State Senate candidates to battle it out for Hampden DistrictDate: 8/25/2010 Aug. 25, 2010
By Katelyn Gendron
Assistant Editor
GREATER SPRINGFIELD -- None of five candidates campaigning to represent Hampden District in the state senate have a clear path to November's general election, rather, they've got a primary to win first.
The three Democratic candidates -- State Rep. James Welch, Susan Dawson, former mayor of Agawam, and first time candidate Ronald Patenaude will vie for their party's nomination -- while Agawam City Councilor Robert Magovern and political newcomer Kenneth Condon will compete for the Republican candidacy in next month's primary elections.
Each of the candidates is pounding the pavement along the campaign trail using varying methods but all carry the same overall message: they'll work passionately for a better tomorrow.
"My main goal is trying to help the people of the region and the district," Welch said. "I have two small children and I'm reminded everyday of the next generation that's coming up and I want to leave it better than when [I was] growing up."
Welch (http://jimwelch.com), a six-year state representative, said he has the experience in the Legislature to get the job done as a senator. He added that being a public servant requires accessibility and accountability, both of which he as "a very good track record."
"I've made several thousand phone calls to voters in the district and knocked on thousands of doors and had good response there," he explained of his campaign strategy. "Campaigning is about making personal connections with the voters ... being able to share some common ground and see the issues that they're facing right now."
Welch said he and voters are most concerned about job creation, job opportunity, quality education and the economic recession.
When asked how he plans to win the primary, he replied, "We have a great organization of people who are committed to running a very positive, clean campaign focused on positive issues and building cooperative relationships to improve the quality of life in the district."
Patenaude (http://ronforsenate.com) believes he's the man to represent Hampden District because he said he has no political past.
"I've dealt with politicians and worked with them and the only reason I want to be a politician now is because I want to bring a working class person to the State House. I don't think the people there remember what it's like to work for a living," he said.
Patenaude has worked as a mental health and substance abuse counselor since 1993 and has served as president of United Auto Workers Local 2322 since 2004.
His campaign focuses on four major issues: affordable healthcare, job creation, quality education and transparency in government.
"I would work toward better transparency and accountability about where our tax dollars are going," Patenaude said of working toward transparency. "Most of the non-profits in this state are services that have been privatized. How much of it is going toward lawyers and consultants?
"I have no problem paying my taxes. I pay them gladly. I just want to know how they're spent," he added.
Magovern (www.bobmagovern.com), a 10-year Agawam city councilor, Region 1 chair of the Republican State Committee and member of the Agawam Rotary Club and Historical Association, explained his tactics include door-to-door campaigning, speaking to constituents about their concerns.
He said if elected, he would work to reduce the sales tax to 5 percent, cut governments' excess spending, improve education, create jobs, rebuild infrastructure and gentrify underutilized or dilapidated properties throughout the district. The only way to create jobs and improve the economy is to lower taxes, Magovern added.
He noted he's a conservative, who believes in pro-life and is "totally 100 percent for family values." Magovern is a husband of 25 years, a father of two and grandfather of two.
When asked about his overall campaign strategy, Magovern replied, "Right now I'm focusing on the primary. I've been out there and 10 years as a city councilor and member of the Westfield State College Board of Trustees. I helped found the St. Patrick's Day Parade and served on Conservation Commission. My [Republican] opponent hasn't really done any of this.
"My [Democratic] opponent is part of the problem not part of the solution. He's [Welch] a nice guy but totally wrong on the issues. He's 100 percent in bed with the unions. He'll vote for whatever the Democratic Party tells him to," he continued.
Condon (www.condon4senate.com), American International College's chief financial officer from 2007 to July 2010 and vice president for Financial Affairs and Treasurer for Boston University from 1981 to 2007, said he's focused on making the Commonwealth and Hampden District more business friendly.
"We do not have a business friendly environment in Massachusetts," he said. "I question how the state of New Hampshire can function with no sales or income tax and lower gas and liquor prices, yet we seem to have a budget shortfall most of the time and need to raise 'stealth taxes' [such as] $25 to fish in the ocean. Look at the Registry [of Motor Vehicles] who tried to impose a $5 [tax] to try to speak with an employee. They're [legislators] looking for all kind of creative ways to tax the heck out of the people of Massachusetts.
"The most difficult part is to cut expenses. There's never any retrenchment when times are tough. When the economy is suffering you don't go raising taxes, you cut programs until times correct themselves," Condon continued.
Casinos are not the solution to the state's economic woes, he added.
Condon said other campaign issues include pension reform, education, healthcare and bipartisan relations.
"I'm running as a Republican and we are in the minority so we need to work with the Democratic majority to implement change," he added.
Primary elections will take place Sept. 14 and general elections in November.
Calls to Dawson were not returned.
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