Middlesex & Worcester
Includes Marlborough, Hudson, Maynard, Acton, Boxborough, Northborough, Southborough and Westborough
Jamie Eldridge, Democrat
I am proud of our work in the Legislature over the last several years to expand health care access for everyone in Massachusetts. The health care reform we passed in 2006 guarantees quality health care to 99 percent of state residents. Still, work needs to be done to improve affordability; and, I will continue to work in the Legislature to reduce health care costs, in part by improving recordkeeping and standardizing paperwork.
Further, I have consistently voted to protect funding for Prescription Advantage, keeping prescription drugs affordable. I fought to shore up community hospitals, making sure that local health care needs are addressed. I have been a vocal advocate of the mental health parity bill, requiring insurance companies to include mental health in its coverage. And, I am a leader in fighting against insurance companies' lobbyists' influence over medical decisions.
As your next state senator, I will treat health care as a right for all of us, not just a privilege for some.
Steven Levy, Republican
Gov. Patrick announced plans this week to address a $1.4 billion deficit. While the global financial crisis has compounded the problem, it's hardly the cause. This budget crisis lies squarely on the shoulders of our Legislature including my opponent Rep. James Eldridge.
The real cause of the crisis was the inability of our elected representatives to control spending in the face of an economic downturn. Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation has been warning of the ensuing downturn for more than a year. Our legislature ignored the warnings and continued passing budgets that expanded state spending at unsustainable rates.
Isn't it time for a change on Beacon Hill? The people of Massachusetts deserve leaders who can manage budgets in a fiscally responsible manner. I want to bring my experience as an accountant and finance manager to prevent this type of crisis in the future. I ask for your vote on November 4th to do just that.
State Senate
Norfolk, Bristol & Middlesex
Includes Natick, Wayland, Sherborn, Wellesley, Millis and Franklin
Sara Orozco, Democrat
Imagine jump-starting the Massachusetts economy with aggressive strategic investments in a business that is growing 45 percent faster than other industries.
Imagine realigning our educational institutions to deliberately feed smarter, better trained, home-grown workers to local companies.
Imagine Massachusetts as the global leader of the Life Science Industry where diseases will be prevented and cured and workers will be doing well by doing good.
My opponent, Republican Scott Brown, voted against the Life Science bill. He couldn't imagine how it would help the district.
I promise to make the fulfillment of the Life Science Act a top priority, making sure that my district is at the head of the line to reap its benefits from the acceleration of high school science education; to retraining older workers to provide leadership to the industry of innovation; to making sure that my twelve communities have resources to attract companies large and small. Imagine that.
www.SaraOrozco.com
Scott Brown, Republican
Allowing casino operation in the Commonwealth has been an ongoing discussion.
Due to several serious concerns, Gov. Patrick's plan was defeated.
His plan called for $90 million in infrastructure costs. The State would not realize one dollar from any of the proposed venues for 3-4 years. There has been strong support in the Legislature for Rep. Flynn's (D-Bridgewater) bill to allow bidding on slot machine licenses for each of the State's four racetracks. The infrastructure is already in place, the communities hosting the facilities favor their expansion, and they could be operational within 30 days.
Within 14 days, the tracks would pay $200 million to the State and the State would be paid 50 cents back from each dollar invested in the slots, instead of 18 cents on each dollar invested in a casino. Potential revenue could reach $600 million by the end of 2009.
House of Representative
3rd Middlesex
Includes Hudson, Stow, Maynard and Bolton
Kate Hogan, Democrat
The "Green Economy" is an umbrella phrase used to describe a variety of trends that, taken together, have the potential to transform the U.S. economy on a scale not seen since the industrial revolution.
The design and construction of energy efficient buildings, with environmentally neutral materials; the development of efficient and environmentally protective energy sources; the development and production of energy efficient products from paper to toasters. The Green Economy will define new kinds of work, redefine how many people currently work and provide new materials to do that work. The net result will be job creation and the expansion of employment opportunities. Massachusetts is well positioned to take advantage of the coming economic transformation and I will work to ensure that state government takes the steps necessary to do so.
Visit my Website - www.katehogan.com - to learn more about me and please consider voting for "Kate Hogan" on November 4th.
Sonny Parente, Republican
Massachusetts has a moral and a constitutional responsibility to support public education at all levels. Our schools prepare young people to become future leaders of our economy and stewards of our democracy. Higher education and public job training continue this task as people grow older.
We need to make sure we honor this responsibility. This means we must guarantee there is enough money for education in annual budgets and that there is sufficient local aid to support public schools. Even in these difficult fiscal times, we need to make cutting education funds a last resort.
We also must ensure that we spend our education dollars wisely by encouraging transparency and accountability at all levels of the education system. Finally, we should do what we can to attract and retain quality teachers by making our state more affordable and streamlining teacher licensing procedures. I am asking for your vote on Nov 4th and please look at my other issues on www.sonnyparente.com.
House of Representatives
4th Middlesex
Includes Marlborough, Southborough and Berlin
Danielle Gregoire, Democrat
In this time of global economic crisis, we do not have time for on the job training. My Republican opponent has argued that the ballot measure to repeal the income tax sends a message to our leaders. Question 1 is not a message, it is legally binding legislation that would go into effect almost immediately and be devastating to our state government and force communities to find alternative sources of income to make up for billions of dollars in shortfall. Increased property tax to make up for lost income tax revenue could financially bury seniors already struggling to pay home heating and prescription medication costs. Twenty percent cuts in police, fire, school nurses and emergency medical personnel is not a message: it is a recipe for disaster. We need common sense, well-informed leadership who will advocate for real, every day people struggling to make ends meet.
www.daniellegregoire.com
Arthur Vigeant, Republican
I have been asked why I'm running for the office of State Representative for the 4th Middlesex District. I'm in this race to fight for the hardworking people of Berlin, Southborough and Marlborough to ensure that "your voices" are heard in Boston.
I hope to bring my straightforward, no-nonsense approach to Beacon Hill, focusing on fiscal responsibility where my professional education and experience as a Certified Public Accountant will serve me well.
It's time to approach state government with the realization that politics truly are local.
I will fight to:
- Bring financial accountability to the State House;
- Promote economic development to attract new business/help existing businesses remain in Massachusetts creating well paying jobs in the district;
- Expand public transportation;
- Promote fair, affordable taxes;
- Continue to protect senior citizens;
- Fully fund mandates on our schools;
www.arthurvigeant.com
House of Representatives
8th Middlesex
Includes Holliston, Hopkinton, Precinct 1 in Medway, Precincts 2 and 3 in Southborough, Precinct 2 in Westborough.
Dan Haley, Republican
It is often said on Beacon Hill, and by my opponent, that to fix the budget crisis, "all options need to be on the table." Yet somehow our legislature always chooses the "options" of tax and toll hikes. Long-discussed initiatives like public pension reform, estimated save hundreds of millions and even billions, sit "on the table" and gather dust - in good economic times and bad.
Our state budget is in trouble. But our families and our municipalities are also hurting, through no fault of their own. This is the worst time for the state to reach again for our wallets.
We need more representatives fighting to ensure that reform "options" are implemented before our legislature once again turns to another tax or toll hike. When good times return, having more fiscally responsible representatives in the House will guard against a repeat of the mistakes that caused the current mess.
House of Representatives
13th Middlesex
Includes Wayland, Sudbury and Lincoln
Susan Pope, Republican
Legislators are supposed to monitor our laws and make sure we are always doing enough to protect innocent people.
While I was a state representative three years ago, we passed Melanie's Bill which increased punishments for repeat drunken drivers. Many legislators wanted to make the bill less punitive, but I stood together with other Republicans to pass a bill that would keep people safe.
Sadly, Melanie's Bill is one of the last significant pieces of criminal law our Legislature passed. This past year, legislators had an opportunity to fully implement Jessica's Law, a measure aimed at stiffer penalties for sex offenders who prey on children. Unfortunately, this bill was watered down by Democrats, and there is still no guarantee that a convicted child rapist in this state will spend even a single day in jail.
This is unacceptable and we need to do better.
Tom Conroy, Democrat
As your state representative, I focus on helping our towns and our state. Amidst the current financial crisis, we need elected officials with real-world business experience who can forge public-private partnerships that strengthen the Massachusetts economy and lead us to a brighter future. Earlier this year, I used my management consulting background and MBA skills to author a provision of the new life sciences law that will generate new jobs and new non-tax revenues for our state. The idea behind the provision - have government take an equity stake in companies - has been copied recently at the federal level and will likely be replicated in the renewable energy industry here in the Commonwealth. For our state, this creative initiative could mean hundreds of millions of dollars in new, non-tax revenue, which can ensure that we have funds to support our towns, our schools, and a better future.
