State Rep. Nicholas Boldyga, R- Southwick, right, congratulates Westfield State Rep. Donald Humason Jr., during a victory celebration at the East Mountain Country Club last night after Humason won the 2nd Hampden & Hampshire District State Senate seat over Holyoke City Councilor David Bartley. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
SOUTHWICK – Southwick voters overwhelmingly supported Donald Humason in yesterday’s special senate election.
Humason, who is the district’s state representative, received 1,132 votes, while opponent David Bartley received just 267.
Town Clerk Michelle Hill had predicted a 25-percent voter turnout, but said just shy of 22 percent cast their ballot yesterday.
“I always want more, but I’ll take it,” Hill said.
Residents voted throughout the day but Hill said there was a lot of “down time.”
The election in Southwick went smoothly with one small exception.
“I had to speak to people campaigning within the 150 feet barrier,” Hill said.
Supporters for both candidates were too close to Town Hall, where voting took place. The law mandates that anyone campaigning at a polling place must be at least 150 feet from the building.
“I spoke to them and they were very nice,” Hill said. “They were people I had never seen before and just had a lack of understanding about the rules.”
