Candidates Debate

The Waltham League of Women Voters generously hosted a Candidates Night event on Thursday, October 10th. For your convenience, I have noted below the time in the recording where my responses occur and briefly summarize my remarks (as well as attempting to characterize the incumbent’s remarks where they were substantively different than my own).

My responses:

Opening Statement - 4 minutes

I will look to hold the State Leadership of the Democratic Party to account on transparency, focus on improving Waltham, and defend Massachusetts against attacks from radical Republican culture warriors from other states.

Mr. Stanley defends the current legislative process.

Why are you running? - 16 minutes

I describe the concerns I have with how the state legislature has been operating during Tom Stanley’s time in office, and I discuss how I want to make a bigger difference on big issues like climate change. I also point out how often the incumbent has run unopposed.

Councillor Stanley keeps pointing out things that have already happened in previous legislative sessions and complaining about the unfair treatment of the legislature by the media.

2 Highest Priorities - 21 minutes

I will focus on government transparency and election reform that are needed to improve how we address all other issues that are of concern to Waltham. I will also focus on increasing accessibility and improving how Waltham designs its infrastructure.

Councillor Stanley talks about why he almost always votes with the Speaker of the House. Then, he talks about “implementing” policies that have already passed in the previous legislative session, which is actually the responsibility of the executive branch.

Waltham Assistance - 35 minutes

I talk about getting the money that Waltham needs to finish the projects that the city has failed to complete during Councillor Stanley’s time in office. I also discuss supporting education resources in Waltham and listening to the concerns of constituents.

Councillor Stanley talks about previous aid provided to Waltham-based organizations using legislative amendments, which I would also advocate for if elected.

Legislative Committees - 42 minutes

I honestly point out that the Democratic State Leadership will likely try to prevent me as an Independent elected official from joining legislative committees, but if given the opportunity I would prefer to be on committees that address the issues that I’ve raised elsewhere during the debate and on my website, including joint committees that negotiate compromise bills between the House and Senate.

Mr. Stanley is only on the Elder Affairs committee.

Fernald & Farm - 47 minutes

I am in support of holding the city officials to account for the obligations that they committed to when they purchased properties from the state at a discounted price. I’m in favor ensuring that we listen to all constituents, but we also need to make progress.

Councillor Stanley talks about what has already happened but does not really address potential solutions.

Legislative Transparency - 51 minutes

I’m in favor of more transparency, and that people should not have to pay for access to information that should already be available to the public. I point out the ways in which the current legislature is structured to avoid transparency.

Mr. Stanley claims no one asks about committee information, and he perceives that the issue is overblown.

Legislative Productivity - 59 minutes

I am concerned about the critical issues where the legislature continually waits until the last week of the 2 year session before attempting to pass any compromise bills between the House and Senate, which causes important, high-quality bills to fail including on climate change during the past session.

Mr. Stanley refers to the need to pass quality legislation rather than addressing a larger number of issues legislatively.

Closing Statement - 1 hour, 14 minutes

I thank the League of Women Voters, the other candidates, Waltham voters, and election poll workers. I share a list of events where constituents can meet me. Win or lose, I will be supporting candidates for City Council next year that support a city master plan, increasing accessibility, and fixing the city’s poorly designed website. I am on the ballot as an Independent Candidate with the political designation of FORWARD!

Without fully taking the time to listen and understand, Tom rudely interrupts and attacks the Republican candidate in the middle of her closing statement, because he is concerned that she perceives him as more privileged — being raised in the home of a former Waltham Mayor — than she was growing up.