Candidate Allie thanks supporters

Date: 4/11/2014

I would like to thank all the volunteers for their help and hard work, on both John Veils’ and my campaigns, and everyone who voted in the special election.

Since my first days working on campaigns for Steve Pierce, Mike Knapik, Kevin Jourdain, and many others from Agawam to Milbury, including Scott Brown and Don Humason, my favorite part is working with and meeting many wonderful people.

Although, the results were not what we hoped for on election night, I am greatly encouraged by what we are accomplishing. Namely, building an effective grassroots organization of young people, working and business people, concerned taxpayers and homeowners, and retired folks, working together to make a positive difference in the way our government operates, spends our money, and listens to and serves the people.

For many this was their first campaign. They are a breath of fresh air in contrast to the negativity and political gamesmanship practiced by status quo and the media. In America, we are innocent until proven guilty. Not the other way around. There is too much innuendo, comments and opinions presented as facts in campaigns, attempting to affect the outcome of elections. In the end, the truth will always shine. Each day, our job is simply to forgive and press on. God promises to watch over and take care of us, if we let Him.

A little sunshine is the best disinfectant to the political corruption and waste that plagues our government. People should not fear what their government and politicians are doing. Government should fear the people. That is the American system, we need to restore.

Massachusetts and Westfield is at a serious crossroads. Our small, but determined group brought attention to an outrageous, but little known Automatic Gas Tax to infinity passed by our state legislature last summer. We helped place it on the statewide ballot this fall. The Democrat State Party Committee has voted unanimously to oppose this ballot question.

Let me see if I have this correct. We pay our state legislators to vote on things like raising taxes. The Democrat majority in Boston created an automatic taxing scheme which is probably illegal, definitely unconstitutional, and they are more than willing to put their efforts into fighting against having to take votes, despite an all volunteer effort gathering 130,000 signatures to place it on the ballot? Ninety-five percent of the people I asked signed the Gas Tax Petition last fall.

Massachusetts is taxing business and residents out of the state. Westfield is doing the same. This is not helping to grow our economy or keep young people from leaving our state. Even when the state had nearly a billion dollars in surplus money, it cut nearly a million dollars in local aid to Westfield and Chapter 90 funds to fix our crumbling roads.

It is very important that we continue to build and strengthen the grassroots, highlight issues that matter to us, and put pressure on our government and media to do the right thing, not just for ourselves or today, but for our children and their tomorrow.

Dan Allie

City Councilor

Candidate for State Representative