Last modified: Tuesday, November 7, 2006 12:12 AM EST Local and state officials expect high voter turnout BY JIM HAND SUN CHRONICLE STAFF A lively race for governor, competitive legislative contests and three ballot questions are expected to draw at least half the state's voters to the polls today. Local election officials said Monday that they have received a lot of votes already by absentee ballot and have been fielding a number of calls about polling places, indicating a healthy turnout was in the offing. "We're expecting a high turnout. At least 60 percent, maybe 65," Norton Assistant Town Clerk Ann Rodriques said. She said the absentee ballots started arriving early and there were more applications for them than usual. Wrentham Town Clerk Carol Mollica said more than 200 people in her town had voted already by absentee ballot and she is expecting a solid turnout. "I hope at least 50 percent," she said. Mary Ann Draine of the election office in Attleboro said activity has been extremely busy leading up to the election. She said turnout is difficult to predict, but she has seen a lot of interest. "We'll be ready for them," she said. Brian McNiff, a spokesman for Secretary of State William Galvin, said Galvin was not making any turnout predictions. However, he noted that four years ago the turnout was 55.9 percent statewide and 57.3 in 1998. One of the highest turnouts for a governor's race was in 1990, when William Weld defeated John Silber, but there were also some highly contested ballot questions that year, including one calling for a tax cut. This year's highlights include a governor's race between Democrat Deval Patrick, Republican Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, independent Cristy Mihos and Green-Rainbow Party nominee Grace Ross. Locally, there are several spirited contests. Rep. John Lepper, R-Attleboro, is seeking his seventh term in the House while being challenged by Democrat Kate Jackson in the city. A state Senate race is raging in a district ranging from Walpole to Attleboro through the towns of Foxboro, Mansfield, Norton, Rehoboth and Seekonk. That race features Sen. James Timilty, D-Walpole, against semi-retired dentist Michael Atwill, a Mansfield Republican. A state representative race in Foxboro, Mansfield and Norton has taken a turn to the rough side with Democrat Claire Naughton and Republican Jay Barrows exchanging charges of dirty campaigning. There is also no love lost in Seekonk, where Republican Steve Howitt is running against Democrat Steve D'Amico for the seat being vacated by Rep. Philip Travis, D-Rehoboth.