State Senate Election: Bob McCarthy

Four Democrats seek to fill the Second Suffolk and Middlesex state senate seat vacated by Steven Tolman. The special preliminary election will be held Tuesday, Dec. 13. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Patch asked all four candidates a set of questions, the same set, to find out more about them.

1 - What areas of the state budget could be altered to make it more efficient, and how?

Local aid should be increased — it is an investment in our future while preventing future layoffs and service reductions.

After job creation, I think our first order of business is to focus our attention and energies on finding a way to control the continuing and escalating costs of health care. Premiums and procedural costs are strangling both our government and our family budgets and we need to get these costs under control ASAP.

With respect to the budget, my first order of business would be to call for a forensic audit to be conducted on the budget to identify duplication, inefficiencies and waste. Our budget should contain and reflect only items that are funded by our taxes. All other expenditures and earmarks should be separated and listed otherwise from off-budget revenues.

I would also suggest that we implement zero-based budgeting to determine if each program is still meeting its mission and how successfully and efficiently. Only then can we determine specific areas to cut.

2 - How will you ensure you serve all the residents of the district, not just those from your hometown, or current district?

First and foremost, I will be a full-time Legislator with NO outside interests or employment. I would have regular and standing office hours in each part of the district and my staff will be directly assigned to each part of the district. Furthermore, we will track and monitor each and every constituent call to ensure that a request and/or need is being attended to.

In addition, I will continue (as I have done throughout the campaign) to travel the district regularly attending events etc where I will be accessible and omnipresent to citizens at all times. Lastly, I will have regular newsletter and other written and electronic communication (including tele-town halls) with citizens soliciting their input on issues regularly.

3 - How would you encourage businesses to move into the district, and what kinds of businesses and development would you like to see come in?

There are three methods (not mutually exclusive) to attract businesses to the district:

• First, remove the red tape and provide certainty which eliminates a level of risk that drives businesses to locate in other cities and towns.
• Second, undertake a marketing program (can be done relatively inexpensively) utilizing existing successful businesses to sell us and how and why we are attractive.
• Third, provide tax incentives and not grants based on performance with strict monitoring. This may be impractical at this time.

If we have appropriate protections and oversight in place, I would not discriminate about which businesses we attract provided that they are good citizens, good neighbors, and treat their employees well including good jobs with livable wages, etc.

4 - How would you like to see public schools in Massachusetts improve?

Stop teaching to pass the MCAS. Teach children how to think and analyze.

Let’s not be afraid to explore best practices from across the state and the country but also from around the world. Then, let’s implement those types of practices in pilot schools and where successful, utilize in all of our schools. Additionally, we need to restructure our community colleges (in concert with particular industries) to train future employees to meet the needs of the job opportunities of tomorrow.

5 - Tell us something about yourself that voters wouldn't know, but should know.

I wear my heart and my emotions on my sleeve and I am an emotional guy — yes, I have been known to shed a tear at certain types of commercials and life situations. But my emotion should not be mistaken for weakness – as anyone who knows me can attest! My emotions further stoke my determination to fix a problem and make someone’s life better. As I think folks know by now, I am a passionate, vigilant, and relentless advocate. When I start a program or an initiative, I WILL see it thru to the end.

What you see is what you get. I am an open book and have been throughout this campaign.