Candidates joust for House seat
Primary Tuesday for 11th Norfolk spot
With a sparse turnout expected and few differences on issues, candidates in the 11th Norfolk state representative primary Tuesday are focused on getting their committed supporters to the polls.
"We're doing everything we can to get our vote out," said Republican hopeful William McKinney of Dedham. Added his GOP rival, Douglas Obey of Westwood, "I just hope people remember to vote."
The primary election for the seat vacated by Representative Robert Coughlin, who took a job in Governor Deval Patrick's administration, occurs in the middle of school-vacation week and the day after Patriots Day.
Last week, Dedham Town Clerk Paul Munchbach said that, based on requests for absentee ballots, he believes turnout in Dedham will be between 18 and 20 percent. Dedham is the largest community in the district, which also includes all of Westwood and one precinct in Walpole.
Four Dedham Democrats -- Stephen Bilafer, Thomas Boncek, Joanne Flatley, and Cheryl Schoenfeld -- are vying for their party's nomination, while McKinney and Obey are the two Republican contenders. The winners on Tuesday will face off in the May 15 final contest, which also will feature independent candidate Paul McMurtry of Dedham.
On issues, the candidates are not far apart, at least within their parties. All of the Democrats say they support abortion rights and oppose putting on the ballot a referendum that would ban gay marriage. The two Republicans describe themselves as opposed to abortion, and say they favor allowing the electorate to vote on the gay marriage question. All of the candidates have stressed support for education and their commitment to fighting for local aid for the district.
Absent from the candidate roster are any selectmen, who tend to be the most likely candidates whenever a State House seat becomes vacant. While the six candidates on the ballot are veteran community and political activists, none was well-known in the district before this campaign started.
Flatley, a first-term Dedham School Committee member, is the only contender who currently holds a townwide municipal elective office.
Candidates interviewed last week said they are trying to make themselves known to voters by knocking on doors, conducting sign-holding events, and using direct mail, lawn signs, and newspaper advertising.
"We're still going out door-knocking, meeting people," said Schoenfeld, a Town Meeting representative. "We've had wine-and-cheese parties, coffees."
Said Bilafer, "I've been sticking with my strategy of spending as much time as I can knocking on doors and talking to people."
Candidates have been stressing their qualifications for the job and their stances on key issues.
McKinney, a former head of the Metropolitan District Commission, and Bilafer, who was chief of staff to former Attorney General Thomas Reilly, argue that their experience in state government makes them well-prepared to join the Legislature.
Flatley has emphasized her commitment to education, while Obey said promoting business by lowering taxes and reducing regulation is a top priority. Boncek, a home improvement contractor, said he would work to reduce property taxes in the district.
Boncek and Schoenfeld are Town Meeting representatives, and Flatley is a former Dedham Town Meeting representative. Bilafer is a former Town Meeting representative in Arlington. Obey is chairman of the Westwood Republican Town Committee, while McKinney is a Republican State Committee member and appointed member of the Dedham Finance Committee.
The primary voting is to occur one week before Westwood's town election, which includes a vote on a controversial Proposition 2 1/2 tax hike. Town elections in Dedham and Walpole were held last month.
Munchbach said the succession of elections this spring has tended to confuse voters and make them weary of campaigning. "I think a lot of people," he said, "are probably tired after the town election."
Robert Preer can be reached at preer@globe.com. 