Issues

ISSUES

Constituent Services

This is perhaps the single most important issue - giving you the help you need. My job is to be your advocate. If you need help with:

legislation - to fight to create, remove or amend
a state agency
state tax issues
a state road or highway
a city or the federal government
a publicly funded privately run entity
or virtually anything else

... my office is there to help you. If your concern is not under my office's jurisdiction, I will point you in the right direction and help be your voice.

My goal is to give you the help you need where ever you may need it, and to minimize the presence of the government out of your life if you don't want government in your life. We can and shall be a government of, by and for the people.

Government Waste

I want to know if the tax dollars that were spent were spent well. I am a steward of your tax dollars. Based on my professional experience, I know how to look for outcomes and I know how these are different than outputs. I also know the questions that other politicians who don't have my government accountability / performance measurement experience don't know to ask. Beacon Hill needs leadership on this issue. In other words, are we wasting money or not? I will get to the core of this question.

I don't take anything on faith and I don't assume anything. I read reports and see if the research methods were done correctly. Many times they are, many times they are not. I don't go along with report's conclusions that don't have good methods.

I have filed legislation that will:

measure if prison programs work
measure if sex offender treatment programs work

Mental Health

Since as much as 26% of citizens are afflicted with mental illness over the past year (and 45% over their lifetime), either chronic or temporary, we need someone who understands their needs and the needless and insensitive stigma they may face. Mental health services are an important staple in Attleboro or any community. I am a strong advocate for mental health services and mental health awareness. This is an issue I am very passionate about.

I am endorsed by the National Association of Social Workers, and the 1199 SEIU (United Healthcare Workers East).

Education

Public education is the great equalizer and what will keep Massachusetts competitive. Today's children are tomorrow's adults. Education is the foundation of good citizenship. Yet, many teacher are forced to use their own money to buy classroom supplies. Many local schools are in disrepair. The student to teacher ratio of often too high. Special education and IEPs are important and they strains local budgets. My fiancee is a teacher. I personally see how much of her own hard earned money she spends on classroom supplies.

I am "Recommended" by the Massachusetts Teachers Association.

Crime

Evidence-based crime prevention is the key to public safety, and Massachusetts can be a national model for crime prevention. I am a leader on criminal justice reform in Massachusetts! I fight to pass evidence-based crime policy

I have sponsored bills to:

measure if prison programs work or not
add pedophile to the definition of a level three sex offender
drafted a bill that will help train police to use existing gun laws to reduce violence where it is happening by the people committing crime.

As you read about my perspectives, no one will agree with everything I say.
That is to be expected; I have never found myself to be in 100% agreement with anyone 100% of the time.
The important thing to consider is whether or not I am looking out for the average person, the person who needs help,
and people who can't get help when they need it.