Political storms: Katrina helps tilt Miss. racehttp://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2007-11-05-Elex_N.htmVoters in off-year elections Tuesday decide whether to keep Republican governors in Mississippi
and Kentucky, elect four big-city mayors and consider ballot issues including a Utah proposal to
pay state tuition aid for students in private schools.
In Mississippi, Gov. Haley Barbour was benefiting from relative success in managing the post-
Hurricane Katrina rebuilding of the state's devastated Gulf Coast. He was considered a heavy
favorite for re-election over Democrat John Eaves.
The 2005 storm and flooding left Barbour, a former Republican National Committee chairman, on far
firmer political ground than it did his neighbor in Louisiana, where Republican Bobby Jindal last
month won the governorship. Democrat Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, whose popularity suffered in
Katrina's aftermath, did not seek re-election.
In Kentucky, first-term Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher, a physician and former congressman, was
in an uphill battle for political survival.
Fletcher trailed by 15 to 23 percentage points in polls against Democrat Steve Beshear, a former
lieutenant governor who was benefiting from the political and legal tumult that has surrounded
Fletcher's term in office.
One of the most closely watched ballot initiatives was over school vouchers in Utah....
In Oregon, voters were considering a proposal to raise the tax on cigarettes to $2.02 a pack,
an increase of 84 cents. The money would go to expanded health insurance for children.
San Francisco, Houston, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia all faced mayoral elections.
In Philadelphia, former Democratic councilman Michael Nutter was expected to become the city's next mayor.
Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl was facing opposition from Republican Mark DeSantis.
Houston Mayor Bill White had only token opposition to his re-election in the nation's fourth-largest city.
And San Francisco's Gavin Newsom was widely expected to win a second term despite admitting to a
drinking problem and an affair with an aide's wife earlier this year.
more....
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Elections in 5 Central Mass. cities
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Vote todayhttp://www.telegram.com/article/20071106/NEWS/711060354/1020Today, voters in five Central Massachusetts cities have the opportunity to affect the future
of their communities directly. Fitchburg, Gardner, Leominster, Marlboro and Worcester all have
municipal elections today.The decision of Fitchburg Mayor Dan H. Mylott not to seek re-election set the stage for an
intriguing contest between veteran Councilor E. Thomas Donnelly and Lisa A. Wong, former redevelopment authority head.
In Gardner, Mark Hawke, city grants administrator, is challenging Mayor Gerald E. St. Hillaire.
Leominster Mayor Dean J. Mazzarella is unopposed, so interest is focused on the city council
and the school committee races.
In Marlboro Mayor Nancy E. Stevens is being challenged by police officer Patrick Hogan.
Worcester voters will have a range of council and school board choices, and will decide the
outcome of a four-way mayoral race in which incumbent Konstantina B. Lukes is being challenged
by Gary Rosen, Frederick C. Rushton and William S. Coleman III.
While about 80 percent of eligible residents are registered to vote, a majority don’t make the
effort to go to the polls. A record low 14.87 percent turned out for the September preliminary.
This is the first time in many election cycles that Worcester voters will have choices across
the board when they go to the polls. One can only hope that the wealth of candidates (and a
non-binding referendum on casino gambling) will boost the turnout.
Voting is not only a right, but a duty as well.
So, get out there and make your choices.
If not, do not complain about the results. 
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