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I am running for state representative because Beacon Hill is broken and failing the citizens of Massachusetts. As a husband, father of three young children in the public schools in Boxborough (Acton-Boxborough Regional School District), and businessman with a long and ongoing career in the private sector in my job with IBM, I have the experience needed as a facilitator in a dynamic political environment to drive change that makes sense on a broken Beacon Hill. I will always look out for voters’ interests over the special interests as I take a thoughtful, businesslike approach to the State House to reform our government, drive out corruption and inefficiency, and hold the line on taxes. There are clear and stark differences between your two candidates for state representative. The similarities end with the fact that we each have three children who attend the public schools in our respective towns. I have a heritage as an independent who recently joined the Republican Party as the vehicle for the kind of change needed in our one-party state. My opponent is the former chairman of the Lunenburg Democratic Committee and partisan activist supporter of (and hand-picked successor to) our current state representative. My opponent was a proud progressive liberal until recent polling and consultants told her she needed to redefine herself towards the middle, where I reside. As a result, she recently began using phrases like “independent-minded” and “fiscally responsible.” Independent-minded, despite being endorsed by the usual progressive liberal Beacon Hill insiders and special interests. “Fiscally responsible,” despite the fact that the School Committee must, by law, live within the budget passed at Town Meeting, not the override budget that she vocally supported at 2007 Town Meeting while publicly chastising those who were supporters of the town living within the means of the taxpayers. I have 20 years of experience and skill honed in the private sector. My opponent has six years of School Committee experience. My relevant, real-world experience as a facilitator experienced in building consensus among those with different viewpoints but a common goal is much needed on Beacon Hill. My fresh, thoughtful, business-minded approach will support the governor as we drive reform and impose accountability where there is none. My ability to listen to and welcome diverse opinion, to objectively analyze and determine the common-sense way forward, and to build a coalition around the areas of agreement while diligently working through the differences, is a change that makes sense for the State House. I’ve worked on budgets, spending plans, return on investment, and financing plans on complex, large customer partnerships for years, and am ready to take real-world experience to the State House to work on your behalf. I honor my opponent for her service on the Lunenburg School Committee. However, she has attempted to re-shape herself as a candidate who knows business. Just this week, she proposed creating a “Help Desk” for small business. If she lived in the world of business as I do, and had met the countless small business owners in our towns and at Chamber of Commerce events as I have, she would know that the last thing small business owners are looking for from their state representative (particularly one who has no business experience) is to open a “Help Desk” for them. Small business owners want their state representative to help remove the burdensome regulations, permitting processes, and state-imposed mandates and taxes that hinder them from creating and growing a successful, job-creating business here in Massachusetts. I have been campaigning throughout this race on the need to reign in the imbalance of state government spending versus revenue. Careless overspending by the super-majority-run state government and the recent economic downturn have combined to reduce the state government’s “sources of revenue” — our tax dollars — to the point that the bills can’t be paid. The governor has finally called for the type of reform and accountability I have been championing throughout my campaign. As we address this budget imbalance, my top priority is to protect local aid sources, which are critical to our towns. State funding for our schools, town services, and vulnerable seniors must be defended. I will work tirelessly to cut inefficiency, waste, and ineffective government programs first, and local aid last. There is a clear difference between your two candidates for state representative regarding the governor’s power to make more budget cuts. My opponent stated in our debate at Acton Town Hall last Tuesday that she is in favor of handing her duty and responsibility to the governor. You can watch our responses to this question on the ‘Videos’ section of my KurtHayes.com Web site. I would be honored to receive your vote Nov. 4. I will always represent your interests over the special interests, and will drive “Change That Makes Sense” for our commonwealth. |