Override Post Mortem

So yeah, I’m a tad disappointed in the Override results (of course I would have blown my brains out if Yes won) because like President Johnson in the 1968 NH primary, we should have won BIGGER. The Town Manager previously stated (although I’m sure he’d like to take the arrogant comment back) that if the Override were not a blowout he would “give it a haircut” and return with a smaller one.

And I find it troubling that ‘The Amherst Taxpayers for Responsible Change’ did everything right and the Overriders did almost everything wrong, and they still came within a “moderate margin” of winning. Some of those last minute votes, however, were won via shady tactics.

For instance, a last minute oversized postcard direct mailer stole our yellow and black bumblebee design, so successfully used in our “No More Overrides” lawn signs.

Particularly troubling the postcard using all the clichéd Spin carried the following prominently placed statement: “Endorsed by Amherst Town Manager, Amherst Select board, Amherst Superintendent of Schools, Amherst School Committee, and Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee”.

Now leaving aside for the moment that the Select board only voted 3-2 in support of the Override, that statement makes it look as though those important boards endorsed the Postcard itself. Like those political television commercials that now require the candidate to say “and I approved this smaltzy ad” at the end of the commercial.

‘The Amherst Plan Committee’ also raised and spent money before they were legally authorized to do so.

Fortunately we asked our contributors at the very beginning if we should spend all our money now or hold some in reserve for the NEXT Override (everybody except ‘The Amherst Plan Committee’ seemed to get why we specifically used the pleural “Overrides” on the lawn signs.)

The almost unanimous response was to use it all now and they would recontribute the same amount if the Override returns in the next year or two. So we’re ready, and since the second wave of lawn signs had an unusually low rate of theft, we probably don’t even have to reorder any for the next battle.

Although I’m sure ‘The Amherst Plan Committee’ will not make the same monumental blunder twice, and will order lawn signs. Let’s hope they don’t steal our angry bumblebee motif again.

Override Epilogue (by the numbers)

Precinct 1: 138 Yes, 120 NO
Precinct 2: 301 Yes, 361 NO
Precinct 3: 139 Yes, 151 NO
Precinct 3-A 1 Yes, 0 NO
Precinct 4: 148 Yes, 106 NO
Precinct 4-A: 1 Yes, 0 NO
Precinct 5: 165 Yes, 251 NO
Precinct 6: 382 Yes, 395 NO
Precinct 7: 278 Yes, 366 NO
Precinct 8: 456 Yes, 584 NO
Precinct 9: 257 Yes, 207 NO
Precinct 9-A: 0 Yes, 3 NO
Precinct 10: 114 Yes, 106 NO
Precinct 10-A: 3 Yes, 0 NO

NO win 2650 to 2383 a difference of 267 votes from 5,033 votes cast. Total turnout 31% (about as good as it EVER gets for a local election). 2004 Override won by much narrower margin 90 votes and had only 4,000 total votes cast (28% turnout)

And the winner is...

So the results are in: We won. Out of over 5,000 votes cast the ‘No More Overrides’ side garnered 2,647 to the freespenders 2,378 Yes votes, a difference of 269. And in America, the rule simply says 50% plus one. The turnout was greater than 30%, which is almost double that of a normal local Amherst election and greater than the turnout in 2004 when a $2.5 million Override narrowly passed (by only 90 votes).

God how I love to live in America, where every individual (voter) counts.

Overriders are going down fast.

So the polls closed less than an hour ago. As of this posting (8:45 pm) the NO side won BIG in two LARGE precincts (out of 10):

Precinct 7: 278 YES, 366 NO with a 42% turnout (that's great by Amherst standards).
Precinct 8: 456 YES, 584 NO with about a 50% turnout (that is tremendous).

As Frank would sing: "And now, the end is near...and so I face the final curtain..."

What's it all about Alphie?

Voter turnout thus far is better than average. Heavy in Precinct 8, a conservative precinct.

Calling all cars, calling all cars

Whoever owns this vehicle, parked to increase visibility for the Overriders but dangerously decreases visibility of folks pulling out of Crocker Farm School (and voting precinct) you better move it. The Precinct Warden is calling it in.

Go Ask Alice...

-----Original Message-----
From: abnm@XXXXXXXXX
To: amherstAC@aol.com
Sent: Mon, 30 Apr 2007 8:27 AM
Subject: No Override Signs

I have been following the sign saga and think it’s pretty low of someone to take have taken them.

I also would not think too highly if money from my husband’s Amherst Athletic Club dues helped pay for them. If the No Override prevails I will be working on him to join me at Gold’s Gym.

Charter schools are terrific. However, the same people who send their kids there knowing it takes money away from the Amherst Public Schools might think about also supporting the education of ALL kids in any way they can. That means supporting ‘The Amherst Plan’ and not hanging the rest of us out to dry.

Alice B. XXXXX

So in spite of childish threats like this I hope and pray that today’s outcome is the most decisive in the history of local politics in The People’s Republic Of Amherst.

I suppose if Alice can afford family memberships at Gold’s Gym (their rates are significantly higher than mine) she can afford this Override. Unfortunately many folks in town, many of whom have lived here their entire lives, cannot afford this significant tax increase.

“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”