State rep candidates face off on education money, immigration Alan Burke

Published: January 30, 2008 12:38 am

Salem Evening News
MARBLEHEAD -- There weren't any easy answers offered by four of the five candidates for state representative at last night's Salem News forum. Along with a determination to provide better public services, especially education, came doubts and misgivings about raising the money that might pay for it.

All agreed, for example, that Swampscott is being ill-treated when it comes to state aid.

"They've got a very legitimate argument in my opinion," said Republican John Blaisdell, a former Marblehead police officer. He suggested that a determined representative on Beacon Hill could get Swampscott help like the emergency bill passed yesterday to rescue Salem schools from drastic cuts.

"Swampscott has gotten a raw deal," agreed independent candidate Mark Barry, a plumber turned lawyer. "We need a legislator who's going to go up there and make a little noise."

"We are in need of CPR," said Democrat Cesar Archilla, a lawyer from Swampscott, "Cesar's Proactive Response."

"You always have a little fat," said Republican Tanya DeGenova, citing her history in government as an FBI agent. She complained that too much state money is wasted coddling criminals and illegals. "Deval Patrick needs to get his priorities straight."

Republicans DeGenova and Blaisdell will face off in Tuesday's primary, while Archilla will compete against fellow Democrat Lori Ehrlich in their party's primary. The two winners will be matched against each other and Barry in a special election in March. The winner will replace Doug Petersen, who stepped down, in representing Marblehead, Swampscott and a small section of Lynn on Beacon Hill.

Ehrlich, a certified public accountant with much experience as a volunteer on the state level, was unable to attend the forum due to a prior campaign commitment. The candidates presented their positions with little interaction. Often there was agreement.

For example, no one supported the idea of taking state aid from poorer cities like Lynn -- which receives more than $8,000 per student -- in order to help Swampscott, which receives little more than $1,000 per student.

"The needs of the children in Lynn are no different than the needs of the children in Marblehead and Swampscott," said Archilla, the only non-Marbleheader in the race. "I'm not advocating for taking away from one community to alleviate the problems of another."

"Would I take money from the children of Lynn?" Barry asked. "Absolutely not."

"Most of the kids in those cities have greater needs than our children have," Blaisdell said.

Several pledged support for more education spending.

"It's a short-term investment for a long-term goal," Archilla said.

On the other hand, no one advocated for higher taxes, not even meals taxes.

"I'm opposed to taxing the same people over and over again," DeGenova said. "Why don't we cut the benefits of those who are not paying taxes? We could save a bundle."

DeGenova wasn't the only candidate to embrace alternative methods of saving state money.

"I actually favor casino gambling," Archilla said, although he cautioned against locating a casino nearby -- at Suffolk Downs, for example, with its traffic problems. "We have an opportunity to create some revenue."

"I don't think we can turn up our noses at any source of revenue," said Barry, noting that he sees North Shore seniors heading by the busload to Foxwoods in Connecticut.

"I wish we were talking about some other form of business coming to Massachusetts," Blaisdell said, even as he supported the plan.

"I don't believe casinos is the answer," DeGenova said, citing her experience in law enforcement and warning of increases in crime and addiction. "What happens in Vegas should stay in Vegas."

A question on Patrick's recent effort to bypass the Legislature to award in-state tuition to illegal immigrants also brought DeGenova to attention. She recalled coming to the United States at age 13, running a gauntlet of tests and hurdles. "I have no tolerance with people who come into our country (illegally). They break our laws. ... They should not have any state benefits."

But Archilla urged that it's in the state's interest to educate people already here. "Do we want a good work force or not?"

Barry agreed -- although he wants a law that requires the student to have been educated in Massachusetts primary and high schools. "So we don't have the ad that Massachusetts will educate anybody who doesn't have papers."

For his part, Blaisdell suggested that in-state tuition be offered first to people who work in Massachusetts, paying taxes, while living out of state. He criticized the governor for suggesting that he bypass the Legislature. "He's the governor. He's not a king."