Ballot Cheat Sheet: Precincts 14-16

GOVERNOR'S COUNCILOR

Marilyn M. Petitto Devaney

• The Candidate: Hailing from Watertown, Devaney has represented the Governor's Council 3rd district since 1998. A sometimes controversial figure, Devaney has been an outspoken member of the council, using her position to advocate for judicial reform and campaign finance reform.
• Issues: Devaney wants to continue to reform the way the Judicial branch confirms judges to make the process more transparent. "I really feel I have made a difference," Devaney said, citing her efforts to file legislation that would force judicial nominees to disclose what political donations they have made since their nomination. Devaney has also filed legislation that would force judges to recuse themselves from overseeing trials involving those that may have spoken against their confirmation. Her work on reforming the makeup of the parole board is also an achievement she is proud of. "I do my job and I do my due diligence and it's not always easy," said Devaney, who has met with controversy due to her outspoken positions on reform.
• On Her Opponent: "This isn't something for someone to come in and think this is a lark," she said when asked about her opponent. "People's lives are at stake," she said. I want to continue with it. I want to continue to make it more open, and it's not that easy."
• Message to Voters: "I can't thank [the people of Brookline enough] for opening their hearts to me because I've met so many people from Brookline that are my friends," Devaney said, adding that Brookline's Town Meeting is the best in the Commonwealth. "I'm working for them and I hope they keep that confidence in me," she said.

Corey A. Belanger

• The Candidate: A tavern owner from Lowell, Belanger is touting his small business credentials as an alternative to Devaney. Belanger could not be reached for comment.

STATE SENATE

Cynthia Creem

• The Candidate: Born and raised in Brookline, Creem attended Brookline High School and Boston University. After serving in a number of local positions, she was elected to the Governor's Council in 1994 and the Senate in 1998. She lives in Newton with her husband.
• Issues: Among the priorities Creem lists on her website are maintaining the current level of local aid to communities, education funding and reform, and affordable housing voucher programs. Creem voted in favor of the recent education reform bill that expanded the state's limit on charter schools and granted increased authority to school officials to remove school staff. She supports stem cell research and as chair of the Revenue Committee, lead efforts to brings various business interests to Massachusetts and to close tax loopholes. A supporter of seniors, Creem has worked to increase state aid to programs that help the elderly with housing and health care.
• Message to Voters: "I'm the kind of leader that will bring people together and find consensus, not to get a quick fix because somebody thinks it's a good idea," Creem said at a candidate's night held at Brookline Town Hall.

Charles Rudnick

• The Candidate: Newton native Rudnick attended public schools before graduating from Harvard College and Georgetown Law School. A former aide in both the Massachusetts and US Senate, Rudnick most recently served as director of communications for Boston Scientific. He lives in Newton with his wife and two children.
• Issues: Campaign finance reform is the lead plank in Rudnick's platform. "First and foremost, if elected I have pledged to reform," political donations from lobbyists and political action committees, Rudnick said. Lowering the cost of health care for small businesses and municipalities is also a priority for Rudnick, who said he has seen firsthand the miricle of our health care system when his three-month-old daughter needed surgery. He also supports what he calls "smart proposals for economic growth," by focusing on job growth in the environmental sector, partnerships with foreign companies and by fostering collaborative relationships.
• "Looking at these types of creative ideas and looking outside the box can really help our economy," Rudnick said. On education, Rudnick supports expanding charter schools in under-performing districts and believes that the MCAS test should be reformed and not used as a high-stakes graduation requirement.
• On His Opponent: Rudnick said that although Sen. Creem has provided a progressive vote over her twelve year career, he thinks that the district deserves a "full-time senator" that will not accept contributions from lobbyists and PACs.
• Message to Voters: Rudnick hopes that voters will support his candidacy and his goal of providing "more engaged, full time and independent leadership that will get results."

STATE REPRESENTATIVE – 10th SUFFOLK

Matthew J. Benedetti

• The Candidate: Raised in Roslindale, Benedetti moved to West Roxbury in 2003. After attending Catholic Memorial High School, he earned a bachelor's degree at UMass Amherst. He has been a member of the National Guard since 2002.
• Issues: According to his website, Benedetti supports increased state resources for public safety, enhanced state banking regulations and economic development.

Edward F. Coppinger

• The Candidate:  A professional mortgage loan officer, Coppinger has stressed his financial savvy and professional background on the campaign trail. He holds a Bachelor's degree in accounting from Bryant University and attended Catholic Memorial High School. Coppinger lives in West Roxbury with his wife and four daughters.
• Issues: According to his website, Coppinger supports small business growth and job training programs, including investment in green technologies and infrastructure projects. Neighborhood and local business districts are also a priority for the candidate. Coppinger believes that the state needs more fiscal responsibility and would consolidate departments for greater efficiency.

Robert W. Joyce

• The Candidate: A private attorney in the area for over three decades, Joyce attended Catholic Memorial High School and St. Michael's College before earning a Master's degree in social work and a law degree from Florida State University.
• Issues: The most conservative candidate running for the seat, Joyce said that he will bring fiscal responsibility and prudent tax policy to Beacon Hill. "The economy is the issue that is most pressing in the community's mind," he said. Joyce believes that government should not get in the way of private industry and that state spending and debt must be reformed. Immigration reform is another key component of his campaign and he supports a proposal by Rep. Jeffrey Perry that would prevent illegal immigrants from receiving state benefits. Joyce opposes both abortion and the death penalty.

Pamela Julian

• The Candidate: The only candidate who currently lives in Brookline, Julian has been an active advocate for many issues surrounding education. Julian has been a small business owner and political commentator. She attended Massachusetts Bay Community College and graduated from Sarah Lawrence College. She has two children.
• Issues: According to her website, Julian supports efforts to improve educational results by improving students' at-home environments and increasing civics instruction. She supports gay marriage rights, environmental protection, affordable housing and the growth of green jobs.

Paul P. Sullivan

• The Candidate: Sullivan attended Providence College and earned a law degree from New England School of Law. He served as an assistant district attorney in Norfolk County.
• Issues: According to his website, Sullivan supports green jobs and would prioritize development projects that put people to work. He favors a return to neighborhood policing to prevent crime. On education, Sullivan endorses ending cross-town busing of students in Boston and the creation of more charter schools.

Kelly Tynan

• The Candidate: Tynan attended Boston Latin High School and earned her undergraduate degree in political science from Stonehill College. She holds Master's degrees from both Suffolk University and Simmons college, in public policy and education respectively. She has worked as an aide to former Boston City Councilor John Tobin, a community organizer and most recently as a public school teacher.
• Issues: A teacher by trade, Tynan lists education issues as her number one priority and links the success of public schools to the the health of our future economy. Providing for young people now, she said, will allow them to have jobs down the line. Tynan did not support the education reform package passed by the Legislature earlier this year, saying that it was only an attempt to gain federal aid. "We need real, true reform," she said, adding that she supports extending the school day and reforming how teachers are evaluated. Tynan also supports shifting funding from existing elderly institutions to new programs that would allow seniors to age more easily in their homes.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY

Michael Chinman

• The Candidate: Before deciding to run for Norfolk District Attorney, Chinman served as Assistant District Attorney in Middlesex County for 15 years, serving as an appeals and Superior Court prosecutor. He lives in Milton with his four children.
• Issues: On his website, Chinman wrote that child sex abusers should serve lengthy sentences to prevent further abuse. "We incarcerate too many drug offenders," he wrote, adding that many offenders can be rehabilitated with treatment. Chinman wrote that domestic violence should be "opposed relentlessly" and that the DA's office should work with schools, the probation department and other groups to raise awareness and protect victims.
• On His Opponents: Chinman is banking on his first-hand prosecutorial experience as a Middlesex ADA to give him the edge over his opponents­­—both veteran politicans.
• Message to Voters: "I am a prosecutor, not a politician," Chinman wrote on his website.

Joseph R. Driscoll

• The Candidate: Driscoll has represented the towns of Randolph, Holbrook and Braintree in the Massachusetts House of Representatives since 2003. He attended Boston College and earned his law degree from the New England School of Law. He lives in Braintree with his wife and two sons.
• Issues: Driscoll said the Norfolk County DA faces a variety of challenges, from the expansion of cyber crime to the on-going struggle with school bullying. "Prevention is at the top of the list," Driscoll said, adding that he would emphasis keeping young people away from drugs and alcohol as a way to prevent crime. He'd also use a cyber crimes unit within the DA's office to crack down on Internet scams targeting senior and on bullying that spills from the schoolyard into the home.
• On His Opponents: Driscoll is banking on his experience as a prosecutor in the race. He's served as a prosecutor in three different state offices, where he said he worked with the goal of making each the finest in the state.
• Message to Voters: "Vote for an experienced prosecutor for Norfolk County DA."

Michael W. Morrissey

• The Candidate: Morrissey has served as the State Senator for the Norfolk and Plymouth district since 1992, having previously been first elected to the House in 1977. He holds a law degree from Suffolk Law School and a Master's in public administration from Western New England College. A father of two, Morrissey lives in Quincy with his wife.
• Issues: On his website, Morrissey lists the "vigorous prosecution of sex crimes against children, repeat drunk drivers, drug dealers and drug traffickers, and anyone who preys on our senior citizens," as his chief goals.
• On His Opponent: Morrissey touts his experience as a trial lawyer and founder of a large law firm as his qualifications for the position. In his 34 years in  the Legislature, Morrissey has written and supported numerous laws that aid district attorneys' efforts to fight crime
• Message to Voters: "There are times when life presents us with an opportunity to use our strengths and experience to make a difference – and, for me, this is one of those times," Morrissey wrote on his website.

Also Running – Democrats

• Michael G. Bellotti is running unopposed for Norfolk County sheriff.
• Peter H. Collins is running unopposed for Norfolk County commissioner.

Also Running – Republicans

• William J. Farretta is running unopposed for Norfolk County sheriff.