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| By G. Michael Dobbs Managing Editor CHICOPEE State Representative Joseph Wagner has launched his campaign for re-election and he'd like Chicopee residents to cast their ballot for him, but most of all, he wants residents to participate in the up-coming election. Wagner believes this year's governor's race is a crucial one. "Look at the record of recent Republican governors," he told the Chicopee Herald. "People haven't had a lot to be happy about." "We [the Legislature] haven't always had a partner who is engaged," he continued. "Look at Romney's travel schedule. I guess he's been out of state for more days in the last three months than he has been in western Massachusetts for the last four years." What Wagner fears is a low voter turnout for the primary on Sept. 19. "There's a disconnect for people with regard to their government and their part and involvement with the government," he said. The big issues that should be driving people to the polls to pick a candidate are taxes, affordable healthcare, education and a clean and safe environment, he said. The people the citizens elect make decisions about these issues and if voters don't take the time to select a candidate their lack of action can be "to everyone's detriment." Wagner said there are three kinds of people "those who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who wonder what happened." He said he has been fortunate to have the support of people who have tried to be part of that first group. Wagner said that with his own campaign he will run on his record and accomplishments. He said, "It doesn't hurt to point to the city's two new high schools, road improvements and a record amount of local aid." "I'm in partnership with the people of Chicopee," he said. He said that economic development was a strong issue for the House's last session and that it will continue in the next session. Wagner noted that the exodus of young people from the Commonwealth points to problems in both job opportunities and cost of living "We have the finest higher education in the nation. Why aren't young people staying?" Wagner asked. Answering his own question, he said it's the state's high cost of living. He said the Legislature has tried to fill the void of leadership on this issue since the governor has been traveling around the nation running for president instead of trying to develop jobs. Wagner said the implementation of the new universal health care bill would be another challenge of the new session. He said the plan was a result of the Commonwealth being at " a breaking point" over the health care issue. "It's tough medicine," he said. "It requires everyone to pay something." The bill has proven to be controversial and Wagner said with smile that when "everyone was screaming at once I knew we were moving in the right direction." Wagner said that after 15 years of service he still enjoys the challenges of the job and acknowledged that he is closer to the end of his time in office than the beginning. The only aspect of the work that "has gotten old" has been the travel to Boston. "But that got old two weeks after I started," he said with a laugh. |