tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34813364.post6055175944404843754..comments2023-04-29T10:46:15.521-04:00Comments on Western Mass Politics and Insight: Longmeadow Landmark Leaving...Matt S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09757055831124959814noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34813364.post-9915414501399539552008-02-28T00:50:00.000-05:002008-02-28T00:50:00.000-05:00Your comments on the composition of the 2nd Hampde...Your comments on the composition of the 2nd Hampden are greatly appreciated and insightful. However, it is important to note that splitting tickets are a common practice in both Presidential/Gubernatorial and legislative races.<BR/><BR/>I did overlook the transformations of Monson, and although it has grown in recent years, it retains a number of the elements it has traditionally had.<BR/><BR/>The precincts in Springfield together would have approx. 5000 people as each of the cities precincts has about 2500. Not any bastion of support for a Springfield candidate.<BR/><BR/>Although Walsh reportedly took on Cong. Neal from the right in the past, I doubt she is conservative enough to appeal to Hampden or Longmeadow. Plus, suburbanites will be very suspicious of people connected to Springfield's machine, that includes both Walsh and Ashe included.Matt S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09757055831124959814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34813364.post-84676578957253160062008-02-26T08:52:00.000-05:002008-02-26T08:52:00.000-05:00Good morning,I found your blog early this morning ...Good morning,<BR/><BR/>I found your blog early this morning as the sun was rising over the beauty of the hills in Monson. The 2nd Hampden District voted overwhelmingly Democrat in the 2006 Gubernatorial race. <BR/><BR/>Monson had the highest % of votes for Tim Murray in the primary in Hampden County. <BR/><BR/>When I moved to Monson from Boston in 1997 the community was rural with active farms. Much has changed and despite the lower EQVs than the other towns in the 2nd Hampden district, Monson is evolving into a solid middle class community. <BR/><BR/>You described the district in terms of Longmeadow and Hampden without providing data of actual populations. <BR/><BR/>The 2 precincts in Springfield are a small component of the district and most people living in the district do not perceive it as an urban seat. The seat has been held by a Longmeadow resident for decades with Mary Rogeness (R) currently and Iris Holland occupying the seat. It would be an uphill climb for any candidate outside of Longmeadow to take the seat. <BR/><BR/>The challenges of the seat are to be able to understand and advocate for the diverse socio-economics and cultures of the towns (not the diversity of the people per se). <BR/>Hampden Pop ~5,000<BR/>E. Long pop. ~15K / 2 = 7,500<BR/>Monson pop. ~8,400<BR/>Longmeadow pop. ~15,500<BR/>Springfield 2 precincts (don't have it)<BR/>http://www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/approvals/munipop.doc<BR/><BR/>So, here's the thing. Monson will vote for the candidate who is <B>Authentically Opposed to Casinos</B> regardless of party. <BR/><BR/>http://cfotruthtopower.blogspot.com/ <BR/><BR/>When people don't want their town destroyed, party (which is already a diluted identifier for voting decisions) becomes secondary to principle.<BR/><BR/>With one conservative Democrat (Walsh) - is that an oxymoron? - and a moderate Democrat (Ashe) from politically connected families (with similar feeder markets for votes) fighting over Longmeadow, the swing vote for the primary is Monson with Hampden holding a minor role as well.<BR/><BR/>Hampden will vote Republican in the general and East Longmeadow will likely go Republican even if Jack Villamaino(R) E. Long. sits this one out in deference to Bill Scibelli (R)Longmeadow, who seems to have been tapped by Mary and Dean Rogeness.<BR/><BR/>Hampden so loathes taxes (despite high median incomes) they allowed their senior center and library to close for a year.<BR/><BR/>Hoping to round up your post with a little more info.<BR/><BR/>Disclosure: I am a a Selectman in Monson and a member of the Democratic State Committee.Kathleen Conley Norbuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00266346391658329664noreply@blogger.com