Candidates meet seniors at forum

By Natasha Clark

Reminder Assistant Editor

SPRINGFIELD The Massachusetts Senior Action Council and the Sixteen Acres Civic Association sponsored a Meet the Candidates event on June 21.

In attendance were First Hampden and Hampshire District Senate candidates Ron Cutler, Enrico "Jack" Villamaino III, Rosemarie Mazza-Moriarty, and Kevin Corridan; Ninth Hampden District House candidate Megan Anzalotti; and 12th Hampden District House candidates Angelo Puppolo, Jim Driscoll, and Chris Leisey. Ninth Hampden District incumbent State Representative Sean Curran (D-Springfield) was represented by his brother Kevin Curran, and First Hampden and Hampshire District Senate candidate Gale Candaras (D-Wilbraham) by her husband, Arthur D. Wolf. Candidates were given two minutes to answer questions about issues facing the senior community. Audience members were given index cards upon arrival to write down their questions. Later selected questions were read by president of the Massachusetts Senior Action Council John Bennett.

The two questions posed involved senior housing issues and home health care availability.

Speaking for Candaras, Wolf noted that there were provisions in the budget for senior housing, and that Candaras supports those.

Leisey (R), a member of the Wilbraham Planning Board, said the town has passed senior housing developments, but that there are still not enough senior sub-divisions.

Kevin Curran said that senior housing is one of the main priorities of his brother, Sean Curran. According to Kevin, as a member of the Housing Committee, Curran believes there should be tax breaks for widows and widowers.

"It is a priority to keep people here in Massachusetts," Assistant District Attorney Corridan (R) said. One of the ways he said more senior housing can be accomplished is with an increase in local aid.

East Longmeadow Select Board member Jim Driscoll (D) said that the town tries to work with senior housing developments like Brownstone Gardens.

"It makes good economic sense to help seniors stay in their homes," he added.

City Council member Rosemarie Mazza-Moriarty (D) said she "won't claim to be an expert" on the issue, but that she will make it a goal to become more educated. She also said that the city needs to maintain the properties it does have.

First time candidate, and former aide to State Representative Cheryl A. Coakley-Rivera (D-Springfield), Megan Anzalotti (I) said that other states have proven methods of providing living establishments according to incomes. She said the city needs to have private organizations come in and offer viable solutions.

City Councilor Angelo Puppolo (D) said that the council has started a number of initiatives. He explained that, while the assessed values of homes increasing is a "good thing," unless residents are selling their homes, it isn't. He said he plans to find ways to get money back to the community.

"I've been a fighter for the City Council and I will continue to do that on a state level," he added.

Jack Villamaino (R), former aide to State Senator Brian Lees (R-East Longmeadow), said his grandparents remind him of the issue facing seniors while incomes are fixed, tax rates are not. He said he will make senior housing a priority.

Candidate Ron Cutler (R) said he knows first hand the importance of senior housing, and that he will support any legislation that would keep seniors in their own home.

Candidates also touched on the Equal Choice bill. The Equal Choice bill rebalances how the Commonwealth spends nearly $2 billion in state and federal taxes on individuals likely to require nursing home care.

The new bill would provide an avenue of options to seniors and the disabled to receive services to help them stay in their own homes.

Mazza-Moriarty said that right now applying for home health care is a lengthy process.

"Massachusetts has to do a better job supporting seniors [who want] to stay in their house as they face medical challenges," she said.

Anzalotti said it is important to have that choice and not have the state make it for you.

Puppolo said "being that we're the number one nation ... we should be able to provide seniors with what they deserve and have earned."

Villamaino said home care is cost-effective.

He said home health care is a "win-win" situation for both the family considering it and the state.

Driscoll said he has professional experience in this area. He used to help design programs for senior housing and said that he "whole heartedly supports" home health care.

Corridan had the same sentiments, adding that he'd do everything to protect the rights of seniors.

Kevin Curran, a pediatrician, said that Sean Curran often discusses health care issues with him, and said that "good health care is about the quality of life. This is a no-brainer."

"Absolutely stay at home as long as possible," Leisey said.

Wolf said that Candaras supports home health care as well.

The Primary Elections are Sept. 19. The General Elections are Nov. 7.