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The South End supported Coakley by Johanna King
contributing writerWednesday Jan 20, 2010 Managing Editor Brandon Simes contributed to this report.
High Boston turnout couldn’t carry the state
The most famous liberal senator of the past century has been replaced with a senator-elect with a very different political agenda-one that will color Massachusetts purple, rather than pure blue, for the first time in more than three decades. Republican State Senator Scott Brown will soon head to Capitol Hill to represent the Bay State alongside Democratic senior Senator John Kerry after winning against Democrat Martha Coakley by five points on Tuesday, Jan. 19.
The majority of South End voters will be disappointed in the outcome of the special election to replace the late Ted Kennedy, as local voters chose Coakley over Brown by a nearly three-to-one margin at 74 percent to 25 percent. Independent candidate Joseph Kennedy received just under one percent of vote. While the South End was in sync with Boston-the city as a whole chose Coakley by a 39-point margin-it was out of step with the rest of the state.
Brown, who made driving his truck around the Commonwealth a recurring theme in the media, said he would represent only the residents of Massachusetts and his conscience in his victory speech Tuesday night: "I go to Washington as the representative of no faction or no special interest, answering only to my conscience and to you the people. I know I have a lot to learn in the Senate, but I know who I am, and I know who I serve. I’m Scott Brown. I’m from Wrentham. And I drive a truck."
Massachusetts Republican Party Chairman Jennifer Nassour called Brown’s victory "a blueprint" for fellow Massachusetts Republicans in a statement released after the results had come in on Tuesday night.
"Tonight’s historic, come-from-behind victory by Senator-elect Brown will serve as a blueprint for our Republican candidates running in Massachusetts in 2010 and beyond," she said. "His relentless focus on fiscal responsibility, lower taxes and a promise to serve as an independent voice for Bay Staters resonated with not only Republicans, but also independents and Democrats who are tired of politics as usual and one-party rule. It is my sincere hope that Senator-elect Brown will be seated immediately so that he can roll up his sleeves for Massachusetts, and work toward continuing Senator Kennedy’s legendary constituent services."
The decision looms as a potential devastating blow to President Barack Obama’s efforts at pushing health-care reform through the Senate, where Democrats had held the necessary 60 votes to prevent opposition stalling tactics from Republicans. President Obama himself stopped by the Commonwealth to campaign on behalf of Coakley as the election neared, hoping to maintain his party’s grip on the direction of national politics to no avail.
Polling stations around the South End were busy throughout Election Day, several poll workers said. Turnout averaged about 42 percent across all districts, despite the dreary mix of rain and snow that fell across the city. Turnout ranged from 28 percent in Ward 4, precinct 8 to 55 percent in Ward 4, precinct 1.
Perhaps surprisingly, most voters interviewed said the tight race did not specifically bring them out to the polls.
"It was very important for me to come out regardless of the closeness of the race," Tiffany Cutting said after placing her vote for Brown. "I think whatever happens it will have a big impact."
Michael Mell, a Coakley supporter, said that the neck-and-neck contest "definitely" influenced him to make time to vote, but that he still would have come out for his candidate had the race not tightened.
"I would have come out anyway," Mell said. "But I think it would be a terrible shame if she [Coakley] wasn’t elected."
Another woman, who wished to speak anonymously, cited her civic responsibility as the reason she took the time to cast a ballot.
"I vote all the time, it’s our duty as Americans," she said. "This is an important race."
How the South End voted:
Ward 3, Precinct 7 (47% turnout; 1771 votes cast):
Brown: 24%
Coakley: 75%
Kennedy: 0.7%
Ward 4, Precinct 1 (55% turnout; 1083 votes cast):
Brown: 25%
Coakley: 75%
Kennedy: 0.5%
Ward 4, Precinct 2 (46% turnout; 1230 votes cast):
Brown: 33%
Coakley: 66%
Kennedy: 0.4%
Ward 4, Precinct 3 (49% turnout; 650 votes cast):
Brown: 21%
Coakley: 79%
Kennedy: 0.3%
Ward 4, Precinct 4 (50% turnout; 984 votes cast):
Brown: 22%
Coakley: 76%
Kennedy: 1.1%
Ward 4, Precinct 5 (40% turnout; 618 votes cast):
Brown: 34%
Coakley: 66%
Kennedy: .05%
Ward 4, Precinct 8 (28% turnout; 431 votes cast):
Brown: 27%
Coakley: 71%
Kennedy: 1.4%
Ward 5, Precinct 1 (41% turnout; 1642 votes cast):
Brown: 30%
Coakley: 69%
Kennedy: 0.9%
Ward 8, Precinct 1 (33% turnout; 306 votes cast):
Brown: 12%
Coakley: 88%
Kennedy: 0.0%
Ward 8, Precinct 2 (39% turnout; 814 votes cast):
Brown: 21%
Coakley: 77%
Kennedy: 1.2%
Ward 9, Precinct 1 (32% turnout; 608 votes cast):
Brown: 14%
Coakley: 85%
Kennedy: 0.5%
Ward 9, Precinct 2 (44% turnout; 865 votes cast):
Brown: 20%
Coakley: 79%
Kennedy: 0.6%
South End totals:
11,002 votes cast
Brown: 25% (2,742 votes)
Coakley: 74% (8,171 votes)
Kennedy: 0.7% (78 votes)
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