BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION NOV. 4-6, 2016) — THE PLANET ends this tumultuous week with one of the final political presentations of Campaign ’16 — local style. We present statements from the candidates seeking district seats in the state House and Senate. Running for Senate, Christine Canning (R) faces Adam Hinds (D). For the House, Chris Connell challenges Tricia Farley-Bouvier. We present the statements of Canning and Connell, unedited as received. THE PLANET received no material from the others.

CHRISTINE CANNING FOR STATE SENATE

For over twenty-five years, the same party has dominated with the same ideas, that haven’t been able to fully implement.  As a result, our area has remained the poorest county.  We are riddle in retribution, corruption, and nepotism.  It is time, for change.  If you haven’t met me, I am Chris Canning the Republican candidate.  Why should you think about voting for me in this one election?  1.  As a Republican, I am in the minority party, which means I can serve on up to three times the committees as my opponent.  This means you will be heard, and represented in many more areas.  2. My track-record, coupled with my education, expertise, life/work experience, make me the best candidate to represent you and your interests.  I strongly encourage you to go online to PCTV to Chanel 16, and watch the BCC Senate debate.  I am the actual licensed school administrator, certified teacher, who is completing her Doctorate in Educational Policy.  If you have a child who is ELL, SPED, Bullied, or wants a quality education, I assure you that I am the one you must vote into office.  Fact:  I understand compliance law, unfunded mandates, educational budgets strain on towns/cities, and have been a whistleblower protecting the health, welfare, and safety of children against fraud.  I understand federal ESSA, and stand firm against MCAS testing — which cost us $150 million dollars this year.

After years of seeing discriminatory practices, which has denied our economies human potential — and cost souls opportunities — I am dedicated to protecting civil liberties.   As a whistleblower, and a person elected or appointed to several civil rights’ based boards, I will defend MGL 151b so that discrimination stops in the workplace and our area.  The freedoms granted to you should not be violated.  As a Constitutionalist, I believe you have the right to: Freedoms of speech, religion, assembly; The right to petition the government; The right to procedural due process; Freedom from discrimination for protected classes, which are characteristics such sex, race, and national origin; and support all the other Amendments for which you are afforded, without prejudice. I would like to see more inclusion so that people who are overweight have stronger protections beyond the American Disabilities Act.   Further, I would like stronger anti-bullying acts implemented so that people are secure from abuse, harassment, and third-party actions, which are targeted with malicious spirit

The Gun Owner’s Action League (GOAL) and the National Rifle Association (NRA) have endorsed my candidacy with top marks, because of my support for the Second Amendment.   Left-wing, Harvard Lawyer, Alan Dershowitz is often quoted, “Foolish liberals who are trying to read the Second Amendment out of the constitution by claiming it’s not an individual right or that it’s too much of a safety hazard don’t see the danger of the big picture. They’re courting disaster by encouraging others to use this same means to eliminate portions of the Constitution they don’t like.”  I agree the Second Amendment is pivotal because if it falls, precedence is set to chip away at concessions which will deny us the rights to be free in our papers, free to exercise religious freedom, and freedom to expression.  Moreover, lawful gun owners are subjected to the most stringent laws and need a Senator who will stand up to politicians, like our Attorney General, who bypass Congress, our legislature, to make unilateral moves based on her beliefs, and not that of our Constitution.

In the Senate, I will serve people, not special interests.  Our people have been subject to too much regulation, and we should be free from government intrusion.  Government should be smaller, smarter, and more efficient. If we are serious about attracting jobs, increasing small business growth, and enticing long term livable wages, we need to have a Senator who is willing to address and to work towards decreasing industry restrictions to improve the ease of doing business in our four counties.  Currently, with the taxes incentives that border us from competing states, we need to stop our interventions and regulations which interfere with employers’ ability to compete.  Through deregulating industries we can seek greater competition, so that issues in transportation, technology (broadband), banking, and energy offer us more viable options.

I believe in helping Americans balance work and family without fear of punishment or penalty. Our paychecks should not be spent on poorly run or loosely monitored government programs.  Social programs should lift people out of poverty.   We need to look at repealing the current Senator’s vote, so that Estate taxes lower.  You were taxed on that money, worked hard to earn it, and it should go back to your beneficiaries, and not to serve the random welfare programs of the Commonwealth.   We need to eliminate certain corporate taxes, so that businesses will relocate to the area providing professional, midlevel, skilled and unskilled jobs with benefits to rebuild our middle class.

America should be energy independent.  As one of two Republicans acknowledged for willingness to  save the environment, and not to take energy money, it is essential I am elected, as my opponent and the Governor have taken energy money (see OCPF reports) — and the pipeline is still on the table at our end of the state.  I will not be locked into the backdoor deals currently going on to push “energy bills”, when other options are out there beyond the obvious to secure our carbon footprint, lower our bills, and make sure that people don’t have to chose between “propane and food” in the winter.

Our local security in food growth is essential, as is our connection to the APR program.  However, we need a slaughter house which uses ‘halal’ methods.  Currently, our animals must travel over 60 miles.  We need more subsidies, money from the federal government, and a change to the farm inheritance system for the Agricultural Community.  Further, we need to repurpose some land for the growth of hemp to sell to industry, and make our working farms profitable.  We need to utilize our food tourism, to emphasize our commitment to growing organic, look at new byproducts industries growing in the dairy industry, and make sure that those in agriculture can sustain and growth by selling to industries such as specialized microbreweries in a competitive manner.

We need to look at livable wages so that elderly Americans have the right to retire with dignity.  We need to continue building affordable elderly housing which offers a secure environment for their protection.   Elderly need a single payer care system, so that premiums associated with Medicare are eliminated.  Elderly incomes are often reduced, and we should offer a model system much like that of the United Kingdom to create quality in the later years.  Elderly need proper nutrition, transportation options, and be further protected from abuse.  Further elderly must be protected from con-artists, greedy family members, and those who might take advantage of vulnerable states.

A public transportation system built to connect south county with NYC, and Pittsfield with Boston, will not only increase income possibilities, but will create better housing prices, while eliminating isolation.  We need a better connection on the interstate to our area between Exit 2 and 3 on the Pike, and a weekly bus that models the Cape Cod Region, which takes our people to Boston hospitals once a week.  Moreover, we need faster shipping and transportation routes that encourage business competition.   Most importantly, we need an UBER system of competition to help those who live off the grid, or work shifts beyond 8-4pm.

As my fifteen point economic plan is very in-depth and lengthy, you may refer to my website or request an appointment with me to discuss, my strong expertise in supplier diversity options, small business assistance, and government contracting. (canning4senate@gmail.com) or refer to my past explanations found in the Eagle or Berkshire Trade and Commerce.

Lastly, we need to support all stakeholders by funding body cameras for police, offering cultural training, increasing penalties for dealers, and restoring law and order so that tax payers feel secure without fear of MS-13 gang members, shootings, and gang violence.   There must also be greater accountability void of retaliation which is transparent so that community building occurs on a regular basis.  This in turn will increase an atmosphere of better law and order to increase tourism, and encourage a healthier nightlife.  I would encourage a “duck-tour” bus, a link to the GO-Card tourism franchise, and a paved-off shopping area much like those seen in Europe, to make our area a longer-term “destination” and not just a place to visit.

This November, easily and effortlessly, you can enact these changes by electing me, CHRIS CANNING, for Senate.  Thank you for your bipartisan support to change our area for the better.

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CHRIS CONNELL FOR STATE HOUSE 

Nine months ago I began a campaign for State Representative for the 3^rd Berkshire district. My decision to run was based mainly on the financial state of the city of Pittsfield. We as a city can no longer fund large projects for the foreseeable future due to the city hitting our tax levy limit. Large projects such as a new police station and major infrastructure repairs such as dams, roads, ADA complaint streets, sidewalks and intersections as well as specialized educational needs will be unattainable due to our heavy debt burden unless we can get our fair share of tax revenue from the state. That’s why the city of Pittsfield needs a much stronger representative with years of business and municipal experience who understands the needs of the city if we are going to continue to grow.

My background varies from working in the corporate world managing millions of dollars in sales to owning a small business to owning and managing rental property. I moved to Pittsfield 14 years ago to take care of my mother who has lived in the same house on Pomeroy Ave. since 1979.

In 2009, I decided to run for city council because I was frustrated with things going on in city government, and no longer wanted to complain without being part of the solution. I was defeated in my first attempt, however I didn’t give up and became involved in the city by serving on the traffic commission. In 2011, I was elected to my first term on the council and have been serving ever since. All of the time I have served on the city council, I have tried to be an independent voice echoing the needs of the residents. I have always tried to find new ways in which the city could run more efficiently thereby saving the residents an unnecessary tax burden. I have had some success as well as some failures. But I have continued my quest to find new and innovative ways to help the city.

I am running as unenrolled or independent for the State Representative position because I represent the hard working people of Pittsfield.  From the dishwasher to landscaper to contractor, I understand your needs because I have worked at all of these positions in my life and at times holding two to three jobs at one time. I want to represent the residents of Pittsfield regardless of political party to ensure that all of your voices are heard.

This race between myself and the current state representative comes down to basically two things:  Performance and Priorities.  In their 5 years in office my opponent has not passed any legislation they have sponsored. That represents 25 bills. In fact, two pieces of legislation that were sponsored, if passed, would have severely affected the citizens in a very negative way. House bill H1590 would have made all of the veteran’s agents become employees of the Dept. of Veterans services and the department would appoint the agents regionally. This would have meant that veterans services would be consolidated to approximately 25 locations and our veterans would have to travel great distances in order to receive guidance on their benefits. Is this how we reward our veterans who have protected our way of life?

House bill H3142 which was sponsored by my opponent requested a pilot study to investigate the effect of a vehicle mileage tax. If enacted, this would have severely affected the residents of Pittsfield and Berkshire county who by our geographical  location have to drive further distances because of anemic public transportation. The residents of the eastern part of the state would have shouldered much less of the tax. Is this true representation?

Over two years ago, the police advisory committee asked for an increase in the fines for jaywalking from our state representative as they currently are only $2.00 and not being enforced because of the low amount. This request fell on deaf ears. This is a quality of life issue here in the city especially on our thoroughfares.  This did not seem like a large request as home rule petitions have been passed on other issues for the city fairly easily by former state representatives.

It’s clear that we need a change in representation. This has been the common theme in the hundreds of conversations that I have had with residents and business leaders since I started my campaign. I represent that change. My performance and my priorities serving the public on the city council have always been for the the public good. I encourage everyone to view my website at www.chrisconnell.org to learn more about me as a person and as a candidate.

This city needs help and we will not get there by re-electing the same person. Elect Chris Connell on November 8th. Thank you.

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THE PLANET thanks the candidates for their words and for their actions. It’s not easy putting your name out there for public office, especially if you’re trying to buck The System, as these two are. THE PLANET heartily endorses Canning for Senate and Connell for the House.

With that we open The Comment Line.

Have a great weekend, everybody.

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