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 5: Tewksbury has been "held harmless" by the state, relative to education funding, despite dwindling student population. Should that status end, Tewksbury stands to lose more than $2 million in funding, a cut that would be catastrophic to the school system. If elected, what, if anything, will you be able to do to prevent this looming fiscal crisis? Patricia …
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 4: Candidates have been quite visible in Tewksbury during this election cycle. Please describe how, if elected, you plan to have your finger on the pulse of Tewksbury and how you will maintain contact with Tewksbury residents. Patricia Commane, Democrat I believe that being State Representative is a full-time job, and that State Reps should keep a full …
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 3: Do you support 40B as is it now written, does it need to be modified or does it need to be abolished altogether? Patricia Commane, Democrat I support necessary improvements to the law. 40B needs more local control of large projects and more opportunity for neighborhood input. It also needs more checks and accountability to ensure that large developers do …
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 2: Candidates like to talk about their independence but practice is often different than theory. Describe one issue on which you have strongly disagreed with your party's leadership. Patricia Commane, Democrat I disagree with my party's leadership on several issues. One high profile issue recently was the vote in the legislature to raise of the sales tax from…
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 …
As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the candidates for State Representative in the 19th Middlesex District five questions that focused on a vaiety of topics important to the voters of Tewksbury. Here is Question 5: Tewksbury has been "held harmless" by the state, relative to education funding, despite dwindling student population. Should that status end, Tewksbury stands to lose more than $2 million in funding, a cut that would be catastrophic to the school system. If elected, what, if anything, will you be able to do to prevent this looming fiscal crisis? Mario …
As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the candidates for State Representative in the 19th Middlesex District five questions that focused on a vaiety of topics important to the voters of Tewksbury. Here is Question 4: Candidates have been quite visible in Tewksbury during this election cycle. Please describe how, if elected, you plan to have your finger on the pulse of Tewksbury and how you will maintain contact with Tewksbury residents. Mario Marchese, Republican Going door to door has been by far the best part of this campaign and has allowed me the opportunity to …
As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the candidates for State Representative in the 19th Middlesex District five questions that focused on a vaiety of topics important to the voters of Tewksbury. Here is Question 3: Do you support 40B as is it now written, does it need to be modified or does it need to be abolished altogether? Mario Marchese, Republican I do not support 40B as written. This law provides developers with loopholes that allow abuses to substantially increase profits without providing additional value. This law needs to be modified to regulate the …
As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the candidates for State Representative in the 19th Middlesex District five questions that focused on a vaiety of topics important to the voters of Tewksbury. Here is Question 2: Candidates like to talk about their independence but practice is often different than theory. Describe one issue on which you have strongly disagreed with your party's leadership. Mario Marchese, Republican I oppose the latest casino bill because there are no provisions in the recently imposed sales tax or a reduction in the state income tax. The …
As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the candidates for State Representative in the 19th Middlesex 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? Mario Marchese, Republican I understand that Massachusetts has been locked in one party rule for fifty-five years. I am hopeful that the voters are going to make their voices heard on November 2nd by …
As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the candidates for State Senate in the Second Middlexes/Essex District five questions that focused on a vaiety of topics important to the voters of Tewksbury. Here is Question 5: Tewksbury has been "held harmless" by the state, relative to education funding, despite dwindling student population. Should that status end, Tewksbury stands to lose more than $2 million in funding, a cut that would be catastrophic to the school system. If elected, what, if anything, will you be able to do to prevent this looming fiscal crisis? Barry …
As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the candidates for State Senate in the Second Middlexes/Essex District five questions that focused on a vaiety of topics important to the voters of Tewksbury. Here is Question 4: Candidates have been quite visible in Tewksbury during this election cycle. Please describe how, if elected, you plan to have your finger on the pulse of Tewksbury and how you will maintain contact with Tewksbury residents. Barry Finegold, Democrat I have a strong working relationship with the Board of Selectman and the School Committee and will appear …
As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the candidates for State Senate in the Second Middlexes/Essex District five questions that focused on a vaiety of topics important to the voters of Tewksbury. Here is Question 3: Do you support 40B as is it now written, does it need to be modified or does it need to be abolished altogether? Barry Finegold, Democrat 40B needs to be modified but not abolished. Jamison Tomsek, Republican All attempts to modify Chap. 40B in the past have never gotten out of committee so I hold little hope it will be modified in the future. Repeal of…
As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the candidates for State Senate in the Second Middlexes/Essex District five questions that focused on a vaiety of topics important to the voters of Tewksbury. Here is Question 2: Candidates like to talk about their independence but practice is often different than theory. Describe one issue on which you have strongly disagreed with your party's leadership. Barry Finegold, Democrat I do not support in-state tuition for illegal immigrants. I also fought for the imposition of term limits for the Speaker of the House, something that…
As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the candidates for State Senate in the Second Middlexes/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? Barry Finegold, Democrat I have been an independent voice during my time as a Representative and I have the experience and the knowledge to get things done for the town of Tewksbury in the Senate. I …
As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the four candidates for the Congress in the Fifth Congressional District five questions that focused on topics ranging from education to war and from the economy to veterans' services. Here is Question 5: With the problems of medical and mental health issues coming into the spotlight for our veterans, especially those recently returning from Iraq, what legislation do you envision to ease their burdens? What support will the government give them? Dale Brown (I) There are veteran support programs in place to help our …
As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the four candidates for the Congress in the Fifth Congressional District five questions that focused on topics ranging from education to war and from the economy to veterans' services. Here is Question 4: Do you forsee any infrastructure projects funded by the federal government to come and if so how will you advocate for Massachusetts for those projects? Dale Brown (I) I would advise all states to immediately set up planning commissions to begin and continually maintain and update needed infrastructure plans to be ready for …
As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the four candidates for the Congress in the Fifth Congressional District five questions that focused on topics ranging from education to war and from the economy to veterans' services. Here is Question 3: Do you feel the Department of Education is playing an important role to students of Massachusetts? Dale Brown (I) The federal DOE does not educate anyone and cutting it back 75% would let the states take more control of their own education system while removing many layers of wasted bureaucracy. Bob Clark (I) No. I believe if …
As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the four candidates for the Congress in the Fifth Congressional District five questions that focused on topics ranging from education to war and from the economy to veterans' services. Here is Question 2: As the economy comes back into a period of growth, albeit very slowly, what legislation if any do you envision that might further its development along, specifically in Massachusetts? Dale Brown (I) Reducing taxes and stabilizing regulatory burdens will encourage business expansion. Tax credits for hiring in the manufacturing …
As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the four candidates for the Congress in the Fifth Congressional District five questions that focused on topics ranging from education to war and from the economy to veterans' services. Here is Question 1: As we approach the 10-year mark to the War on Terror, what do you see as a timetable, if any, of withdrawing from Afghanistan? Dale Brown (I) We should have been withdrawn 5 years ago so I will settle for ASAP. Our original mission could have been completed in 2 years had Iraq not shifted our focus. We are now engaged in a …
