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Date: 8/16/2022
SPRINGFIELD – Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Doughty and lieutenant gubernatorial candidate Kate Campanale addressed resident questions and highlighted their legislative agenda during an Aug. 10 town hall at the Sheraton Hotel.
Doughty will compete with fellow Republican gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl during the Sept. 6 primary. The winner will face off against Attorney General and Democratic candidate Maura Healey in the Nov. 8 election. Doughty is a business owner of the manufacturer Capstan Industries and lives in the Wrentham area.
Campanale is running against Republican lieutenant gubernatorial candidate Leah Cole Allen for the September primary with the victor competing against a Democratic candidate – either Mayor of Salem Kim Driscoll, state Rep. Tami Gouveia or local state Sen. Eric Lesser – in the November election.
Campanale previously served as a state representative in the 17th Worcester district between 2015 and 2019 where she served the Worcester and Leicester areas.
Legislative Platform
Residents posed several questions to Doughty and Campanale on their legislative agenda. Doughty broke down his major objectives into five categories – ensuring affordability, defining a political balance in the State House, providing a top-rated education, fortifying public safety and improving the jobs economy.
Doughty stressed that the cost of living in Massachusetts has reached an exorbitant rate. The candidate highlighted several plans to address the rising costs, including suspending gas tax for 12 months and releasing a tax plan that would cut sales tax from 6.25 percent to 5 percent.
“I love a good tax plan because you want to get it right. You go too high, and everybody leaves. You go too low, you don’t have enough essential services,” said Doughty.
The candidate wants tax relief efforts to support business prosperity and citizens alike. Doughty also expressed his belief that Healey would not approve tax relief if elected as governor.
“Absolutely not … She believes in higher taxes and higher spending,” said Doughty.
Doughty touted his team’s creation of several platform plans on his website that flesh out his legislative agenda. Some of the initiatives include a plan for reinventing the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and a plan focused on the prosperity of Western Massachusetts. His latter plan suggests ways to boost the job market and economy in the region, including the potential of including an “anchor business” to support growth.
Doughty and Campanale expressed interest in the east-west rail project that would increase public transportation in Western Massachusetts. However, they noted the importance of stabilizing the MBTA’s services before expansion. Doughty envisions improving the MBTA’s safety procedures, declining finances and employment if elected to office.
“Within eight years, we will be rated one of the best public transportation systems in America. I guarantee it … I know how to fix these things, I’ve been doing it for 30 years,” said Doughty.
Regarding the decaying Roderick J. Ireland Courthouse, Doughty suggested his support for Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno and Peter Picknelly-led Opal Real Estate Group’s plan to construct a new courthouse and multi-use space on the Riverfront.
“Our opinion is tear it down and start with a new courthouse. The proposal of a mixed-use building on the river is an ideal spot … it would be one of multiple sites we look at,” said Doughty.
When considering the recent passage of sports gambling, Campanale expressed that the decision was “a good step forward by the Legislature.”
“I think it will be a good revenue stream for Massachusetts,” said Campanale.
Doughty also expressed fears about Massachusetts’ dearth of public safety.
“We got to be tough on crime … The way our state is going right now, it takes us on the path of San Francisco, Los Angeles and Oregon. Those citizens are leaving, and they do not feel safe,” said Doughty.
Doughty said he is working to appeal to unenrolled voters. The candidate argued that his pragmatic message and detailed plans set him apart from other candidates.
Doughty vs. Diehl
During the town hall, Doughty articulated several weaknesses of his Republican competitor. He shared that Diehl declined to participate in multiple debates while emphasizing the candidate’s lack of experience and extremist vision.
“He has no experience to be governor, not a minute of executive experience. I have 30 years, he doesn’t have 30 minutes … He’ll never win the general election, we already know that. What’s the whole point of this whole thing if you can’t win the general election?” questioned Doughty.
Doughty also alleged that several of Diehl’s colleagues during his time in the State House decided to endorse Doughty’s campaign instead.
“Everyone that he knew in the state Legislature, and he worked in the state Legislature for a number of years, they are all endorsing us … it just says a lot,” said Doughty, who alleged that Diehl went against his promise for defending lower taxes and small businesses prosperity by voting for a tax increase.
Reflecting on Diehl’s 2018 candidacy against U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Doughty said the debates were “difficult to watch” due to Diehl losing “all three debates by a significant margin.”
“We got wiped out. It was one of our biggest losses as conservatives in the state … I don’t want to repeat that,” said Doughty.
Looking forward to the primary, Doughty said he will continue to advocate for prosperity in Massachusetts.
“Our focus is on making Massachusetts a prosperous and good place to live for every citizen,” said Doughty.
To learn more about Doughty and his campaign, visit http://chrisforma.com/.