Copyright MassLive
It wasn’t one candidate or one issue that motivated Tom Coffey of West Springfield to cast his vote Tuesday afternoon at the Council on Aging, 128 Park St. It was, he said, respect for everyone who throws a hat in the ring. His father, John F. Coffey, was state representative from West Springfield for 18 years. He remembers gearing up for campaigns. “With all the things going on these days … ” he said. Numbers of voters didn’t compare with last year’s presidential year that also featured state and federal legislative races. West Springfield and Westfield had contested mayor’s races and busy slates of council and school committee candidates. West Springfield had ballot questions related to the charter. In Westfield, there was a steady stream of voters at Ward 5B in the Munger Hill Elementary School. A few parents were there picking up kids. The PTO hosted a bake sale to take advantage of the crowd. Tom Portenstein cited civic responsibility. “You can’t complain about politics if you don’t get out and vote,” he said.
