Woburn Election Guide

As we look ahead to November’s elections, Woburn Patch is devoted to bring you the information you need about every race in town. Here's our start on the candidates and issues we'll be covering as November draws near. Bookmark this page for updates.

5th Massachusetts District: Congressman Ed Markey, who has , is being challenged in 2012 by Republicans Jeff Semon, Frank J. Addivinola, Jr., and . Both attended an event in Watertown in May,  Markey, a Democrat from Malden, is on several energy committee in congress.

15th Middlesex District: Although running unopposed for the seat he has held since 1995, Jay Kaufman says he "will continue to engage the voters of my district and articulate my stance on issues as a progressive Democrat."

30th Middlesex District:  Well-known politician will seek re-election to the seat he has held in the State House of Representatives since 2009. Dwyer was a Ward 4 Alderman in Woburn from 2006 to 2009.

Massachusetts Senate: Republican is facing challenger to keep the seat he won in a special election after Ted Kennedy passed away in 2009.

Massachusetts Ballot Initiatives: Of the 31 initiatives put forth for the fall ballot, only four both have enough signatures and been certified by Attorney General Martha Coakley in order to make it on the ballot by the July 3 deadline. While a public schools initiative may be settled before then, these three ballot questions will likely be brought to the voters:

• A Law for the Humanitarian Medical Use of Marijuana: This intiative seeks to legalize the use and cultivation of marijuana as a medical drug. It calls for no penalities for "qualifying patients, physicians and health care professionals, personal caregivers for patients, or medical marijuana treatment center agents for the medical use of marijuana."
• An Act Relative to Death with Dignity: This initiative would allow physicians to prescribe medication to terminally ill patients that would end their lives. The act would require that patients are mentally capable of making this decision and orally communicating it to a doctor on two occasions 15 days apart. Participation by a doctor or health care facility would be voluntary.
• An Act to Protect Motor Vehicle Owners and Small Businesses in Repairing Motor Vehicles: This initiative would require all car manufacturers to provide – on an equitable fair-market value subscription basis – all diagnostic and repair information for model years beginning in 2015 to owners or an owner’s designated in-state independent repair facility (not affiliated with a manufacturer or its authorized dealers). The law would also make available for purchase information for model years 2002 through 2014.

Woburn Ballot Initiative: Only one November ballot question will center soley on the city of Woburn. According to City Clerk William Campbell, voters will be asked to approve an initiative to . City Solicitor Ellen Callahan Doucette is currently working on the question language, under the terms of the special act, and the Secretary of State will put the matter on the Woburn ballots, said Campbell. 

Presidential race: is campaigning to keep his job as challenger and looks to fire up Republicans and take over the White House.

—Stay with Woburn Patch throughout election season as we continue to cover these political races and ballot initiatives. Bookmark our and check for updates often.