Newton Election: How Voting Went

NEWTON, MA ― By now most people know that Ruthanne Fuller and Scott Lennon are the two candidates who will go on to compete for a chance at becoming the next mayor of Newton out of the seven that were in the running since August. But something not to be missed is the turnout for the preliminary election in the city Tuesday was larger than expected.

Newton is a city with a population of about 89,000 people, of those, only about 56,000 people are registered to vote. When it comes to local elections the number of voters who show up range from 10 percent to 20 percent, according to David Olson the city's clerk.

But on Tuesday, Sept. 12, some 14,280 people showed up, a solid 25.5 percent of the voters. (See the rest of the results here)

It didn't quite beat the 2009 preliminary election, which saw more than 15,000 people vote that September. (Though the comparison isn't quite the same, as there were other folks on the preliminary ballot and the outgoing mayor wasn't very popular).

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How the morning looked at the polls:

By 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12, voting day was well underway. After three hours of welcoming voters and pointing them toward the voting booths, the election volunteer team reported a steady stream at Ward 7.

"It's been steady," said Susan Kaplan the warden for Ward 7. "It's no presidential election, but it's not bad," she told Patch.

Ward 7 is home to one of the seven people vying to be on the November ballot. Ruthanne Fuller stopped by earlier in the morning according to poll workers. And then she was off to go get the vote out, they said.

Left in her wake was a woman holding a Ruthanne Fuller for mayor sign just outside the imaginary boundary line campaigners aren't permitted within.

Meanwhile at the Oak Middle School, the polls were a bit more quiet. A lone "Lennon For Mayor" sign sat propped up near a fence. But few were coming and going. By 10:30 only 61 people had come by to vote.

Just after lunch things picked up

A few hours later by 1:23 p.m. in Newton Highlands 260 people had voted at Ward 6's Precinct 3 location, and 175 people had voted at the Ward 5 Precinct 2 - which shares the same spot at the Hyde Community Center.

Isabelle Albeck stood out front holding a sign for Amy Sangiolo.

"She's the only one who voted against the Charter Commission reform," she said. "Amy is honest, and she says what she believes," said Albeck also noting she liked the way Sangiolo respected neighborhoods.

A little jot down the road at the Waban Library, by 1:36 p.m. 276 people had voted in Ward 5, Precinct 3 and 263 people had cast a ballot in Ward 5, Precinct 4. And wardens there noted it had been steady all morning.

Outside and across the street on the corner, Newton residents Neal Kenslea and Marion Kaufmann stood holding signs for different candidates and chatting about kids.

"We're neighbors," said Kenslea. But each was rooting for a different candidate.

Kensla supports Scott Lennon, who is the president of the City Council.

"I believe in his commitment and his readiness to lead on day one," said Kensla.

Kaufmann said she preferred Fuller.

"She's smart, she's well organized and she's fiscally responsible," she told Patch, adding that Fuller's strategic planning background spoke to her. "She has the unique ability to look at the whole picture, and yet be able to focus on specific issues," said Kaufmann.

A little bit away Rena Getz stood holding a sign for Amy Sangiolo and one sign regarding the charter vote, one that was key, she said,for the city to be aware of. As for Sangiolo, she said: "Amy has the courage to think about solutions in a creative way," she said.

Also: If you haven't read this about today's elections, read up on Today's Elections in Newton.

Check out the race results HERE.

Photos by Jenna Fisher/ Patch