« November 6, 2006 | Today | November 8, 2006 »

November 7, 2006

NBC TV posts a staffer in Rhode Island

The Rhode Island senatorial race between Republican Lincoln Chafee and Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse has attracted national attention, enough so that at least one network has sent a correspondent to the state.

NBC correspondent Rehema Ellis reported from Rhode Island on Monday night's NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, saying the closeness of the contest reflects the problems even moderate Republican incumbents are having this year.

Edwin Hart, news director for ABC affiliate Channel 6, said the network has asked for footage of Whitehouse and Chafee to use as part of its national coverage.

All three TV stations and news/talk radio stations, WHJJ-AM and WPRO-AM, plan extensive local coverage this evening.

Posted by Peter Phipps at 5:40 PM | Comment

Republicans say Democrats distributed illegal fliers

A complaint was filed with the state Board of Elections this afternoon by state GOP chairwoman Patricia Morgan, over “illegal’’ and “misleading’’ flyers Democrats were handing out at polling places.

Under the heading, “Official Election Ballot,’’ the flyers list the names of Democratic candidates only. Morgan sought a cease and desist order.

Elections board officials were unavailable for comment, but shortly after 5:15 p.m., state Democratic party chairman William Lynch said the board met and dismissed the complaint.

After denying that the state Democratic party had paid for the flyers seen in Providence and North Providence, he belittled the complaint as “a ridiculous, frivolous, pathetic, desparate last-minute attempt by the Chafee campaign to do anything that might distract people and suppress voter turnout.’’

“There is no law against it,’’ he said, “just an attempt to get the press and radio talking about something different instead of why we need to change the direction of the U.S. Senate.

-- Katherine Gregg, Journal staff writer

In her letter of complaint to Thomas Iannitti, acting chairman of the state elections board, Morgan wrote: “These campaign flyers illegally mislead voters and violate’’ state and federal law by failing to disclose that they were paid for by the Rhode Island Democratic party.’’

“Additionally,’’ she argued, the mock ballots “are fully marked with the arrow completely filled in for each Democratic party candidate, a criminal violation and a felony.’’

U.S. Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee’s campaign expressed outrage at “at these tactics’’ and also called upon the Democrats “to cease this fraudulent activity. The action is illegal because there is no disclaimer informing recipients who has paid for the flyers. In addition, the campaign is concerned about the fact that the flyers clearly instruct voters how to cast their votes."

Posted by Peter Phipps at 5:31 PM | Comment

Rain on the way; Late voters could get wet

The National Weather Service says there is a 30 percent chance that it will rain before the polls close at 9 p.m.

Later in the night, the chance of rain will increase to 90 percent with a threat of localized flooding around the region.

Up to 3 inches of rain is possible across southern New England, the Weather Service says.

Posted by Peter Phipps at 5:00 PM | Comment

Election: What to do if the voting machine breaks

If a voting machine malfunctions, polling employees are instructed to place the completed ballots into a locked part of the big blue boxes that take the ballots.

Once the machine is up and running again, poll workers stop new voting for the time it takes to feed those waiting ballots through the counter, said Robert Kando, executive director of the state Board of Elections.

.Voters who don’t like the idea of leaving their ballots in that provisional area can either wait until the machines are functioning again or turn their ballots back in and return later to feed them through the counter, Kando said.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 4:15 PM | Comment

Funeral arrangements set for Sgt. Weidemann

The body of Sgt. Michael Weidemann, who was killed in Iraq, will return to Rhode Island Wednesday.

His wake will be Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport.

His funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 324 East Main Rd., Portsmouth. Burial will follow on the church grounds.

Posted by Peter Phipps at 4:14 PM | Comment

Election: There are about 14,000 absentee ballots to count

PROVIDENCE – In the cavernous basement of the state Board of Elections office on Branch Avenue, nine workers early this afternoon were feeding absentee and emergency ballots through the counting machines.

They’re not actually counting the votes yet, though, according to Board of Elections Executive Director Robert Kando. They’re merely processing the ballots so they’re ready to press the buttons that count votes once the polls close at 9 p.m.

Unlike the way voters must feed their ballots one page at a time through the machines at the polling locations, the Board of Elections employees can feed piles of absentee ballots through high-speed counters.

Early this afternoon, there were probably 14,000 absentee ballots in the building, Kando said. Between 16,000 and 17,000 people have requested absentee ballots this year, he said.

The approximately 14,000 returned absentee ballots are “at the high end of normal,” Kando said.

As the Board of Elections releases vote totals tonight, absentee votes will be included -- and stated as a separate category for each precinct.

-- Journal staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 4:00 PM | Comment

Election: One frustrated voter says he got the runaround

Providence resident Jeff Kozzi, of 687 Charles St., is frustrated.

He says his polling place was changed and he wasn't told.

Kozzi went to vote this morning at the same place where he says he has been voting for about 10 years – the DaVinci Center in Ward 4, at 470 Charles St. But today, poll workers told him he’s not registered to vote there, he said.

“And I received no notification, which is the big thing,” he said.

Poll workers at DaVinci sent him over to Windmill Street School, at 110 Paul St., but he stopped at the state Board of Elections office on Branch Avenue first to voice his frustration.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 3:55 PM | Comment

Journal to appeal decision on jury questionnaires

The Providence Journal is appealing a Superior Court judge's decision to block the public from seeing questionnaires that prospective jurors filled out in The Station nightclub fire case, Journal lawyer Kristin E. Rodgers said today.

The questionnaires were part of the process in selecting a jury to hear involuntary manslaughter charges against nightclub co-owner Michael A. Derderian. The case halted before a jury was picked when Derderian and his brother, Jeffrey A. Derderian, the nightclub's other owner, agreed to plead no contest to the charges against them.

On Oct. 12, Judge Francis J. Darigan Jr. granted The Journal's request to make blank questionnaires public, but denied the newspaper's request for the answers given by 421 prospective jurors. Darigan said that making the answers public would make it difficult to seat juries in future cases.

The Journal filed its notice of appeal in Kent County Superior Court. The appeal will be docketed by the Rhode Island Supreme Court, which will announce a schedule for hearing the matter.

-- Journal staff writer Paul Parker

Posted by Kate Bramson at 3:13 PM | Comment

Election: Traffic heavy, some problems at Providence polls / Photo

Journal photo / Bill Murphy
First-time voter Liliana Tavarez of Providence heads for the voting booth today at the Roger Williams Park Casino in the city's 8th Ward.

PROVIDENCE -- The city of Providence has had "quite a few" problems with voting machines today, but the problems are being addressed quickly, according to the executive secretary for the city's Board of Canvassers.

Voters in Providence are filling out three ballots each, and the machines can jam if voters feed those ballots into the machines too quickly, according to Laurence K. Flynn, executive secretary.

But, he said, the state Board of Elections, which maintains the machines, has been "readily available" to fix any jammed machines.

"We've had little problems here and there," Flynn said. "We put those fires out, I hope."

Some Providence voters this morning said it took about 10 minutes to fill out the ballots, which include 15 referendum questions, as well as City Council races and state issues.

Turnout has been heavy in parts of the city, according to Flynn.

"We've appealed to voters to be patient -- it's going to take a little more time to vote -- and to try to be prepared when they get here."

Need to review your ballot before you head to the polls? The Secretary of State's Web site lets you search for your polling place, and the ballot you will see when you get there, via its online Voter Information Center.

Posted by Jack Perry at 2:11 PM | Comment

One final day for Chafee and Whitehouse

U.S. Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee and challenger Sheldon Whitehouse were just getting started when they cast their ballots this morning.

Both candidates later greeted voters in Cranston. Whitehouse stopped by Hall Manor in Cranston, where he talked to several voters.

Chafee, a former mayor in Warwick, stopped by the Potowomut School in Warwick, where voters were casting ballots.

During a stop at his headquarters on Post Road, Warwick, Chafee greeted campaign workers. Among the volunteers was Patrick Nee, a financial adviser and son of George Nee, secretary treasurer of the AFL-CIO, which endorsed Whitehouse.

This afternoon, Whitehouse, his wife, Sandra; Sen. Jack Reed and Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline stopped at Angelo's on Providence's Federal Hill for some food and last-minute politicking.

-- With reports from Journal political columnist M. Charles Bakst, staff writer Mark Arsenault and photographer Andrew Dickerman

Posted by Jack Perry at 1:58 PM | Comment

Woonsocket man charged in fatal N. Smithfield accident

NORTH SMITHFIELD -- A Woonsocket man has been charged with driving to endanger and leaving the scene of an accident that killed a Warwick man early today.

Norman Soullier, 29, was arrested after he went to police headquarters at 4:30 a.m., more than three hours after the 1:14 a.m. accident on Victory Highway at Northgate Road, according to the North Smithfield Police Department.

Soullier was charged with driving to endanger, death resulting; and leaving the scene of an accident, death resulting. He was arraigned, and bail was set at $100,000 with surety, according to the police.

Killed in the accident was James Dube, 21, whose listed address is Warwick, but who was living in North Smithfield and had attended public schools in North Smithfield, according to the police.

When the police arrived at the accident scene, Dube was trapped in his car. He had to be extricated and was taken to Landmark Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The police say they found the pickup truck Soullier had been driving, abandoned, about 1,000 feet away from Dube's Honda Accord on Victory Highway.

The police determined that Dube had been driving south on Victory Highway when Soullier's truck, driving north, struck Dube's car.

After finding the truck, the police had searched the immediate area for its driver and also went to "a couple locations" where they believed the driver might have gone, according to North Smithfield Police Capt. Denis Smith. Soullier turned himself in shortly after the police talked to somebody at one of those locations.

Posted by Jack Perry at 12:06 PM | Comment

Election: Busy polls in North Kingstown

NORTH KINGSTOWN - Hundreds of voters were turning out this morning in North Kingstown, causing long lines and full parking lots.

In District 9, where voters cast ballots at Quidnessett Elementary School, more than 300 people had voted by 11 a.m. Active polls there meant added traffic for the school's book fair, too.

Busy polls were also visible at Davisville Elementary School this morning. Election officials said they haven't seen this much early morning activity in years.

Posted by Pam Cotter at 11:36 AM | Comment

Election: Voting machine problem in West Warwick

WEST WARWICK – Mechanical problems with some of the voting machines in West Warwick today have caused some delays.

The Msgr. DeAngelis Manor II polling place, at 845 Wakefield St., opened sometime after its scheduled 7 a.m. opening time because a voting machine wasn’t operating properly, town clerk David Clayton said today.

The problem there, and at two other polling places, has been corrected, Clayton said. Those other locations were the Elk’s Home, at 60 Clyde St., and Evelyn’s Villa, at 272 Cowesett Ave., Clayton said.

The one technician who handles West Warwick and part of Warwick has been “very busy” today, Clayton said. The state Board of Elections oversees the technicians who work on such problems, according to the town clerk.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:20 AM | Comment

Election: 'Excellent' turnout in Richmond

RICHMOND -- At the small District 2 poll at the Alton Fire Station, the line of voters stretched from the door to the table shortly after 9 this morning, and moderator Dennis McGinity said it's been that way since the poll opened.

While the line actually totaled between 15 and 20 voters at a time, McGinity said he had to take steps to manage the flow of voters picking up their ballots so the line would not end up stretching out the door.

McGinity described the turnout as "excellent."

It's "way ahead" of the turnout for the primary, he said.

By 9:25 a.m., 190 voters had cast ballots.

The parking lot was full to overflowing at about 9:30 a.m., and the same was true of the parking lots at the two other polling places in town.

--- Andrea Panciera

Posted by Jack Perry at 9:56 AM | Comment

Election: Photos / Whitehouse, Chafee voting

Journal photos Bill Murphy (left) and Andrew Dickerman (right)

Senate candidate Sheldon Whitehouse, left, casts his vote this morning at Temple Beth-El in Providence, while incumbent Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee, right, studies the ballot before voting at the Metcalf Elementary School in Exeter. Both candidates had busy days of campaigning planned after casting their ballots.

Posted by Jack Perry at 9:47 AM | Comment

Election: Whitehouse casts vote

U.S. Senate candidate Sheldon Whitehouse cast his vote at Temple Beth-
El on the East Side of Providence at about 7:30 this morning, according to Whitehouse volunteer Jeffrey Padwa.

A steady stream of voters was heading to the polling place at 70 Orchard Avenue to cast ballots this morning. In some cases, it was taking about 10 minutes to fill out the ballots, but there were no lines as of about 8 a.m.

Voters, in interviews, noted the importance of the Senate race and the casino ballot questions.

-- Journal staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Jack Perry at 8:48 AM | Comment

Election: Mass. voters face historic choice

BOSTON -- Massachusetts voters had a historic choice before them today as they voted in an election that was bound to result in either the first black, female or independent governor in the state's 218-year history.

Democrat Deval Patrick, the favorite heading into Election Day, closed out his 19-month campaign as he started it, with a preacher's call for faith in his pledge to create a community in which the rich and poor feel a stake in each other's lives.

Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, scrapping to extend a 16-year Republican grip on the Corner Office, conceded she was behind, but argued she had the best plan for lowering the high cost of living in Massachusetts.

The other two candidates for governor, independent Christy Mihos and Grace Ross of the Green-Rainbow Party, reveled in perhaps their final chance in the spotlight, with Mihos - a Cape Cod convenience store owner - signing autographs, and Ross - a social activist from Worcester - making a final pitch for her social agenda.

-- The Associated Press

Patrick told a crowd of several thousand last night at a rally in West Roxbury, "We have run a campaign that isn't about building me up by tearing anybody else down. I'm not trying to frighten anyone into voting for me. We are offering a positive vision for a common future."

Before a decidely Democrat-leaning crowd at the Harry Truman Society Rally, Healey said, "If we can make it so that every small business could add just one job, then we could have full employment here in Massachusetts."

Mihos, a former Republican, addressing the rally, said, "I've never won a poll but I've never lost an election."

Ross told the crowd, "I will promise you to tell you the truth. ...And I will always remember the roofs over our head, the paycheck in our hands and all our children."

In Northampton yesterday morning, voter Bob Riddle said he appreciated that this election would bring either the first elected female governor if Healey were elected or the first black governor in Patrick.

"A gay, black woman would be a great candidate for governor," said Riddle, 62, a museum worker.

Patrick, vying to be only the second black governor in the country, planned to vote in his hometown of Milton before heading into Boston for an election-night rally.

Democrats hoped they would celebrate not only his victory, but also a party clean sweep of the Senate seat held by Edward M. Kennedy, all 10 House seats, as well as each of the six constitutional officers, from governor and attorney general through state auditor.

Healey, who along with Ross was campaigning to be the first female governor, was scheduled to vote in Beverly before visiting several polling places and then camping out at the Sheraton Boston Hotel to await the results.

A final WHDH-TV/Suffolk University poll showed Patrick leading Healey 53 percent to 31 percent among 400 likely voters. Mihos was third at 6 percent and Ross trailed the pack at 2 percent. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.

Healey, 46, was a two-time loser for state representative in Beverly before Mitt Romney, then a Republican candidate for governor, tapped her to be his running mate in 2002. Romney decided last year against seeking a second term as governor and has been laying the groundwork for a possible presidential run in 2008.

As Romney has sought support from conservatives who would be critical in a primary campaign, he and Healey have split over abortion rights, emergency contraception, stem-cell research and civil unions for gay couples.

Nonetheless, Healey denied trying to minimize her ties to the governor over the course of her campaign. Instead, she focused on Patrick and accused him of being soft on crime, supportive of tax increases and unwilling to stand up to his fellow Democrats if they extended their grasp over the Legislature to the Gov.'s Office for the first time since Michael S. Dukakis left the Statehouse in 1991.

A multimillionaire, Healey spent $9.4 million of her own money on her campaign, primarily for hard-hitting campaign commercials, including one telling Patrick he should be "ashamed" for seeking parole for, and complimenting the writing of, a convicted rapist who argued he was wrongly convicted. A subsequent DNA test confirmed the man's guilt.

Patrick, 50, made his first run for political office after a career working for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, two law firms, the Justice Department under President Clinton, as well as two stints in the corporate world as counsel to both Texaco Inc. and The Coca-Cola Co.

The Democrat waged an unorthodox campaign, eschewing large-money supporters in favor of meeting with community leaders and establishing a broad-based grass roots organization.

Patrick not only won his party's endorsement in June, but in September, he beat Attorney General Tom Reilly - a Democratic veteran - and Boston businessman Chris Gabrieli - a venture capitalist who pumped $9.725 million into his campaign.

Posted by Jack Perry at 8:35 AM | Comment

Traffic: Accident on 195 West

There’s at least one accident out there as you navigate your morning commute today. Around 7:15 a.m., an accident was affecting the right shoulder of Route 195 West in East Providence, near Exit 6.

For other traffic needs, check out the state roadways, via the Department of Transportation's online traffic offerings.

You can find any traffic alerts describing other accidents here, browse traffic cams to see real-time photos of the highways and check out the DOT’s road construction schedule here.

Also, check out congestion mapping -- i.e., how heavy the traffic is -- here.

To report a traffic incident, call the Transportation Management Center at (401) 222-5826 and choose option #2.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:37 AM | Comment

Election: Chafee joins long line at polls

EXETER – Incumbent U.S. Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee was casting his vote at 7:23 a.m. today at the Metcalf Elementary School at 30 Nooseneck Rd., as his wife was slipping her completed ballot into the voting machine.

This polling spot opened at 7 a.m., with about two dozen people lined up to vote.

The first person who was waiting in that line knows Chafee personally. Jay Sheehan, 40, a shipwright, lives in a house he rents on the Chafee farm here in Exeter.

Outside the polling place, a coffee mascot was getting lots of attention. A woman dressed as a Dunkin’ Donuts coffee cup held a sign announcing in words and symbols that Rhode Island voters run on Dunkin Donuts. The coffee cup even has an escort, a man holding a sign that says Rhode Islanders vote and Dunkin’ Donuts #1.

We hear there are lots of local questions on the ballot, so plan accordingly if you're voting down here.

-- With reports from Journal political columnist M. Charles Bakst

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:30 AM | Comment

Warm today with a chance of rain

PROVIDENCE – If you’re planning to vote after work today – or work outside the polls this afternoon, bring an umbrella.

We’ve got a 30 percent chance of rain today, mainly after 3 p.m.

Our mostly cloudy day should see a high of 59.

We’ve got rain on the horizon through Thursday. Then, Friday and Saturday look like they’ll be bright sunny days.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:23 AM | Comment

Election: Where will Chafee, Whitehouse be today?

In one of the most-watched U.S. Senate races this political season, incumbent Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee and his Democratic challenger, Sheldon Whitehouse, plan to vote early today and then return to the campaign trail.

They’ll keep at it until late tonight, when they both plan to catch up with their supporters and party loyalists at election receptions.

Chafee announced yesterday that he plans to vote with his wife, Stephanie, at 7 a.m. in Exeter, in the cafeteria of the Metcalf School, at 30 Nooseneck Rd. Whitehouse said he plans to vote at 7:30 a.m. at Temple Beth-El, at 70 Orchard Ave. in Providence.

Chafee’s campaign announced two anticipated stops during voting hours today but stressed that the times are approximate. They plan to be in Warwick at 8:30 a.m. at the Potowomut Elementary School, 225 Potowomut Rd., and in Cranston at 11:30 a.m. at the George J. Peters School, 15 Mayberry St.

Whitehouse’s campaign said last night they had not yet finalized his schedule for today.

Both candidates know where their election parties will be. Chafee plans to join supporters after polls close at 9 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick. Whitehouse expects to join his followers at the Providence Biltmore hotel.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson, with reports from Journal staff writers Scott MacKay and Mark Arsenault

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:21 AM | Comment

Election: How we'll cover it today

PROVIDENCE -- Projo.com will bring you daylong -- and into the night -- coverage of this Election Day, from key candidates casting their votes, to turnout at the polls, to the final results and their impact.

We'll begin our reports in our 7to7blog.

After 7 p.m., we'll shift to coverage via our Political Scene blog, renamed Election Day blog, but, for you bookmarkers out there, with the same URL.

After 9 p.m., we'll post results of top races as soon as the numbers start showing at the state Board of Elections, from our staffers at the scene.

All results of all statewide and local races will be posted automatically via our home page as soon as they become available from the state.

We'll continue to blog news reports from post-election venues, add photos and ask for your reactions.

We hope you'll come back later -- and stay with us for as long as it takes!

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 7:20 AM | Comment