State Rep Debate – Questions

Rep. Tim Toomey, Avi Green (D), and David Slavitt (R)

Moderated by former Cambridge Mayor Ken Reeves

Wed., June 30, 7 PM, 575 Cambridge St. Inman Square

The pre-determined questions for the first half of the debate were provided to the three candidates last week.

1. All three candidates have said they would vote against a Constitutional Amendment defining marriage at next year's Constitutional Convention. We'd like to explore why for each of you: Are you against majority rule on this issue? Or simply pro-same-sex marriage? Or some other basis?

2. Your opinion on the Community Path extension from Davis Square to Lechmere, and potentially through North Point to the Esplanade? Particularly your opinion on access from East Somerville to the Lechmere T station or other public transportation improvements resulting from these projects? Your opinions on alternative and public transportation in general, and its priority with regards to automobile transportation?

3. Would you vote to keep Tom Finneran as speaker? Would you support a term limit on the speakership? If next year's vote is a repeat of the previous vote between Tom Finneran, Byron Rushing, and Brad Jones, for whom would you vote?

4. The federal Assault Weapons Ban is set to expire on Sept. 13 of this year. What would you do in the Massachusetts legislature to implement the ban at the state level if the federal ban expires?

5. Do you think there's a fair way to implement the death penalty in Massachusetts? What impact do you think the federal execution of Massachusetts resident Gary Sampson, who may be executed in MA or NH, might have on this issue?

6. The Massachusetts Democratic Issues Convention passed the Accountability Amendment in June 2003 and the Democratic State Committee agreed to implement it as the Platform Support Card by Sept. 1 2004 (info at www.MassScorecard.org), comparing key legislative votes to the Democratic Party Platform. Will you instruct the Massachusetts Democratic Party to implement the Platform Support Card with your voting record (or would-be voting record) in time for this September's primary? Do you support the Massachusetts Democratic Party publishing your votes (or would-be votes) on the Internet, with a comparison to the Democratic Party Platform?

7. What policies and programs do you support to preserve and increase affordable housing in Cambridge and Somerville?

Sponsored by the Progressive Democrats of Cambridge

Co-sponsored by the Progressive Democrats of Somerville

Contact: eric@ericweltman.com or Jesse Gordon (617) 320-6989