On this page you'll find the answers provided by candidates in the 2006 local state representative / senator election to the questions posed by readers of Saugus.net. Remember that candidates are not required to participate at all or answer any particular questions. Remember also that these answers are directly provided by the candidates themselves do not reflect Saugus.net's official standing in any matter. If you are a candidate yourself and would like to participate, be sure to see the candidates' information page.
The questions themselves were:
and a freebee question:
Political Web Page: http://www.falzone.org/
E-mail Address:
Town: Saugus Precinct: 7
Current Positions Held / Political Experience
State Representative, 9th Essex District, 2001-present House Committees: Ways and Means, Post Audit and Oversight, & State Administration and Regulatory Oversight Chairman of Democratic Party in Saugus, 1996-2004 Town Meeting Member, Saugus, 1993-2000 Democratic State Convention Delegate, 1993-Present State President of College Democrats, 1994-1996 Founder of the SHS Young Democrats
Currently A Member Of...
State Representative, 9th Essex District, 2001-present Owner of computer consulting business, Mark Falzone Consulting Instructor-Advanced Network Operating System Engineering Northeast Regional Coordinator, 1998 Democratic State Coordinated Campaign
Degrees Held / Education
Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government, Master of Public Administration, June 2007 Boston College, B.A. in Political Science and Communication Saugus High School graduate, with honors Attended Saugus Public Schools, K-12
Currently A Member Of...
Saugus River Watershed Council Saugus Action Volunteers of the Environment (SAVE) Saugus Democratic Education Fund, Former Chairman and Founder Saugus Business Education Collaborative, Former Board Member Friends of Breakheart Reservation Friends of Lake Quannapowitt Sons of Italy Mixed Lodge #2692
What are your plans for the regional school systems?
The Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School District can benefit from two improvements at the state level. We need to make further progress to financially assist the local transportation of students to regional schools, and we need to have Saugus pay a more reasonable share to lower the cost to Saugus taxpayers. Changing this share is difficult to do due to resistance from other communities, but the impact of such a change would be helpful to Saugus. I am in constant contact with our Northeast Metro Tech school committee member Peter Rossetti regarding various other important regional school issues such as improving the quality of education for our students. This year, the state legislature boosted Chapter 70 funds to all school systems, including Saugus which received an additional $305,975 over last year. The boost in state aid for Northeast Metro Tech translated into savings of $74,936 for Town of Saugus. This was the first time in recent memory that the town received a mid-year reduction in its payment.
What are your thoughts on open space?
I have directly increased the availability of open space in Saugus by having the state add three acres to Breakheart Reservation / Camp Nihan, and also I have passed legislation to add an additional 4.3 acres of open space from the state to Saugus, at no cost to our town, for permanent conservation and recreation use at the Lynn Fells Parkway Extension (behind Sanders Drive). In addition, I have proposed numerous reforms to Chapter 40B so that unscrupulous developers cannot overburden our town resources and infrastructure and by overdevelopment reduce our valuable supply of open space even further. My commitment to open space is affirmed by my sweep of the environmental endorsements. I have been endorsed by Clean Water Action, the Sierra Club, and the Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters. Additionally, the Massachusetts Audobon Society has rated my voting record as a 100% environmental voting record.
How can we improve our transportation infrastructure?
We must seriously address the needs of Route 1 by expanding lan es at bottlenecks and by replacing the old pipes under Route 1 that regularly cause traffic jams when, due to age and especially in winter conditions, they rupture and tie up traffic for miles. We need improved mass transit and smarter growth to also take more traffic off of our overburdened roads. One such initiative is my work with Senator McGee and the entire Lynn legislative delegation on bringing the Blue Line to Lynn. After over 50 years of talk, we are effectively moving the ball forward on this project with help from Congressman John Tierney.
What else do you think is important?
I will fight for every possible state dollar to enhance our quality of life and take the pressure off property taxes and fees. This year I fought successfully to uncap State Lottery Assistance, increase Chapter 70 Education Assistance, and create a better aid formula for Saugus. From my position on the powerful Ways and Means Committee I have an outstanding record obtaining state grants, and will relentlessly pursue every avenue available to benefit our seniors, schools and public safety. I provided strong leadership in placing the School Building Assistance Program on a sound financial footing, with $40 million for our district this year. Every municipality should share in these funds so important to our children's education. Lowering property taxes helps our senior citizens to continue living at home. I also successfully advocated for new homecare services, giving seniors a choice to remain at home where they are such a valuable part of our community. This saves the taxpayers money as seniors have alternatives to expensive institutional care. We should broaden this program. I have supported important new initiatives for access to quality healthcare, for education at every level, and for a comprehensive economic stimulus program. I will continue to fight for education excellence, healthcare quality and cost-control, the environment, and working families, and take pride in endorsements by every state environmental organization, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, and North Shore Labor Council. The stakes in this election are high, the contrasts clear. As the only candidate with experience in government office, I have a strong record of delivering state funds to our community. I grew up here, understand our priorities, and care deeply about our quality of life. I am dedicated to the hard work providing high-caliber representation we all deserve, and would be honored to continue serving the community I love.
Submitted: 2006/09/19
Political Web Page: http://www.grantforrep.com/
E-mail Address:
Town: Saugus Precinct: 6
Current Positions Held / Political Experience
Various postions held in polital campaign technical director to Sen. Kennedy to advance man for VP Gore
Current Occupation / Work Experience
Community Affairs. Various positions held in construction, local are nonprofits and policital organizations
Degrees Held / Education
BA finance, graduating with honors, BC
Currently A Member Of...
Local 223
What are your plans for the regional school systems?
Regional school systems only work in the communities they are located in when adequate funding is met by the state and standards are maintained. In the recent past, legislators have allowed an undue burdon of expenses to be shoudlered by the communties that the regional school system serves.
What are your thoughts on open space?
Open is an important asset to every community and one that must be cherished. This can only be done by making sure that any land swap of open space, whether surplus property or conservation property, has the input of all interested parties concerning open space. Many questions arise when this is done and answers are agreed upon. A recent example is the Caruso land swap. No public opinion was sought by our present representative putting this valuable piece of tax revenue in jeopardy.
How can we improve our transportation infrastructure?
We must encourage more use of public transporation starting with the expansion of the Blue LIne.
What else do you think is important?
Communication is the key that unlocks the door to better government. Because of the lack of communication between the people and the politicians, the people have become disinterested in politics because they feel left out of the loop. Elected officials need re-connect and make a concerted effort to include everyone into the policital process. It is then that progress and accomplishments can be reached - together.
Submitted: 2006/09/19
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