As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the candidates for State Representative in the 17th Essex District five questions that focused on a vaiety of topics important to the voters of Tewksbury.

Here is Question 1:

Ideas and principles have value but what influence would you wield to be able to successfully push legislation beneficial to the residents of Tewksbury?

Patricia Commane, Democrat

For the past 24 years, I have worked in a position where it was my responsibility to help disabled individuals, many of them veterans, find and keep work and create small businesses. As such I have extensive experience building consensus among parties with sharply differing needs and viewpoints while effectively advocating for my clients. These are the skills I will bring to the table as State Representative, and I believe they are the skills that Beacon Hill so desperately needs.

Paul Adams, Republican

As a Republican and member of the minority party, I would immediately hold leadership positions on the most important committees in the House of Representatives, whereas it would take a Democratic representative 12 years to make it through the pecking order and have access to any of the major committees. By virtue of House rules, at least two members of the minority party must sit on every major house committee. There are 37 major committees, and only 16 members of the Republican caucus. Minority party representation gives you greater representation and a real voice in our one-party legislature.