Voters lured out by fresh faces, questions
Rollins, Pressley, Q3 big draws
The midterm election was a hit with voters who said the ballot questions and newcomers had them heading to the polls.
Kyanna Dixon, 23, of Dorchester said the most important issues to her in this election are housing and education.
The 23-year-old therapeutic mentor said the most exciting candidate on the ballot was Ayanna Pressley, the city councilor who scored a stunning upset of 10-term U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano in September’s Democratic primary.
“It would be nice to have someone who looks like me representing me in the House,” she said.
For governor, however, Dixon voted for Republican incumbent Charlie Baker.
“I didn’t vote Democrat or Republican,” she said. “I voted on who would represent my interests.”
At Curley K-8 School in Jamaica Plain, voters were met by students selling brownies and other baked goods.
Bethany Williams, 42, of Jamaica Plain, said she came out to vote to support transgender rights in Question 3.
“I want everyone to be treated as a human being,” Williams said.
Brian Axelrod, 29 agreed, saying everyone should be treated equally.
“It’s a very hot topic — gender rights and the way people treat each other,” Axelrod said.
Michele McDaniel, 33, an emergency physician, said she hoped voters would vote down Question 1 that would require strict nursing staffing levels.
“I think that ballot measure has the ability to negatively impact small hospitals and raise emergency wait times,” McDaniel said.
JoAnn Smith of Dorchester said Question 3 was a major concern for her.
“I’m not against the transgender community at all,” the 37-year-old kindergarten teacher said, “but I think (a yes vote) would be detrimental to women and young girls.”
Opponents claim that straight men could use a change in the law, known as the “Bathroom Bill,” to enter women’s bathrooms by dressing as women and molest women and girls.
Proponents say the law has been in place for two years with no increase in public safety incidents.
Aaron Sklar, 40, of Roslindale said there was no single issue that brought him out, but he did want to send a message to the White House.
“I think we’re in trouble as a country, and we need checks and balances on this president,” he said. “We have this nationalist movement now in this country, and he’s leading the charge. He’s put an end to civility.”
To Stephanie Poon of Roslindale, the election ultimately is a referendum on President Trump.
“People are taking their frustration or delight with the current system and voting on that emotion,” the 51year-old teacher said.
Poon said the candidate she was most excited by was Rachel Rollins in the race for Suffolk County district attorney.
“She’s a newcomer who could bring this fresh voice,” one that has advocated for not prosecuting certain low-level offenses, she said.
“We have a criminal justice system that has such harsh penalties for so many crimes that it creates a huge amount of disruption and harm to children and families that just perpetuates the prison pipeline.”