Warren Talks Taxes, Business During Tewksbury Campaign Stop

Democratic Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren made a campaign stop in Tewksbury Tuesday morning and pounded away on a familiar theme – Sen. Scott Brown and other Capitol Hill Republicans are working for the super rich and letting the middle-class foot the bill.

“I don’t believe in holding 98 percent of families and 97 percent of small businesses hostage to give the top two percent tax breaks,” said Warren. “Scott Brown is working for a Republican majority in the Senate and that’s bad for Massachusetts.”

Warren spoke to a small gathering of supporters and media in front of the Tewksbury Central Fire Station.

Warren dismissed suggestions by Brown that the tax policies she supports would be “job killers” by stymying the growth of small businesses.

“The system is rigged against (small business),” said Warren. “They have to deal with a complicated tax code with tons of loopholes built by lobbyists.

“I don’t want to hurt anyone but I do want an even playing field.”

During her visit, she was greeted by about two dozen Tewksbury firefighters and was given a tour of the station by Capt. Mike Sitar.

During the tour, Sitar and Warren chatted about grants, equipment and the need for a new Central Station. Warren, who has been endorsed by the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts, promised that, if elected, she would advocate for federal funding to support the needs of local fire departments.

"In part, that's what this election is about. It's about votes," said Warren.

According to Warren staffers, the stop in Tewksbury was something of a last-minute decision at the recommendation of Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, who campaigned with Warren on Tuesday. Warren stopped in Tewksbury on her way to Methuen to receive the endorsement of Methuen Mayor Stephen N. Zanni and former mayors Bill Manzi and Sharon Pollard.

It could be said that by visiting Tewksbury, Warren was campaigning in enemy territory. Tewksbury has a strong Republican core and voted heavily in favor of Brown when he was first elected to the Senate.

However, members of the Tewksbury Democratic Town Committee, who turned out at Central Station to support Warren, said it may be premature to put Tewksbury in the Brown “win” column on Nov. 6.

“There are many independent, moderate leaning people in Tewksbury,” said Marie Sweeney, who sits on the Democratic Town Committee, the State Democratic Committee and is Chairwoman of the Greater Lowell Democrats. “And with President Obama at the top of the ticket, I think that’s going to go a long way.”