I had hoped to write a more thorough analysis of the election, but instead, I want to draw attention to two of the lesser known items on the ballot. (Download a complete sample ballot for Westwood).

Westwood resident Michael Walsh is running as an independent against two incumbents and a 4th challenger for two Norfolk County Commissioner positions. There is also a non-binding question 4 asking whether to abolish the county government. For more information about this race, read the Daily News Transcript article covering the debate between the two challengers, this editorial, and a story about how confident the incumbents feel about being re-elected. The Patriot Ledger has a full profile of all 4 candidates. County government is almost invisible to most of us, but these positions are responsible for "...regional services including land records, vocational education, corrections, Trial Court facilities maintenance, engineering, recreation, regional municipal services, volunteer programs, and additional statutory responsibilities." The county website describes these important services in more detail.

The last position on the ballot is the Blue Hills Regional Technical School Committee. This board is comprised of members elected from each member town in the district...but all voters in the district can vote for all candidates. Westwood has no candidate running, but apparantly there are two write-in campaigns ongoing in town to fill this position. If you know who is running...feel free to comment here! In Braintree, the position is contested and a debate between the two candidates may provide some insight.