Somerville, Medford to vote today

Voters both on and off campus will head to the polls today to cast ballots in several unpredictable local elections.

Drawing most of the attention for the last two months has been the Somerville mayoral election, where Alderman-at-large Joe Curtatone is running against political newcomer Tony LaFuente. The candidates have spent nearly a quarter of a million dollars combined and have blanketed the city with ads for weeks.

Both candidates have spent the last week trying to reach as many voters in the town as possible. Curtatone has spent hours knocking on doors, and LaFuente has driven through the city with a band on a "Trolley Tour." Local officials have declared the race to be a dead heat, and supporters have been out in force trying to persuade voters.

In an informal survey conducted yesterday of likely voters, many had not definitely decided who to vote for. A Birmingham Street resident who did not wish to be identified said she was leaning toward LaFuente.

"Curtatone was in with Dorothy Kelly Gay. I think he may have many of her ideas," she said. "Taxes, sewer bills went up, and if he supported her, he might do it again." However, she said she had not yet made up her mind and was reading literature handed out by both campaigns.

Junior Carly Baruh, who is registered to vote in Somerville, said that other than pamphlets, neither of the mayoral candidates tried to engage Tufts student voters. "I'm not aware of any effort they made to inform Tufts students particularly about their campaigns," she said. "[They] treated us more as a body of people who probably wouldn't vote in the election anyway."

In other elections, Ward 7 Alderman Candidate Marty Martinez (LA '01) was confident about his chances in the election. "The last couple weeks we've had so many more people turn out and make phone calls," he said. "The support and is really there and I'm pretty positive there is going to be a new alderman tomorrow."

The Tufts alumnus is running against current Alderman Robert Trane in a close race. The Somerville Journal has endorsed Martinez.

The flurry of activity in Somerville contrasts with Medford, where Mayor Michael McGlynn seems poised to win a ninth term. His opponent, Patrick Fiorello, has already lost three times, and has not gained any major endorsements.

Both mayors will soon resume negotiations with Tufts for Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) in exchange for municipal services. The University suspended negotiations until the new Sophia Gordon Residence Hall is approved by the Somerville Historical Commission.

Curtatone has supported the PILOT as a new stream of revenue, while McGlynn and LaFuente said they would accept other forms of contributions. Linkage payments, donations to the schools, and developing business have been suggested as possible ways to reimburse the communities for services.

The Daily distributed a survey, along with the Tufts Democrats and Tufts Republicans, to Alderman and City Council candidates to comment about issues relating to the University. Only two Medford and one Somerville candidate responded, but their opinions on PILOTS varied widely.

Medford City Council Vice President James DiGiacomo said he is not in favor of PILOTS. "I feel that students pay enough for tuition and fees and other expenses and I would not want to add another burden on them," he said. "If there is a plan to pay the city I think that the students would be the ones to take the hit."

Stephanie Burke, who is also on the Medford City Council, disagreed. "I believe that there is so much more than dollars that the Tufts community can and has offered to the citizens of Medford," she said. "There is a wealth of knowledge up on the Hill and I believe that the City and Tufts should work cooperatively to assist each other whenever possible."

To be eligible to vote, students need to reside in the community and have registered last month to qualify for this election. Polling locations can be found at www.medford.org for Medford and www.ci.somerville.ma.us for Somerville. Polls close at 8 p.m.