November 02, 2012 - Southbridge Evening News

www.webstertimes.net Friday, November 2, 2012
• THE WEBSTER TIMES • 15
ELECTION QUESTIONNAIRE
Ryan Fattman
INCUMBENT, R-SUTTON, 18TH WORCESTER DISTRICT
WEBSTER, DOUGLAS, OXFORD, SUTTON
As Election Day is next week, Tuesday, Nov. 6,
Stonebridge Press has reached out to our local
candidates on the State House level to get their
“last words” out to their constituents before
the big day. The following are 10 questions
that deal with the issues at hand this election
season. In the interest of fairness, the same 10
questions were given to all the candidates, and
the order at which they appear in this newspaper
were chosen at random.
What role, if any, should the state play in
efforts to regionalize their services?
Which services?
Local control is an important aspect for
towns in Massachusetts, including Webster,
Oxford, Douglas and Sutton. I was elected to
the Sutton Board of Selectmen twice, and
during my two terms we worked with other
towns to regionalize some services like nursing,
and water and sewer expansion. As
autonomous towns, we took these actions to
save money and preserve services for local
residents. However, we did it without the
state forcing us to take action. I do not
believe the state should force regionalization
upon towns. A better way to approach this
issue is to have the State provide incentives
for regionalizing services. If two towns
agree to regionalize nursing or health services,
the state should provide incremental
increases in local aid. Before prioritizing
regionalization, the state should concentrate
on stopping unfunded mandates on towns.
As a state representative, I have fought to end
unfunded mandates on towns, and I successfully
helped increase local aid lottery funds
in fiscal 2012 by $369,269 to Webster, Douglas,
Oxford and Sutton.
What are your thoughts on bringing casinos
to the area?
“When the issue of casinos came before the
Legislature, I fought for two things. First,
local control; and second, no taxpayer
bailouts of casinos. On local control, I fought
to make sure each town could determine its
own destiny. I worked across party lines to
ensure that the people in a town where a
casino is proposed are able to vote on
whether a casino can come to their town, or
not. My thoughts on a casino coming to our
area is that each town deserves to vote on it,
and my efforts as state representative have
made that possible. Lastly, the people of
Webster, Oxford, Douglas and Sutton should
never be on the hook to bail out a casino. We
must stop taxpayer-funded bailouts.”
Do you think the formula the state uses
to determine Chapter 70 aid for school
districts should be reworked?
Ryan Fattman
“Without question, the formula needs to be
changed. Towns like Webster, Oxford,
Douglas and Sutton are not receiving their
fair share of education funding. Over the
last two years, I have worked hard to
increase local service funding. I was proud to
co-sponsor budget amendment #483, which
increased local aid and education funds by
$369,269 in fiscal 2012 to Webster, Douglas,
Oxford and Sutton. However, we must continue
to do better. If I am re-elected, I will continue
to work to increase education funding,
reworking the formula to account more
appropriately for results-based funding.
Towns should not be penalized if they are
doing a good job educating our kids. I have
the support of both Democrat and
Republican school committee members who
I will continue to work with to improve the
Chapter 70 aid formula.”
What legislation that was either voted
down or sent to study would like to see
come to a vote in the next legislative session
in January? What would be the first
bill you would sponsor yourself when
the new legislative session starts?
“This past legislative session I was successful
in helping to stop EBT Welfare abuses,
increasing local aid money, and fighting
against tax increases. We have more to do on
all fronts. First, I’d like to stop the ‘cash
back/cash access’ on EBT Welfare to prevent
abuses. I also want to see an ID placed on the
EBT welfare card so that it cannot be used
inappropriately. For example, I’d like to stop
the EBT card from being traded or sold mischievously.
Second, I’d like to continue to
increase local aid funding so we can fund
local services. Various proposals to do this
were sent to studies. It’s time for action.
Finally, rolling back the income tax to 5 percent
is important to me because the people of
Webster, Douglas, Oxford and Sutton overwhelmingly
voted for this (nearly 70 percent
in favor). There are also great economic benefits
to rolling back the income tax to 5 percent.
Suffolk University’s Beacon Hill
Institute researched the issue and concluded
that the roll back would create about 15,000
jobs. The people of Webster, Douglas, Oxford
and Sutton deserve those jobs and deserve
their vote to be implemented. This will be
one of my first pieces of legislation for the
new session.”
Do you believe there should be a requirement
that people who wish to vote in
Massachusetts must present some sort of
identification? Why or why not?
“Yes, I believe in and will vote for an ID
requirement to vote. I co-sponsored a voter
ID amendment to a piece of election legislation,
but unfortunately it was defeated.
There are few freedoms as important as the
right to vote. Men and women sacrificed for
that freedom, and the integrity of our voting
process should always be preserved. We are
required to show an ID to do many things,
including registering a vehicle. The town of
Bellingham recently passed a voter ID law
that allows voters to also show a property tax
or utility bill, Social Security card and other
forms of ID. I think this makes sense and is
reasonable to allow for flexibility for voters.”
Do you think illegal immigrants who
wish to attend a state college or university
should pay the in-state or out-of-state
tuition rate? Why?
“I am adamantly opposed to in-state tuition
for illegal immigrants because it encourages
illegal immigration. Period. As someone
who worked unloading trucks in early morning
hours, then roofed houses during the day,
and filed medical records at night to pay for
my college and graduate school education, I
think in-state tuition for illegal immigrants
is an insult to working families and legal
Americans trying to pay for school. As a legislator,
I am trying to stop illegal immigration
in Massachusetts, by penalizing businesses
that hire illegal immigrants and stopping
taxpayer funded benefits for illegal
immigrants like healthcare and instate
tuition. Massachusetts students should
receive in-state tuition, not illegal immigrants.
I support legal immigration, but I
seek to stop the attraction of illegal immigration.”
How are you going to promote an economy
that both creates jobs and improves
the district’s environment?
“I am going to promote an economy that
improves the district’s economic environment.
This is why I was endorsed by the
NFIB, the largest organization of small businesses
in America. I was named a bi-partisan
“Great 8 Legislator,” out of 200 legislators by
the Restaurant & Business Alliance for my
commitment to growing the Massachusetts
economy and creating jobs. I have and will
continue to improve the district’s economic
environment by voting to keep tax and regulatory
burdens low on businesses. I do not
support increasing taxes. I have and will support
policies that reduce energy costs so
businesses have lower fixed costs and more
money to hire people. As we do these things
and build our economy, we can also help the
environment by offering tax credits to companies
who are environmentally responsible
and employ sustainable resources.
Companies can use these tax credits to get
our economy moving, create jobs and hire
people.”
What do you think you can do to create
greater citizen involvement beyond voting?
“I believe you create greater citizen involvement
through engagement. During the
course of this campaign and as a state representative,
I have gone door-to-door to nearly
every house in Webster, Oxford and Douglas
to create greater citizen involvement in our
democracy. I believe citizens need to know
their elected officials, and elected officials
need to know the people they represent. I go
door-to-door so that I can earn people’s trust
by having them know who I am and that I
care about their futures. I also go door-todoor
so people know how to contact me if
they need help. I visit senior centers, schools
and attend community events to engage people.
I believe this approach of engagement
helps increase citizen participation and
involvement because it grows trust between
people and their elected officials.
I also think you increase citizen involvement
by being positive. I am very sincere about
working across party lines to get things
accomplished. ‘People over party’ is my philosophy.
I believe citizens get turned off by
political partisanship and negativity, which
reduces citizen involvement. I do not care if
an idea is a Democrat idea or Republican
idea. I care whether the idea is good or not.
This is how I conduct myself as a state representative,
and it is how I will represent the
people of Webster, Oxford, Douglas and
Sutton.”
What is your stance on Question 2 —
“Death With Dignity Act”?
“As a raised Catholic and Christian, I am not
in favor of doctor-prescribed suicide, which
is Question 2. Doctor associations and disability
groups are both allied in their opposition
to this question because of the uncertainty
that exists with it.”
Keith Forrest Brown, of Douglas, via e-
mail: “One of the ballot questions at the
polls this November is in reference to the
medical use of marijuana. We have all
read the pros and cons printed in the
state election pamphlet mailed out
recently. I would be curious to know how
each of the candidates would vote on this
issue and how they have arrived at their
decision.”
“If medical marijuana becomes law in
Massachusetts, it will not change federal law,
which states medical marijuana is an illegal
substance. Federal law supersedes
Massachusetts law under every circumstance.
This means someone purchasing or
selling medical marijuana can still be arrested,
convicted and sent to federal prison for
many years. California passed a similar law
years ago, and the federal government still
arrests and imprisons California residents
and businesses purchasing and selling medical
marijuana. While I am not opposed to
the concept of medical marijuana, I am
opposed to the current medical marijuana
ballot question because I do not want to create
a law that will send the people I represent
to prison.”
Bay Path students design successful fundraiser
BAY PATH
continued from page 1
to make a difference in the community,”
said Gabrielle Nabozny, of
Webster.
“We’re not really known for
things,” added Heather Oslowski of
Charlton. “We wanted to show what
we can do.”
The first samples came out this
month and were on display at Bay
Path’s annual open house last week,
and they tag-teamed with the cosmetology
program’s earlier pink
hair extensions fundraiser. But the
group also plans to reach out to the
community to spread the word.
“I feel they’re setting a precedent
for the years to come,” said teacher
Dawn Wilson. “Other shops are also
doing it. … Hopefully, everyone will
be aware of it.”
Of the six students present
Thursday morning, Oct. 26, four
already had family connections to
cancer. Nabozny said her mother
had been doing all the right things,
taking care of herself, her diet,
watching for the signs, but found
breast cancer anyway 10 years later.
Fellow Webster resident Brittany
Singelais said the same thing of her
grandmother, who is fighting it
now.
“To help out in any way possible
is a very big impact, even the littlest
help,” Singelais observed.
National Denim Day is an annual
fundraiser in which people pledge
to donate $5 to the American
Cancer Society and wear jeans
sometime that stands out during
the month of October.
“Any day during the month will
work, especially if you choose a day
that makes it more special for
everyone,” www.denimday.com
states. “For example, if your company
already observes casual
Fridays, you may want to hold your
event on another day of the week.”
The month as a whole is considered
National Breast Cancer
Awareness Month, and this campaign
is aimed at that illness, but
ACS funds research into most
forms of cancer. The Society is also
the beneficiary of the Southbridge
Relay for Life, an annual June event
sponsored in part by this newspaper.
Breast cancer specifically is the
target for the annual Festival of
Giving Trees, which is being held
the first weekend in December and
benefits the Silent Spring Institute,
Mass. Breast Cancer Coalition and
Harrington Hospital’s Cancer
Center.
“Many people are now looking at
our increasingly polluted environment
as a possible culprit” in breast
cancer, the Silent Spring website
states. “Breast cancer incidence in
the United States has risen since
World War II, when industry began
pumping out pesticides, plastics,
solvents and other chemicals, leaving
residues in our air, water, and
soil. Laboratory studies suggest
that many of these chemicals may
cause breast tumors, hasten their
growth, or leave mammary glands
more vulnerable to carcinogens.”
While there’s no solitary cause of
breast cancer, research is finding
numerous factors are involved.
Besides the presence of certain
high-risk genes (most famously,
ones called BRCA-1 and BRCA-2,
which account for about 10 percent
of the cases), more and more evidence
is linking it to high exposure
to estrogen and various chemicals
that mimic it. Estrogen is natural,
but most of the mimics are manmade
and can be found a very wide
array of products including many
plastics, cosmetics, some kinds of
fabric, and other things.
“[M]ost chemicals — including
most in common use — have never
been tested for their carcinogenicity
in animals, and so it is not known
whether they might cause mammary
gland tumors or other tumors,”
another Silent Spring page states
while introducing its database of
chemicals that have shown some
impact in “at least one study.”
The database is at http://sciencereview.silentspring.org/mam
m_browse.cfm.
Gus Steeves can be reached at
gus@stonebridgepress.com or 508-
909-4135.
TRI-VALLEY
Monday, Nov. 5: Vegetable soup, breaded
fish sticks, rice pilaf, spinach, fresh fruit.
Tuesday, Nov. 6: Meatballs with onion
gravy, egg noodles, Scandinavian vegetables,
pineapple.
Wednesday, Nov. 7: Beef and broccoli, seasoned
rice, carrots, mandarin oranges.
Thursday, Nov. 8: BBQ chicken, mashed
potatoes, country blend vegetables, bread
pudding.
Friday, Nov. 9: Cheese omelet, O’Brien potatoes,
mixed vegetables, cinnamon crumb
cake, small cake slice.
DAUGHTERS OF ISABELLA
• Nov. 11-13: Atlantic City’s Tropicana Back
to Atlantic City’s great casinos! $179. 7 a.m.,
Webster, 7:30 a.m., Southbridge. Two
Delicious Buffets, $25 Cash Bonus, Trop
Show. The best deal to Atlantic City is right
here! Join your friends!
• Dec. 2: Hukelau Hawaiian Christmas Tour
Spend Christmas in Hawaii! $65. 9:30 a.m.,
Webster, 10 a.m., Southbridge Great show and
cuisine / Bright Nights too! The Christmas
spirit will fulfill you on this wonderful
Christmas tour!
MENUS
UPCOMING EVENTS
PAJAMA DRIVE
The Daughters of Isabella-Bernadette
Circle #709 is sponsoring a Pajama Drive for
needy children in the Webster School System.
Children in grades K through 12 will benefit
from your donations of pajamas, T-shirts,
socks, slipper socks, etc. Drop-off locations
are Sacred Heart Church, East Main St.,
Webster after all Masses from now until
Thanksgiving and Jeanne’s Hair Loft, 244
Main St., Webster. For more information,
please call Sharon Whalen at 508-410-0208.
MONTHLY MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT
The monthly meeting of the Daughters of
Isabella-Bernadette Circle #709 will be held
on Tuesday, Nov. 6 in the Guadalupe Chapel at
Sacred Heart Church. Mass will be celebrated
for deceased members at 6:30 p.m. followed
by the meeting.
For more information, please call Linda
Paquette at 508-949-1218.
Make checks payable to: Bernadette Circle
No. 709, P.O. Box 201, Webster, MA 01570.
Contacts: Jan Caouette, 508-887-2215; Suzanne
Clearwater, 774-230-0669 or 508-943-4579,
Bernadette Langlois, 508-943-8047.