State Senate: Question 1 -- Influence

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 know what it takes to deliver
funding and aid to these communities.

Jamison Tomasek, Republican

I would represent Tewksbury well because I am a real person who is more similar to the people of Tewksbury than my opponents. Having lived in the Merrimack Valley virtually my entire adult life, yet without the issue of having grown up in one of the towns, my first allegiance is to this district as a whole as well of course to the needs of our state. I have a greater sensibility to our issues; specifically I would never have supported increasing the sales tax or the alcohol tax because I am aware of our close proximity to New Hampshire shopping. I intend on allying myself with like minded legislators of both parties in our region to push legislation that works for us, rather than doing the leadership's bidding, as I think they (leadership on Beacon Hill) do not have the needs of towns like Tewksbury as a priority.