I was sitting in a Newburyport City Council subcommittee meeting once. It was over a particular issue, and one councilor there was keeping track of which Wards the people (it was jammed) spoke from.

This puzzled me. This puzzled me a lot.

And it’s not until recently that I’ve begun to figure that one out.

A lot of the folks who spoke were from Ward 1 and 2. And I thought, so what?

But now I am beginning to understand. Ward 1, 2 and 3 are the “liberal” wards. And Ward 4, 5, and 6 are the “conservative” wards.

Another light bulb is going on for this blogger.

(I think the Newburyport city councilor was noting that the comments were mainly coming from the “liberal” wards. And the thought would be, that the comments would not represent the city as a whole.)

And many people ask me who do I think would win for mayor of Newburyport, MA.

And looking at the primary votes for mayor of Newburyport, MA, this is what I think.

Dan McCarthy’s votes, and Steve Cole’s votes would probably be divided between “liberal” and “conservative” voters.

Mayor John Moak sailed in the “conservative” Wards of 4, 5 and 6.

It was closer in Wards 1, 2 and 3.

So, my thought is, if Jim Stiles would win for mayor of Newburyport, MA, Mr. Stiles would, I believe, have to win or do very, very well in the more liberal Wards of 1, 2 and 3. And get a good percentage of the votes in the “conservative” Wards of 4, 5 and 6.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport