Polls Open Today for State Primary

Vineyard voters go to the polls today to cast ballots in the state
primary and Democrats in particular are expected to turn out to make
choices in an unusual four-way race for governor.

Senate president Thomas F. Birmingham, state treasurer Shannon P.
O'Brien, former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert B. Reich and former
state Sen. Warren Tolman are vying for the Democratic gubernatorial
nomination.

Yesterday, the latest metropolitan newspaper polls showed Ms.
O'Brien and Mr. Reich running in a close race ahead of the two
other candidates, with Mr. Birmingham gaining ground rapidly behind the
two front-runners. Most polls showed Mr. Tolman trailing the other three
candidates.

On the Democratic ticket there is also a race for lieutenant
governor among Christopher F. Gabrieli, Lois G. Pines and John P.
Slattery.

There are no local contests on the Democratic ballot; there are
three candidates and four slots for county commission, so candidates
Robert M. Sawyer, William J. Shay and Paul Strauss will all appear on
the November ballot.

On the Republican ticket Mitt Romney is the sole candidate for
governor, and Mr. Romney will oppose the winner of the Democratic
nomination in November.

There is one local contest on the Republican ticket in the race for
Cape and Islands district attorney: first assistant district attorney
Michael O'Keefe is running against Barnstable resident John Meade.
The winner will run against Democratic candidate Kevin Callahan in
November.

A handful of candidates appear on the Green Party and Libertarian
tickets.

Polling hours in all the towns are from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. today.
The polling places are as follows: the Edgartown town hall; the American
Legion Hall in Tisbury; the elementary school in Oak Bluffs; the new
public safety building in West Tisbury; the Aquinnah town hall, and the
Chilmark community center.