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Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lisa Field declares victory in Taunton state rep race — Larry Quintal calls for recount
TAUNTON — With a razor-thin lead of 21 votes, Democrat Lisa Field claimed victory in her state representative race against Republican Larry Quintal at approximately 9 p.m. on election night on Tuesday — but Quintal has not conceded and said he will be seeking a recount. "The good news is that we won," Field said at her post-election party at the Ward 5 Club in Taunton. "It was only by 21 votes so it was within the margin of error." Larry Quintal will not be conceding the race, he told the Gazette, and will instead be seeking a recount. Voters from Taunton and Easton turned out at the polls on June 10 for a special election to choose who would replace former 3rd Bristol District State Representative, Carol Doherty. Doherty, a Taunton Democrat, was 82 when she died on Feb. 15 this year from pancreatic cancer. According to unofficial election results from Easton, Field won 1,032 votes while Quintal won 958 votes, giving Field a 74 point lead in Easton. Lisa Field won 1,542 votes in Taunton, while Larry Quintal won 1,595 votes, giving Quintal a 53 point lead in Taunton, according to unofficial results from the City's website. That was not enough to overcome Field's lead of 74 votes in Easton, making for a combined lead of 21 votes for Field. "I appreciate everything that everyone did," Field said, thanking her supporters at her victory speech at the Ward 5 Club. "It was thousands and thousands of doors that we knocked," she added. 3rd Bristol District, consists of parts of Taunton and parts of Easton. Specifically, the district consists of Precincts 4A, 5, and 6 in the south-west part of Easton, and Ward 1 Precincts A, B, Ward 2, Ward 5, Ward 7 and Ward 8 in the west side of Taunton. Quintal, a Republican, is a Taunton City Councilor and is co-owner/funeral director at Silva Funeral Home on Broadway in Taunton. Quintal won his first term on City Council in November 2021 and his second term in November 2023. He told the Gazette during his State Rep. campaign he believes his profession prepared him for politics. 'Caring for and putting people first,' and 'listening to people' come naturally to him, he said. Quintal also stated he is a small-business owner, not a lobbyist, and has no vested or special interests other than to help his community. On why he decided to run for State Rep., Quintal told the Gazette, 'I'm not doing this for fame and fortune. I feel I have a proven track record on the local level, and I feel I can get more done and help more on the state level." Quintal's campaign priorities have been to increase state aid to his district, improve affordability for residents by decreasing taxes and finding ways to reduce utility bills, and addressing the state's costly housing of migrants by amending the Right-to-Shelter Law. Lisa Field, a Taunton Democrat, comes from a family of union activists and workers, she told the Gazette. She works as associate director for the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA). Her role involves advocating for legislation for the MNA on beacon hill. Her position, she said, gives her insight into how the State House works. Field told the Gazette she had been encouraged by her friend, Carol Doherty, to enter state politics, and, upon her death, wanted to "continue her legacy." "I know what families in Taunton and Easton are going through because I've lived it: family and friends struggling with substance use, and the crushing weight of rising costs of living — even losing my home," Field told the Gazette. Her campaign priorities included increasing government transparency, reviewing state education funding, examining the Department of Public Health's enforcement powers, and addressing potential impacts of federal cuts on veterans' services. In June 2020 Doherty won the special election to fill the 3rd Bristol District State Rep. seat that had been vacated by Republican Shaunna O'Connell when she resigned to become mayor of Taunton. Later that year, in November, she won reelection for a full-term. For both those elections Doherty's opponent was Republican Kelly Dooner, who would go on in 2022 to become a City Councilor for Taunton, and eventual State Senator when she won the seat in November 2024. Doherty would win the 3rd Bristol District seat 2 more times before her passing. Before her political career Doherty, a retired educator, worked both as a teacher and guidance counselor at Bennett Elementary School, and then, later on, as director of professional development for the School of Education at Northeastern University for 18 years. She also served two consecutive terms as president of the Massachusetts Teacher Association, as well as five terms on the Taunton School Committee. In April of this year, the Taunton School Committee voted on and approved renaming a building located at 66 Summer St. to the Carol A. Doherty Professional Learning Center. The building will be used by Taunton Public Schools as a professional development center. With additional reporting from Emma Rindlisbacher and Rebecca Hyman This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Democrat Lisa Field declares victory in Taunton state rep race
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Taunton, Easton head to polls today to pick new state representative. Voting information
Voters in parts of Taunton and Easton will head to the polls Tuesday, June 10, to pick their new state representative. Democrat Lisa Field and Republican Larry Quintal are facing off in a Special Election to fill the vacancy in the 3rd Bristol District, which includes parts of Easton and Taunton. Quintal, a Taunton city councilor, is the co-owner of Silva Funeral Home. Field, a Taunton resident, is an associate director for the Massachusetts Nurses Association. The 3rd Bristol seat has been vacant since the death of incumbent Carol Doherty, a Taunton Democrat who died of pancreatic cancer in February at the age of 82. The special election is limited to voters in the specific areas of Taunton and Easton which make up the 3rd Bristol District: Easton: Precincts 4A, 5, and 6 Taunton: Ward 1 Precincts A, B, Ward 2, Ward 5, Ward 7 and Ward 8 Polling locations have changed for this election. Here are the new polling locations in Taunton: In Ward 1, Precinct A will now be at the Former Temporary City Hall, 141 Oak St., and Precinct B will be at West Congregational Church, 415 Winthrop St. In Ward 2, both Precincts A and B will vote at the Senior Center, 'Center at Olney,' 30 Olney St. Ward 5's Precincts A and B will vote at the Former Coyle Cassidy High School, 2 Hamilton St. Ward 7's Precinct A will be at James L. Mulcahey School, and Precinct B at Edmund Hatch Bennett School. Ward 8's Precinct A will be at Benjamin A. Friedman Middle School, and Precinct B at Taunton Lodge of Elks. What to know about Easton override Easton override would raise taxes $800 on average. Impact on services of no vote? In-person voting for the special Easton election is Tuesday, June 10 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Oliver Ames High School Gym, 100 Lothrop St. Easton voters will also be deciding the fate of a $7.3 million override in Tuesday's election. With reporting by Emma Rindlisbacher and Rebecca Hyman This story was created by reporter Beth McDermott, bmcdermott1@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at or share your thoughts at with our News Automation and AI team. This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Taunton and Easton special election: Voters will pick new state rep
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Taunton and Easton state representative primary results: 60-second read
Democrat Lisa Field and Republican Larry Quintal both won their respective primaries in the special election to replace Carol Doherty in the Massachusetts State House, according to unofficial election results from Easton and Taunton. Lisa Field and Larry Quintal were the only two candidates who filed paperwork to appear on the ballot, which means each ran unopposed in their respective primaries. The primary election was held on Tuesday, May 13. They will now face each other in a general election on Tuesday, June 10. Doherty, a Taunton Democrat who died on Feb. 15 of pancreatic cancer, represented the 3rd Bristol District, which consists of part of Taunton and part of Easton. Specifically, the district consists of Precincts 4A, 5, and 6 in the south-west part of Easton, and Ward 1 Precincts A, B, Ward 2, Ward 5, Ward 7 and Ward 8 in the west side of Taunton. A special election to fill the seat was announced on March 10. Lisa Field received 463 votes in the Democratic primary: 367 votes in Taunton and 96 votes in Easton, according to unofficial election results. Republican Larry Quintal received 267 votes in the Republican primary: 227 votes in Taunton and 40 votes in Easton. There were a very small number of write in votes and blank votes in both Taunton and Easton. Quintal, a Republican, is a Taunton City Councilor and co-owner of Silva Funeral Home. Holly Robichaud, a campaign spokesperson for Quintal, sent the Gazette a written statement describing the issues he would raise on the campaign trail. "Our state is facing many serious challenges including soaring energy bills, a costly migrant influx, the need for more aid for communities, and a lower tax burden," Quintal said in the written statement. "Taunton and Easton need a State Representative who will fight for them, not the special interests. Having served on the Taunton City Council and being a small business owner, I have the proven track record people know that they can trust." "Right now, families are being clobbered by soaring energy costs. We need more natural gas in Massachusetts. I will work to make that happen," Quintal said. "Our state has spent over $2 billion to house the migrants and now MassHealth is starting to surge to pay for the migrants. I will support amending the Right to Shelter law to limit taxpayer funded benefits to our legal residents. I believe the money spent on the migrant crisis would have been better spent by sending more local aid back to the communities to lower the property tax burden." Field is a Taunton Democrat who works for the Massachusetts Nurses Association as an associate director of legislative affairs. Italo Fini, a consultant for Field, sent the Gazette a written statement regarding Field. "My dear friend Carol Doherty was a true public servant. She left behind a legacy for us to build upon and I plan to do exactly that," Field said in a written statement. "I know what families in Taunton and Easton are going through because I've lived it: family and friends struggling with substance-use, and the crushing weight of rising costs of living — even losing my home," Field said. "My faith, family, and close friends are what got me through it and I know that together we can overcome anything." "While many politicians are in it for personal gain, I'm running for State Representative to make sure everyday families have someone in their corner," she said. With reporting by Daniel Schemer. This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Taunton and Easton state representative primary election results
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lisa Field and Larry Quintal to compete for Taunton state rep seat. Who are they.
TAUNTON — The race to fill the state representative seat left vacant by Carol Doherty's passing will be between Lisa Field, a Democrat, and Larry Quintal, a Republican. Three candidates — Field, Quintal, and Taunton City Councilor Chris Coute — pulled papers to express interest in running for the seat. However, Coute is no longer running for state representative, he told the Gazette, clearing the way for Quintal to run unopposed as a Republican. Both Quintal and Field appear to have collected more than 150 signatures ahead of an April 1 deadline to submit paperwork to the local elections office. By April 8, the two candidates must submit additional paperwork to the Secretary of State's office before they can appear on the ballot. A primary election for the 3rd Bristol District seat will be held on Tuesday, May 13, before the general election on Tuesday, June 10. Doherty, a Taunton Democrat who died on Feb. 15 of pancreatic cancer, represented the 3rd Bristol District, which consists of part of Taunton and part of Easton. Specifically, the district consists of Precincts 4A, 5, and 6 in the south-west part of Easton, and Ward 1 Precincts A, B, Ward 2, Ward 5, Ward 7 and Ward 8 in the west side of Taunton. A special election to fill the seat was announced on March 10. Quintal, a Republican, is a Taunton City Councilor and co-owner of Silva Funeral Home. Holly Robichaud, a campaign spokesperson for Quintal, sent the Gazette a written statement describing the issues he would raise on the campaign trail. "Our state is facing many serious challenges including soaring energy bills, a costly migrant influx, the need for more aid for communities, and a lower tax burden," Quintal said in the written statement. "Taunton and Easton need a State Representative who will fight for them, not the special interests. Having served on the Taunton City Council and being a small business owner, I have the proven track record people know that they can trust." "Right now, families are being clobbered by soaring energy costs. We need more natural gas in Massachusetts. I will work to make that happen," Quintal said. "Our state has spent over $2 billion to house the migrants and now MassHealth is starting to surge to pay for the migrants. I will support amending the Right to Shelter law to limit taxpayer funded benefits to our legal residents. I believe the money spent on the migrant crisis would have been better spent by sending more local aid back to the communities to lower the property tax burden." Field is a Taunton Democrat who works for the Massachusetts Nurses Association as an associate director. Italo Fini, a consultant for Field, sent the Gazette a written statement regarding Field. "My dear friend Carol Doherty was a true public servant. She left behind a legacy for us to build upon and I plan to do exactly that," Field said in a written statement. "I know what families in Taunton and Easton are going through because I've lived it: family and friends struggling with substance-use, and the crushing weight of rising costs of living — even losing my home," Field said. "My faith, family, and close friends are what got me through it and I know that together we can overcome anything." "While many politicians are in it for personal gain, I'm running for State Representative to make sure everyday families have someone in their corner," she said. With reporting by Daniel Schemer. This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Lisa Field, Larry Quintal to compete for Carol Doherty's state rep seat
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Top stories: South Coast Rail arrives; free trees for Taunton residents, businesses
Before we begin the new week in earnest, we're taking a look back at the week that was, and the stories that led the news with Taunton Daily Gazette readers. Top stories this past week included: Richard Blanchette, 20, of Middleboro died last Thursday in a Massachusetts hospital as a result of his injuries from the crash on Somerset Avenue on Tuesday, March 18, District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn, III said in a written statement. The investigation into the crash is ongoing, as of this writing. Republican Larry Quintal, a Taunton City Councilor and co-owner of Silva Funeral Home, has pulled papers to run for Carol Doherty's old state representative seat. Taunton High School's Tiger Shack and Tiger Café have earned gold level certification from DECA's school-based enterprise (SBE) program for the 2024-2025 school year. Greater Taunton area softball players to watch this spring. Plus: Greater Taunton area boys volleyball players to watch, and Greater Taunton area baseball players to watch. The Falcons Wrestling Club sees growth both on and off the mat. Mayor Shaunna O'Connell recently hosted Taunton's fourth annual Women's History Month celebration. The Freetown Lakeville School Committee violated Massachusetts Open Meeting Law during a July 31, 2024 meeting, the Massachusetts Attorney General's office ruled in a March determination. Harper Lane Brewery is planning a retro video game night. Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical High School has been awarded a $43,800 grant to support student mental health and wellness. What will parking and traffic conditions be like once the Whittenton Mills housing project is built? What we know, as of this writing. The latest Greater Taunton real estate report, featuring a remodeled Raynham home that sold for $862,000. The house on Adam Lane features a huge primary bedroom, an updated kitchen and bathrooms, a two-car garage, and a large front yard. Check out this property, as well as other recent top-sellers. These were the Top 5 stories of the past week, according to Gazette readers: After a decades-long wait, South Coast Rail has arrived, and the trains are running over at the East Taunton station. There was a kick-off ceremony at the station on March 24, attended by officials from all over the region and beyond. Here's what the arrival of train travel means for Taunton, as well as a look at parking, schedules, and more. 'A win for the region': South Coast Rail finally arrives. What it means for Taunton. Ever thought about a bike trail from Taunton to Gillette Stadium? That could be a possibility, if several proposed projects move forward. Here's what we know about the projects. Taunton to Gillette Stadium by bike?: Why that could be a possibility with new rail trail Residents and businesses residing in central Taunton are eligible for free trees, and they don't even have to plant them: the trees will be planted for you. Since 2022, Taunton has been part of a statewide green landscaping program, Greening the Gateway Cities, to increase the number of trees in urban residential areas for cities considered "gateway cities." Here's how to find out if you live in a planting zone, and how to get a free tree. Want a free tree?: How Taunton residents can get one. Bonus: someone will plant it for you Raynham resident Inge Pustelnikas, 89, became homeless by age 9 in her native city of Konigsberg, which was left in ruin by the Soviet Russian offensive into Germany, in April 1945, towards the end of World War II. She became separated from her surviving family, including her mother and siblings, as she was forced to beg daily for food and shelter. With no alternatives, she and many other young survivors of the war in that region wandered into neighboring Lithuania, looking for any kindness from people, living day-to-day, trying not to starve, be imprisoned by the Russians, or freeze to death. She did that for 15 years, and history has given a name for the thousands of orphans and homeless children like her: "Wolfskinder," which is German for "Wolf Children." This is her story of survival. Story of survival: Raynham woman's remarkable story of surviving as a 'German Wolf Child.' What it was like In response to Gov. Maura Healey's recently announced "Energy Affordability Agenda," State Sen. Kelly Dooner has called out the governor and urged her administration to support legislation the senator filed. This is a look at the governor's plan, and the legislation that Dooner filed. 'Breadcrumbs': Taunton senator blasts guv's $50 electricity credit. Here's Dooner's plan This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Top stories: South Coast Rail arrives; free trees for residents
