Published by The Boston Globe
Candidates for state representative Denise Garlick and John O’Leary squared off Thursday night in the first of three debates in the race for the 13th Norfolk seat, which represents Needham, Dover and Medfield.
O’Leary, a Republican who held several posts during Mitt Romney’s administration, and Garlick, a Democrat who serves on Needham’s Board of Selectmen, met at the the Dover Town House for a forum with panelists from YourTown Needham, the Community Newspaper Company, and Needham Patch.
In their opening and closing statements, the candidates reemphasized their commitment to improving the state’s economy, creating jobs and improving education. O’Leary, a researcher at Harvard University, promised to correct what he called corruption and inefficiency in the State House. Garlick, a nurse at Wellesley College, pledged to maintain local aid.
When asked about closing the achievement gap in Massachusetts schools, O’Leary proposed charter schools as a solution. He did not talk about charter schools in the primary race against Joshua Levy.
“A holistic approach to education is helpful, but I’d recommend in a lot of places that the parents are the first line of defense,” said O’Leary. “Challenges in schools come from problems in the home.”
Garlick praised the recent switch to national core education standards in Massachusetts and the receipt of federal funds, saying the aid would help train teachers and alleviate strain on school budgets.
Garlick also said affordable housing is necessary for closing the achievement gap, and would not support ballot Question 2, which would repeal the state’s affordable housing law known as Chapter 40B.
“It’s a very powerful tool to use to increase diversity,” said Garlick. “It’s a strength for all communities.”
Chapter 40B gives extra muscle to developers trying to build housing in towns where less than 10 percent of the housing stock is considered affordable. It allows builders to bypass many local zoning rules and boards in a streamlined approval process.
O’Leary agreed that Chapter 40B should remain, but only because there would be no more efficient law to replace it that would encourage affordable housing. He said the law is flawed because the limits on developers’ profits are not enforced.
Both candidates said they supported the recent legislation that requires public schools in Massachusetts to create anti-bullying policies, citing work in Needham schools to craft an anti-bullying plan as important.
Asked about handling adversity on Beacon Hill, O’Leary said he had the courage to vote as a member of the Needham School Committee against an override that included funds for the construction of the High Rock Middle School, a difficult decision given the priority Needham families give to their schools.
Garlick pointed out that O’Leary abstained from the override vote rather than voting no, but O’Leary said that abstaining sent a strong message of disagreement with unnecessary spending.
O’Leary also asserted that Garlick voted against a referendum allowing towns to change healthcare plans because of special interests.
“The Statehouse is 90 percent Democratic,” said O’Leary. “They enjoy their support.”
Garlick said the referendum included other parts she did not agree with, and she worked to compromise on a rate-saving healthcare plan.
“For all present and future needs, I will stand up to make those changes,” said Garlick. “You have to find people who will work with you.”
Both candidates agreed that healthcare costs in Massachusetts need containment. Garlick said she would look at waste in the system and make sure payments go directly to care and not to insurance companies.
O’Leary said Massachusetts will need to make costs transparent, reform tort laws, and break the link between healthcare and employment.
Both candidates opposed ballot Questions 1 and 3, which would eliminate the tax on alcohol and decrease the sales tax from 6 percent to 3 percent. O’Leary said he would rather focus on cutting income taxes to 5 percent to boost the economy, and both candidates agreed the state would lose vital revenue streams if those taxes were repealed or decreased.
“To lower the sales tax to 3 percent is too far to go given the economic realities and budget challenge,” he said.
Asked about improving public transportation, O’Leary suggested a tax on gasoline as an incentive for people to use public transit, drive less, and use more efficient cars. O’Leary said he did not support building more transportation infrastructure or promoting clean energy and other sustainable technologies because he does not believe the state can afford such projects and should not focus on addressing climate change.
Garlick, however, said that constant commuter rail delays underline the need for revenue, especially for the MBTA. She also said that green technologies are a good way to create jobs in Massachusetts and are necessary to address climate change.
“There’s a great synergy between concerns for climate change and what Massachusetts is trying to do in terms of jobs and economic development,” said Garlick. “It can only help us to heal the planet.”
The candidates will debate again today at 1 p.m. at the Needham Senior Center at 83 Pickering St. They will also meet at a forum sponsored by the Women’s League of Voters of Needham on Monday at 7 p.m. at the Broadmeadow School, 120 Broad Meadow Rd. in Needham.
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