Contentious state rep race, sheriff's job on the line: 5 things to know about the election

Kristina Fontes and Dan Medeiros, The Taunton Daily Gazette
·5 min read

TAUNTON — The general election is here, with several major issues on the ballot that could affect residents in the near future and for generations to come.

As a presidential midterm election, voters on Tuesday, Nov. 8, will be asked mainly to decide races at the state and county levels. Ballot questions will be before them about issues ranging from a millionaire tax to dental insurance and more.

The deadlines have already passed for voters to register to vote or request a mail ballot, but anyone who has not yet turned their mail ballot in can still do so by dropping it off by the time polls close on Nov. 8.

For more information, visit the City of Taunton’s website and look under the Elections Department: https://www.taunton-ma.gov/192/Elections-Department.

In-person voting takes place on Tuesday, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with polling places based on precinct. Visithttps://www.sec.state.ma.us/WhereDoIVoteMA/WhereDoIVote to find your polling place.

Here are five things Taunton area voters need to know before the election.

Whatever happens, Mass. will have a new governor

With Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito choosing not to seek a third term, the state's top executive seat is up for grabs. On the Democratic ticket, Attorney General Maura Healey and Salem Mayor Kimberley Driscoll are in the running. Former state Reps. Geoff Diehl and Leah Allen are representing the Republican Party. Also on the ballot are Libertarians Kevin Reed and Peter Everett.

A recent University of Massachusetts Amherst/WCVB poll shows Healey with a significant lead over Diehl, 61% to 33%. Baker, a Republican, will leave office as the country’s most popular governor — an April poll by Morning Consult showed that 74% of Massachusetts voters approve of his job performance.

State senator: Pacheco vs. Collins

Longtime incumbent State Sen. Marc Pacheco faces a challenge this election from Republican and fellow Tauntonian Maria Collins.

From left, state Sen. Marc Pacheco, D Taunton, faces a challenge in the Nov. 8, 2022, election from Taunton Republican Maria Collins.
From left, state Sen. Marc Pacheco, D Taunton, faces a challenge in the Nov. 8, 2022, election from Taunton Republican Maria Collins.

After the 2020 Census, the shape of the district has changed, and is in effect for the Nov. 8 election.

The new district includes: Berkley, Carver, Dighton, Marion, Middleboro, Raynham, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Taunton and Wareham.

The old district, which is still in place until the winners of the Nov. 8 election are sworn in, also includes Bridgewater and does not include Rehoboth or Seekonk.

The race for state representative

This election season, the race for 3rd Bristol state rep between incumbent Democrat Carol Doherty and Republican challenger City Councilor Chris Coute has at times become contentious.

Representative Carol Doherty and challenger Christopher Coute
Representative Carol Doherty and challenger Christopher Coute

Doherty, a retired educator, has also served two consecutive terms as president of the Massachusetts Teacher Association, as well as five terms on the Taunton School Committee.

Coute is an Army veteran and, in addition to being on the City Council, owns several small businesses, including the Liberty and Union Alehouse on Trescott Street.

The two recently met in an at-times tense debate, hosted by TCAM.

Chris Coute, right, fields a question at a debate with incumbent State Rep. Carol Doherty, D. Taunton, left, on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022, in the TCAM studio. Coute, a Taunton city councilor, is the Republican challenger in the state rep race.
Chris Coute, right, fields a question at a debate with incumbent State Rep. Carol Doherty, D. Taunton, left, on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022, in the TCAM studio. Coute, a Taunton city councilor, is the Republican challenger in the state rep race.

Redistricting has also affected the 3rd Bristol District. It now includes more of Easton. The new district includes Easton, precincts 4A, 5, 6; and Taunton, wards 1A, 1B, 2, 5, 7, 8.

Other local races for state representative include:

State Rep: Dighton, Taunton, Somerset and Swansea

  • Patricia Haddad (D- incumbent)

  • Justin Thurber (R)

State Rep: Taunton, Berkley, Lakeville and Middleboro

  • Norman Orrall (R- incumbent)

  • No Democrats running

In Congress, U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D) is running unopposed with no Republican challenger.

Hodgson faces a challenge for sheriff's position

One of the most hotly contested races on this ballot is for Bristol County sheriff. Longtime Republican Sheriff Thomas Hodgson is facing a challenge from Democratic Attleboro Mayor Paul Heroux.

Hodgson has held the post of sheriff since 1997; the last time he faced a challenge for the job was 2010, against former Democratic state Rep. John Quinn of Dartmouth.

The sheriff has a sizeable campaign war chest of over $210,000 cash on hand, according to most recent Office of Campaign and Political Finance reports. He was first appointed the position and has won four consecutive six-year terms. As a political figure, Hodgson has courted controversy, attracting criticism for an offer in 2017 to send prisoners from Bristol County to the southern U.S. border with Mexico to help build a border wall for then-President Donald Trump. He has also been investigated for violating immigrant detainees’ civil rights and has faced criticism over the high suicide rate at his correctional facilities. Hodgson has defended his record by noting perfect scores on American Corrections Association inspections.

Heroux said he has experience in corrections, working in the Philadelphia prison system and for the Massachusetts Department of Correction as director of research and planning as a gubernatorial appointee under the Patrick Administration. According to OCPF, Heroux has just over $45,000 of free cash in his campaign.

What are the ballot questions?

Several questions are on the ballot. Question 1 would amend the state constitution to add a 4% tax on personal incomes above $1 million, with revenues being used for public education and transportation infrastructure. Sometimes called the Fair Share Amendment, the measure has support from 59% of voters according to a recent UMass Amherst/WCVB poll.

Question 2 would ask the state to regulate dental insurance rates, while Question 3 would increase the number of liquor licenses one retailer could be allowed to own or control statewide. According to the poll, Question 2 is likely to pass with 68% of those polled favoring it, while voters are split on Question 3 — 39% yes, 38% no, with 23% of voters undecided.

Question 4 is a referendum on a law that allows access to driver’s licenses for all residents regardless of legal citizenship status, with a yes vote leaving the law in place and a no vote repealing it. The recent poll has a narrow majority of voters, 51%, keeping the law in place.

Taunton Daily Gazette/Herald News copy editor and digital producer Kristina Fontes can be reached at kfontes@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette today.

This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: 5 things Taunton voters should know about the MA midterm election