Elections

Voter Turnout High; Voters Leaning Far to Both Sides

In today’s election, Wellesley voters have held strong opinions.

By Bret Silverberg
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November 2, 2010

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“We’re conservative all the way,” said Polly Crispell alongside husband Kevin, pastor at Elmwood Chapel. The Crispells voted conservatively on the political races as well as the questions at Bates Elementary. “I’m a huge believer in term limits,” said Kevin Crispell, adding that he voted for Sean Bielat for Congress over 30-year seat holder Barney Frank. “There is no way that when they framed the Constitution they had career politicians in mind.”

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“We’re conservative all the way,” said Polly Crispell alongside husband Kevin, pastor at Elmwood Chapel. The Crispells voted conservatively on the political races as well as the questions at Bates Elementary. “I’m a huge believer in term limits,” said Kevin Crispell, adding that he voted for Sean Bielat for Congress over 30-year seat holder Barney Frank. “There is no way that when they framed the Constitution they had career politicians in mind.”

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In the local race for state representative between Republican Royall Switzler and Democrat Alice Peisch, the incumbent, it seemed both sides had much support this morning. Beth Drysdale, left, and Pat Lee, who said they always lean liberal, both voted for Peisch. When asked if they think Peisch can pull out the win despite Switzler’s recent groundswell of support, Drysdale said: “Oh, I hope so." On why she always votes Democrat: “We’re lesbians…and Democrats support us.”

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Art Gertler said he voted for Alice Peisch in the local race, but he was more concerned with the ballot questions. He said he voted “no” on all three—“Yes” votes on Questions 1 and 3 would repeal the state’s alcohol tax and reduce sale tax 3.25 percent, respectively, and a “yes” vote on Question 2 would repeal the state’s affordable housing law. “Everybody’s in favor of lower taxes but you got to be realistic,” Gertler said. “If it happened, we’d have nothing left.”

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Deborah Carr served as a good example of someone with convictions on both the liberal and conservative sides of this election. She voted for Alice Peisch for state representative, for Sean Bielat for Congress, and yes on Question 3, the polarizing state sales tax question. On Peisch: “My sister [convinced] me. She said, 'She’s hard-working and takes her job seriously,’ so I took that seriously.” On Bielat: “I find over time [Frank] has gotten kind of nasty. It’s kind of turned me against him.” On Question 3: “Yeah, it’s crazy. I voted for it. I did. Just to express my feelings that it’s a tough time right now, everybody’s suffering, I don’t think raising taxes was something that should have been done when it was. Maybe I’m wrong, I don’t mind being a little crazy once in a while.”

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This morning at Bates Elementary School, the voting location for Precinct A, the parking lot was full. Same went for Precinct C—Upham Elementary. As the day moves on, traffic is expected to pile up at the seven polling locations in Wellesley as voter turnout could reach recent highs around the state. Here are a few reactions from this morning's polls.

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