Voters meet state rep hopefuls in forum

By Amanda McGregor , Staff writer
Salem News
Published: January 07, 2008 12:00 am
(page 1 of 3)
MARBLEHEAD - North Shore voters digested a lot more than bagels and fruit yesterday morning at a debate among the five candidates vying to serve as state representative for Marblehead, Swampscott and part of Lynn.

With less than a month until the primary election, close to 200 people packed the Meet the Candidates Breakfast hosted by Temple Emanu-El. Contenders sounded off on education, public safety, special interest groups, casinos and whether public employees should accept a state health insurance initiative.

"I was impressed by some of the candidates I didn't know," Marblehead resident Gail Goldberg said after the debate, "and now I've written others off."

The candidates running for the 8th Essex District House seat are Democrats Cesar Archilla and Lori Ehrlich, Republicans John Blaisdell and Tanya DeGenova, and independent Mark Barry. The post was vacated in November by former state Rep. Doug Petersen, who stepped down to become state commissioner of agriculture.

"It was a very strong panel," Swampscott resident Paul Levenson said of the candidates. "They were articulate and had lots of energy."

The candidates started by briefly introducing themselves, and then they fielded a series of eight questions with a two-minute limit, such as "... What are the priorities of your district ...?"

"We have major issues," said Mark Barry, a lawyer who lives in Swampscott. "We need more state funding for education ... (and) special education should be paid for by the state."

Cesar Archilla, a lawyer from Swampscott, noted his work on Lt. Gov. Tim Murray's campaign and collaboration with legislators such as state Rep. Michael Costello, D-Newburyport, with whom Archilla formerly worked as an assistant district attorney for Essex County.

"I formed relationships that will enable me to be an effective representative, not just a freshman representative," he said. "There needs to be collaboration, sitting at the table and engaging in active discussion."

Environmental activist Lori Ehrlich echoed Archilla's call for collaboration and touted her work in creating two grass-roots nonprofit groups that combated local pollution problems, including the removal of Salem power plant waste from the bottom of the Wenham Lake reservoir.
"In both instances it was about making life better for the people in my community," said Ehrlich, a Marblehead Democrat. "Working toward a better life for everybody - that's what I'm about."

Republican John Blaisdell, a retired Marblehead police officer and former union president, emphasized that he is "a negotiator, not a litigator."

The debate ran about an hour and a half and was moderated by Howard Nunes, a Swampscott resident and a trustee of Temple Emanu-El. He pressed the candidates on abortion, stem cell research, immigration, gay marriage and gun control - lumping them together in a packed question about "hot button social issues."

Republican Tanya DeGenova of Marblehead, who was born in Germany, said she will be a "voice for all law-abiding citizens."

"Having undocumented people in our country, breaking the law and living here in the shadows, is actually a national security issue," said DeGenova, who was an FBI agent for 25 years. She said of undocumented immigrants who aren't paying taxes: "I don't feel you should have any rights."

DeGenova told the audience, "I will fight for lower taxes and economic development and prosperity in our district."

Marblehead resident Peggy Blass, who is supporting Ehrlich, said she wanted the debate topics to include library funding.

"Libraries are just 1.5 percent of a community's budget, and it's never enough," said Blass, a trustee of the Abbot Public Library in Marblehead for the last 16 years. "How are they going to ensure that the oldest form of democracy will continue to exist?"

Swampscott resident Dave Whelan said the debate strayed a little. One question was: "Who do you like for president, and why?" Most of the candidates replied that they hadn't made up their minds yet.

"I would have liked to hear more about local issues as opposed to national issues, but I thought the format was great," said Whelan, who is chairman of the Swampscott School Committee.

Overall, voters said the debate gave them a good opportunity to hear an array of viewpoints from each candidate.

"I was concerned this format would be fluffy, but it was very effective," said Laura Kurzrok of Marblehead. "I think some of the candidates are very well-informed, and others have strong hearts and a commitment to the community, but have less understanding of the issues.
"I left with very strong opinions about each of the candidates."

The Republican and Democratic candidates will compete in the Feb. 5 primary and the final election is March 4. The Temple Emanu-El Brotherhood provided the breakfast and organized yesterday's debate.