New England Public Radio

Democrat Velis Snags Westfield State House Seat From GOP

Democrat John Velis has a spot in the Massachusetts House – at least for a few months, winning one of  less than three dozen legislative seats that were held by Republicans.

Velis defeated Republican Dan Allie, a member of the Westfield City Council, 53 percent to 47 percent in a special election Tuesday for a state House seat representing Westfield. He will fill the remainder of the term begun by Don Humason, who won a special election in November for state Senate.

Humason, a Republican, held the Westfield House seat for ten years. But the seat has been in GOP hands much longer – since 1979.

Velis, a lawyer and Army veteran, must start campaigning almost immediately to keep the seat, as it’s back on the ballot in November.

According to unofficial election results released Tuesday evening by the Westfield City Clerk, Velis won 2,697 votes to Allie’s 2,354. Twenty-one percent of the city’s registered voters cast ballots.

With relatively warm and sunny weather, Clerk Karen Fanion had predicted 15-20 percent turnout.

New England Public Radio’s Sam Hudzik and Henry Epp contributed.

‘Semi-Steadily Busy’ Turnout In Westfield For Special Mass. House Election

There’s been slow – but not glacial – turnout on Tuesday for the special Massachusetts House election in Westfield.

Voters are choosing between Republican Dan Allie and Democrat John Velis. They’re hoping to serve out the final months of a term begun by Don Humason, who won a special election in November for state Senate.

“No lines, but we’ve been semi-steadily busy. It’s not like a presidential election, but…we did not have our nap time today because we had too many voters come in,” laughs Helen Mahler, a polling place warden.

Mahler’s polling place is at Franklin Avenue School, in a gymnasium that doubles as a cafeteria. On the opposite side of a divider, the kids ate lunch.

“Fortunately, it’s a nice day. They can come out and play. Otherwise there’s inside recess and that gets to be spirited, too,” Mahler says.

Mahler predicts about 10 percent of voters will show up in her polling place by the end of the day. City-wide, Westfield’s clerk predicted turnout in the 15-to-20 percent range.

This is one of a half-dozen special elections for the state legislature taking place Tuesday around Massachusetts.

New England Public Radio’s Henry Epp and Sam Hudzik contributed.

Candidates Prepare For Oddly Timed Westfield Special Election

Voters in Westfield go to the polls Tuesday in a special election to fill the Massachusetts House seat left vacant by Don Humason, who was elected to the state Senate last year. But the winner will still have to defend the seat in November’s general election.

Humason, a Republican, held the Westfield House seat for ten years. But the seat has been in GOP hands much longer – since 1979. Given that history, there’s a bit more at stake for the party’s nominee, Dan Allie. He notes the timing of the special election is an added challenge.

“It’s not a typical time, it’s April Fools’ Day, it’s not November,” says Allie. “It’s the only election that people have the chance to vote for, so it’s up to the candidates to be bringing people out to the polls.”

Allie is running against Democrat John Velis. With the seat up for grabs again in November, Velis says the winner will have a very short time to get settled on Beacon Hill.

“So it’s just about going down there, being a zealous advocate for Westfield in the short time that I’m there, and turn it around and doing it right again in November,” Velis says.

Velis says right now he’s focused on tomorrow’s election. Allie notes nomination deadlines are already looming for November’s race.

Westfield, Mass. Holds Primary Election For Vacant House Seat

Several special elections took place in Massachusetts on Tuesday, including in the city of Westfield.

The primary election is in advance of a special election this spring to fill the seat of state Rep. Humason. He was elected to the Massachusetts Senate in November. Even though Democrat John Velis, who served in Afghanistan as a captain in the U.S. Army, and Republican Daniel Allie, a Westfield City Councilor, are running uncontested, in Massachusetts a primary election has to be conducted before a general election.

“According to state statue, every state general election has to be preceded by a primary and I believe the purposes for that is if someone wants to run a write-in campaign, they could,” says Westfield City Clerk Karen Fanion.

Tuesday’s election will cost the city of Westfield about $30,000 to  cover police detail, poll workers, and transporting voting equipment. The general election for the seat is scheduled for Apr. 1. The winner will fill the seat for the remainder of the term. It’s up for grabs again in November.

 

Special Election Scheduled for Westfield, Mass. House Seat

A special election for Westfield’s vacant seat in the Massachusetts House was scheduled Monday, nearly two months after Republican Don Humason moved to the state senate. The special election will be held on april 1st. Westfield Republican Committee Chair Dan Allie – newly elected to the city council – says the committee is searching for a candidate, and he is considering a run.

“I’m certainly willing to do everything I can to help have a candidate, and we’ve been beating the bushes extensively, but that’s up to the committee, it’s not just my decision,” says Allie.

Allie says local Republicans will discuss choosing a nominee at a January caucus. Westfield Democrat John Velis has announced he is running for the seat. Nomination papers are due January 21st, with primaries scheduled for March 4th. The seat will be up for grabs again in the November general election.