been given the support of Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz.
“(Cruz) is someone I think not only everyone in Plymouth County but Massachusetts-wide respects, and I’m very proud of that endorsement,” deMacedo said. “I think it speaks volumes about who I am to have someone like him endorse me.”
Curtis said he has asked many of the people who backed his candidacy to give their support to Calter.
“We can’t go back,” he said. “There was a lot of disappointment with what went on, and rightfully so. But I’m very encouraged by Mr. Calter. The Democrats have fielded a very good candidate, and I think he’s worthy of our support.”
Karen Goulart may be reached at kgoulart@ledger.com.
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Calter, deMacedo state their cases
The Patriot Ledger / Oct. 24, 2006
MARSHFIELD - As “freshmen,” they would stand their ground.
In a political forum aired on WATD radio last night, both candidates for state representative in the 12th Plymouth District said they would not be bullied into going against their beliefs to increase their clout on Beacon Hill.
Democrat Thomas Calter and Republican Olly deMacedo vowed to always put their district first and stand by their beliefs, even if it costs them committee appointments and peer acceptance.
Calter said he would call for transparency in leadership, the sharing of easily understandable budget information and a willingness for leaders to own up to mistakes. He was asked if that would relegate him to a “basement office” at the State House.
He said outgoing Democratic incumbent Thomas O’Brien made decisions based on the good of his district that were bad for his career and that he would do the same.
“If it costs me career growth, so be it,” Calter said. “I’ll be able to live with myself and live to represent the 12th District another day.”
Asked how he could make his mark as a newcomer and a Republican in a body with an overwhelming Democratic majority, deMacedo said he would emulate his brother, Republican Vinny deMacedo, who represents the 1st Plymouth District. He said his brother has succeeded thanks to hard work and integrity.
Olly DeMacedo said he is used to being in the minority, especially as a selectman in Kingston, but that he knows how to work with people “across the aisle.”
“I’m not trying to kid anyone; I don’t know everything I’ll need to know,” deMacedo said, adding that he would work hard to learn.
DeMacedo and Calter voted for the income-tax rollback from 5.8 percent to 5 percent in 2000 but differ on how it should be addressed now.
Calter said the Legislature did the right thing in 2004 when it froze the rollback at 5.3 percent and set economic “triggers” that would, when reached, signal the right time to continue reducing the tax.
“The triggers are in place,” Calter said. “When we meet them, we should finish the job.”
When the tax dropped from 5.85 to 5.3 percent, the average worker got back $130 and property taxes went up, on average, $700, he said.
DeMacedo said 65 percent of voters in the district called for the rollback, and they should be heard. He said the tax can be lowered without hurting residents if government controls spending.
“I say, ‘Curb your spending; go down to 5 percent,’” deMacedo said. “I spend what I can afford. I’m telling them to do the same thing. We have to address spending.”
DeMacedo said history has shown that if taxes are lowered, revenues to the state will increase.
On the issue of gay marriage, deMacedo said gay couples should have rights including bereavement leave and hospital visits. He said he believes in marriage between a man and woman and that residents should be allowed to vote on a constitutional amendment.
Calter noted that 6,000 gay couples in the state have marriage licenses, and he does not believe in writing into the constitution something that would take away civil rights. He said he does not believe it is an important issue to most voters in the district.
Asked about a previous interview in which he said civil rights were based on skin color, deMacedo said he was quoting a civil rights leader he heard on television.
Calter did not want to challenge the response or pursue the issue further, saying he knew deMacedo to be a respectful person.
Karen Goulart may be reached at kgoulart@ledger.com.
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12th Plymouth foes are both ‘latecomers’
Didn’t formally go on ballot until after primary
The Patriot Ledger / Oct. 11, 2006
It was nearly two weeks after the primary before voters knew who would be on the ballot for state representative in the 12th Plymouth District.
But Democrat Thomas Calter, who was chosen by a Democratic caucus in late September, and Republican Olly deMacedo, who won a recount in his party’s primary election, said they would have campaigned the same way regardless of who they were running against.
Calter said that with his children grown, it is his time for public service.
“I’m going to work full time as a state representative,” Calter said. “Tom (O’Brien) worked 50 to 70 hours a week on the job. I intend to meet that same standard.”
Democratic Rep. Thomas O’Brien created an open seat when he resigned from the Legislature in August to become Plymouth County treasurer.
Calter said that in his discussions with voters across the district, two issues came to the forefront: property taxes and education. But most importantly, voters want politicians who are candid and tell the truth, he said.
DeMacedo said that after 12 years as a selectman in Kingston, he understands the needs of local governments, knows how to deal with budgets and is used to taking responsibility for difficult decisions.
He said his belief in two-party government was a driving force behind his decision to run.
“The exchange of ideas really gives us the very best,” deMacedo said. “I’ve always thought it is very, very important to have a balanced government on Beacon Hill. When it’s not, you have abuses.”
The two candidates both voted for the 2000 ballot question to roll back the state income tax rate from 5.85 percent to 5 percent. But they differ now on whether the rollback should actually happen.
Calter said he is concerned about the imbalance between that proposed reduction and the rise in property taxes. “I believe we owe our citizens a full accounting when it comes to their pocketbooks,” Calter said. “I fully support reducing taxes, but I am opposed to reducing taxes by $130 (through the state income tax) with one hand and then increasing them by $700 (through local property taxes) with the other.”
DeMacedo said the rollback is the will of voters and “the people deserve to be heard.” But he said it would have to come along with fiscal responsibility, something he believes his record shows he has.
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Plymouth candidate for House says party tried to ‘push’ him out
Republican Paul Curtis of Plymouth says party leaders turned on him when they decided to support the write-in candidacy of Olavo deMacedo of Kingston in last month’s Republican primary for a seat in the state House of Representatives.
“I had nothing against the write-in campaign, but where I was the nominee (on the ballot), the party didn’t stand behind me,” Curtis said. “They tried to push me out the door.”
Curtis’ narrow primary victory was set aside over the weekend following a recount that showed deMacedo picking up enough votes to win the GOP nomination for the 12th Plymouth District state representative’s seat.
The recount tally made deMacedo the winner with 783 sticker and write-in votes to 759 for Curtis, who had been listed on the ballot as the only Republican seeking the nomination.
Curtis had finished four votes ahead of deMacedo when the votes were counted on the night of the Sept. 19 primary.
In the recount, deMacedo picked up 16 votes and 12 were taken away from Curtis.
Curtis, who lost an attempt to unseat Democrat Thomas O’Brien of Kingston for the same House seat two years ago, said party leaders told him deMacedo had a better chance of winning in November.
DeMacedo had been running for county commissioners when O’Brien resigned in August to become Plymouth County treasurer. While Curtis would have had a difficult time unseating an incumbent state representative, with O’Brien out of the race it looked like he had an excellent chance of taking the seat until DeMacedo decided to challenge him for the Republican nomination and mounted his write-in campaign.
Curtis said it was disappointing to learn that House minority leader Bradley H. Jones Jr. of North Reading was in deMacedo’s corner.
“They should have had the decency to support me,” Curtis said. “He (deMacedo) is an insider and that’s how he got their support. I’m an outsider. I was carrying the banner.
“The state party was giving me false encouragement when O’Brien was there (as the opponent), and then they told me to get out. It’s a lousy way to do business. I don’t respect the Republican leadership.”
But deMacedo said that he had to wage a last-minute campaign because he had no way of knowing O’Brien would be getting out of the race.
O’Brien’s decision meant it was too late for deMacedo to get his name on the primary ballot.
“I’m just really happy about the whole outcome with all that we have gone through,” deMacedo said. “It was the harder road (not being on the ballot).”
Facing Calter
Thomas Calter of Kingston, who won the nod following a recent Democratic party caucus, will be deMacedo’s opponent . O’Brien’s name had appeared on the primary ballot because it was too late to have his name removed.
If elected, deMacedo would join his brother Vinny in the House of Representatives. Vinny deMacedo, also a Republican, represents parts of Plymouth.
Olavo DeMacedo said he and his brother decided only 12 days before the primary to mount a sticker and write-in campaign to win Olavo the Republican nomination.
“Neither my brother nor I approached party leaders,” Olavo deMacedo said. “People responded. I thank everyone who brought a sticker from home or wrote my name in. They went out of their way to vote for me.”
Curtis, a member of the Plymouth Redevelopment Authority, said he came forward two years ago when Gov. Mitt Romney wrote party members about running for the Legislature.
Now, despite finding himself on the losing end in the recount, Curtis said he wouldn’t go to Superior Court to get a judge to rule on contested ballots.
“He’s the winner,” Curtis said about deMacedo, a former Kingston selectman. “I congratulate him.”
Looking to win
DeMacedo said he was optimistic about the Nov. 7 general election.
“Hopefully, we can now get together as a party and win the seat,” he said.
O’Brien’s resignation gave deMacedo a chance to run for the House seat he sought unsuccessfully in 1998. In that election, O’Brien won easily.
DeMacedo’s name appeared on the Republican primary ballot for Plymouth County commissioner. He later decided to concentrate on winning the House seat and let the party choose someone else to run for the county post. John P. Cafferty of Hingham was the pick last week to run against Democratic incumbent Timothy J. McMullen of Pembroke.
Dennis Tatz may be reached at dtatz@ledger.com.
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Recount favors deMacedo
After a recount of votes for the Republican candidates in the 12th Plymouth District, it appears former Kingston Selectman Olavo deMacedo will be given the nod over Paul Curtis.
Should the results of the recount, which are still subject to certification by the state, deMacedo would face Democrat Thomas Calter of Kingston in the Nov. 7 general election for the State Representative seat vacated by Kingston Democrat Thomas O'Brien, who accepted the position of Plymouth County treasurer one month ago.
The final tally stands with deMacedo, who mounted a sticker campaign 12 days before the Sept. 21 primary, claiming 783 votes to Curtis' 759.
The recount was conducted Friday in Middleboro's precincts one and five, Halifax's precinct one, Plympton, Kingston, and precincts one, 11 and 13 in Plymouth, and on Saturday in Duxbury for precincts one and six.
As of Saturday morning after the recount, Curtis had not yet decided whether he would appeal to Superior Court, where a judge would review the protested ballots from all six towns.
“We will let it play out for now and decide what to do,” Curtis said
Curtis believes he was beaten by “high ranking republican officials” who joined deMacedo's campaign.
Curtis said he remained in the race that he began campaigning for in March, despite what he called “a lot of pressure from other Republicans officials — North Shore Republicans — to drop out.”
Curtis said he believed House Minority Leader Bradley Jones, who acted as an agent for deMacedo during the recount, is one of those who was hoping he would drop out and deMacedo would become the sole candidate.
Curtis said he did “support the spirit” of deMacedo's campaign, and shook hands with deMacedo Saturday following the recount in Duxbury, where both candidates observed the process with their attorneys.
Curtis was represented during the recount by Attorney Theodore Bosen, and deMacedo by Attorney George Hardiman.
In Duxbury, where Curtis held the lead at the close of the primary, 69-64, deMacedo picked up an additional three votes from the 161 ballots recounted Saturday morning. Curtis lost two votes in Duxbury on recount.
DeMacedo said Friday after the recount was completed in the five towns, he remained “cautiously optimistic” about the outcome.
“The process was done fairly and everyone was gracious, and professional,” said deMacedo. “All the town clerks were gracious, as was Paul.”
On Saturday, deMacedo said he would wait until the time frame for the appeal by Curtis had passed and the race officially determined, by the Secretary of State, before commenting further.
In Halifax, there were no changes in the votes according to Town Clerk Marcia Cole, leaving Curtis with his original 58 votes and deMacedo with 27.
In Plympton, the count also remained the same with Curtis holding 46 votes and deMacedo his original 55 votes.
In Middleboro, Town Clerk Eileen Gates reported that Curtis lost one vote to fall to 72 and deMacedo added one to finish with 65.
In Kingston, with 88 protested votes, deMacedo picked up 6 votes, and in Plymouth where three precincts were recounted deMacedo picked up 8 votes, and Curtis lost 8 votes.
In Plymouth, Curtis finished the recount with 364 votes and deMacedo 224 votes. That count was changed from the original count, which had Curtis claiming 372 votes and deMacedo with 216 votes.
Approximately 150 ballots were protested in Plymouth.
During the recount in Kingston, one ballot was challenged where a voter had placed two stickers on the ballot for deMacedo in the area of the State Representative.
That was challenged by Curtis's attorney Theodore Bosen, who cited case law and called the use of two stickers an “over vote” regardless of the fact that they stickers were for the same candidate.
That vote was decided in deMacedo's favor by the Board of Registrars, however a vote which had deMacedo's name hand-written in full was considered a blank vote because the sticker was attached below the line for the candidate.
Town Clerks were instructed by the Secretary of State's office to recount only the stickers placed in the spot for Republican State Representative, according to Brian McNiff, press officer for the Secretary of State. For the vote to be counted, “it has to be in the correct spot.”
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Dems’ ticket hole plugged
12th Plymouth District caucus picks Kingston’s Calter to run for O’Brien seat
The Patriot Ledger /Sept. 28, 2006
KINGSTON - Some kids dream of becoming famous athletes. Thomas Calter dreamed about being a legislator.
Now his dream is halfway to coming true.
Last night, a caucus of 12th Plymouth District Democrats elected the Kingston businessman as the party’s nominee for state representative in the Nov. 7 election.
Calter, 49, was the unanimous choice of the 14 delegates representing five of the six towns in the district. Plympton did not have a delegate because its Democratic Town Committee is defunct.
Calter is chairman of the Kingston Democratic Town Committee and a member of the Silver Lake Regional School Committee. He is chief executive and managing partner of RKP Capital Services, a consulting firm in Kingston.
Calter’s Republican opponent in November is undecided. Official results from the Sept. 19 primary show Paul Curtis of Plymouth defeated Olavo deMacedo of Kingston for the nomination by three votes, one less than the margin in the initial returns, but a recount has been scheduled.
The ballots will be counted tomorrow in Halifax, Kingston, Middleboro, Plymouth and Plympton and on Saturday in Duxbury.
Calter replaces Thomas O’Brien, who resigned in August to become Plymouth County treasurer. O’Brien remained on the primary ballot, but declined the nomination.
Calter told Democrats gathered at the Royal Palace Restaurant that he was “humbled” and “touched” to be chosen.
“I dreamt of this moment when I was a little boy,” Calter said. “Some kids dream of crashing into the left field wall or scoring the winning goal, I had those dreams, too, but I didn’t have the talent.”
Calter said he wondered if he would ever get the chance to run for the House, O’Brien was young, loved the job and was loved by constituents.
He said he had trouble sleeping for days after he heard O’Brien was stepping down.
To gain O’Brien’s support, Calter said, “I had to assure him I was willing to pay the price he paid, travel the district, understand the needs ... know that it’s a passion, not a job.”
Calter said for the past month he has been visiting the towns of the district and listening to people’s concerns. He said he understands and shares those concerns, chief among them, education and affordable housing.
O’Brien, who served for 10 years and never missed a vote, said he believes Calter will do a “fantastic” job.
“The good news is, we have someone ready to share that passion,” O’Brien said. “I have every confidence Tom will live up to all our expectations.”
Karen Goulart may be reached at kgoulart@ledger.com.
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