June 2, 2025: Last week’s detailed survey results
"Should the BoxfordDems remain non-partisan in town elections?
The survey was prompted by an SMS sent out two weeks’ ago from, by, or on behalf of one of the school board candidates Russ Fiore. It is difficult to imagine whom Mr. Fiore’s campaign people thought they were texting or how the telephone numbers were generated. The campaign’s aggressiveness, it turns out, greatly annoyed many in town. We now know the message came from the MassGOP.
It is unusual for Boxford town elections to turn partisan—so the question was “Should the BoxfordDems remain non-partisan in town elections?”
Item 1: Yes or No
Twelve Boxford people,. Seven voted to keep Boxford’s town elections non-partiisan, and 6 voted to start endorsing local board candidates, etc.
Item 2: Add comment
(Respondents’ names are omitted and responses are left unedited.)
"We have a duty to elect people aligned with our values and not some secret trump supporter"
"I think it would be wiser to send out a message to "fellow neighbors" as to why “we” are supporting candidate “x” and ask them to do the same. The BTC would not be mentioned and the “we” could be the officers of the BTC and any member who wants to sign. The message could require a vote before it is sent. The message could go by all the usual social media modes."
"I think that Boxford Dems should only get involved if the candidate wants them to. I think since its considered a nonpartisan election, the candidate needs to decide whether they think it will help them."
"I would have responded "Yes" prior to this current administration but the values represented by those who are MAGA Republicans is an anathema and while it's difficult to know who among the GOP are MAGA or not, the gap in how we see reality and the role we see for government is so staggeringly different, I'd rather that --for now; perhaps this will be just for now--we are clear in context by party. Thank you for asking! And for the great Weekly Roundups, I so appreciate them."
"Thank you for bringing awareness to this issue."
"I think it becomes obvious to people who believes what and it is distasteful to bring politics to town board elections. On the other hand…everything is “political” now so I think people would be interested to know what MAGA candidates are trying to run for town positions. 🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️"
"We go high, remember? Let the candidates compete in their own strengths. I say that as someone who served three terms in Boxford as an elected official. Run your campaign on your merits."
"Dems must start fighting fire with fire. I’m not convinced that the text from the GOP worked against Fiore. Do we have more than anecdotal evidence about that? (Rhetorical question.) 👋 "