There is not a single contested Town Meeting election in Framingham this year, and in fact only one of the town’s precincts has enough candidates on the ballot to fill all its openings.
That means no one has a ballot choice for representatation in the town’s legislative body; and almost everywhere, there will either be vacant seats or reps who are elected as write-ins – likely with just a handful of votes.
The inability to fill representative Town Meeting slots comes as voters ponder a Charter Commission and possible change in governmental structure.
It is clear that passion for the current form of government is not widespread. More than half of the town’s precincts have at least 3 vacancies without candidates, and 5 precincts have half or more of their seats without ballot candidates.
Update: Looks like the Charter Commission question passed overwhelmingly: Yes 4,099 to No 885. It no longer matters that representative Town Meeting is wonderful as political theory and has a long and proud history. The structure simply does not fit the community we actually live in (as opposed to the one, whether real or mythical, many long-time residents remember with great fondness). Let’s hope the Commission comes up with a form of government appropriate for Framingham in the 21st century.
Precinct-by-precinct TM vacancy details – including a map – are below.
(click on map for additional details)