Dykema, Lamb Tout Debate Performances
The Eighth Middlesex District state representative candidates debated in Hopkinton on Monday night.
Both candidates for Eighth Middlesex District state representative are touting their performances during their debate Monday night in Hopkinton.
In campaign press releases this week, incumbent Carolyn Dykema, D-Holliston, and challenger Marty Lamb, R-Holliston, defended their positions on a wide range of issues, from the economy to bi-partisanship.
"Lamb had more specifics when it came to education, controlling state spending, and reviving the economy," Lamb's campaign said.
Meanwhile, Dykema "credited her common sense approach to taxes and fiscal reform to her business education and decades of experience working in small and large local companies," her campaign said.
Dykema and Lamb fielded questions Monday night from Michelle Murdock of the Hopkinton Independent and Tom Moroney of Bloomberg News. The Hopkinton Independent and Hopkinton Cable Access Television sponsored the debate, which was moderated by Chuck Joseph. The debate can be viewed on Hopkinton Cable Access Television's website.
The Eighth Middlesex District includes Holliston, Hopkinton, precinct 1 in Medway, precincts 2 and 3 in Southborough, and precinct 2 in Westborough.
Iron Mike
10:11 am on Friday, October 19, 2012
Mz Dykema had her chance – but she went along with the Progressive herd. She did NOTHING to bring fiscal sanity to our state or make our lives better. Casinos are not the answer. Unionized daycare is not the answer.
Marty is the answer! 17 days!
Ann Green
10:37 am on Friday, October 19, 2012
Fiscal reform means cutting taxes, patronage, waste and the size of government. This is Mr. Lamb's platform. As a small businessman he knows what is needed to make MA pro-business. Our loss of a congressional district means we are losing people to states with better economic environments. It's time to end the one-party rule that has led to stagnation and corruption.
Iron Mike
10:45 am on Friday, October 19, 2012
Don't be TOO harsh on those Beacon Hill Democrats Jo. Ya' gotta realize that with the miserable jobs outlook they helped create – without corruption some of them would be on welfare!
Darlene Hayes
10:58 am on Friday, October 19, 2012
So, Iron Mike is lack of community involvement and ideas of selling wetlands the answer? He signs a pledge not to raise taxes but then adds in a caveat at the debate that he would raise taxes if there was a cost offset else where....where? Education, overtuning 2.5, services to veterans? All the things he claims he wants to do for education is paid for by our taxes, the largest part of our property taxes are allotted to schools. He wants greater accountability for failing schools, not in our district where the towns in the district have very high ratings, Where are these failing schools in OUR district? My town has a full day kindergarten option, my town that I have two kids in the school system have high qualified and managable classroom sizes. Maybe they are in Worcester and Marlboro where he also seems to be drawing supporters who can not vote for him. Would he rather working commuters be burdened with the cost of the big dig and not spread across the entire commonwealth?
I will continue to support Ms Dykema for relection who is in touch with the neeeds in OUR community.
SJohnson
11:06 am on Friday, October 19, 2012
I am an Independent and wasn't sure which one I was going to vote for but, having watched this debate several times, I am going to cast a vote for Marty Lamb. I have multiple reasons, 2 I will site here is, I like what he said about education and taxes. On the taxes front, I am sick of politicians thinking of raising "revenue" right off the bat. Marty's common sense approach is just that...COMMON SENSE. I like what he stands for.
Kelly Roney
10:39 pm on Friday, October 19, 2012
Oh, please, you've been a Lamb supporter for months.
Marty can't add. He can't lower class sizes (not currently a state call, anyway) while cutting taxes. Actually, I think he can add, and he's selling snake oil to the unwary.
Darlene Hayes
3:04 am on Saturday, October 20, 2012
Lamb claims he wants more qualified teachers who are proficient in what they teach. The Commonwealth has in place one of the highest standards for public school teachers in the country that require to have a masters degree and continual education. So, more qualified? Does he now want college phd professors teaching in the public schools? Where would these non tax funds come from to pay these pubic school professors. He must think very little of the teachers in this district. Lamb has lots of ideas, lots of propaganda, no plans of implementation, not in touch with the direct concerns in this district & lacks "Common Sense".
Dykema has the interests of this district in the forefront of every decision she makes on Beacon Hill and how it will affect our community. There is new business growth in Hopkinton from new large and small retail establishments, new residential development, growth local agricultural, solar energy & enviromental businesses plus large corporate expansion from companies like Perkin Elmer/Caliper Life and currently EMC has 256 job openings in just Hopkinton alone. This represents both small and large business growth with more job opportunities and resources to the community. Dykema listens to her constituents and is the Common Sense choice for re-election.
Jim Hatherley
11:23 am on Friday, October 19, 2012
Until there is more balance on Beacon Hill, the Speaker of the House will continue to dictate and Dykema will continue to vote with him.
... and then rationalize her votes, as if we should all be grateful for one-party government.
Our District voted for Scott Brown, a clear indictation that we want, and need, more moderate and bi-partisan Representatives to present us with more practical, common sense legislation. If Republicans cannot win here, they certainly are not going to win in Cambridge or Lawrence or Springfield.
This is the time, and Marty Lamb is the candidate we need to help restore balance and sanity to Beacon Hill.
Mindy Katz
8:06 pm on Friday, October 19, 2012
I'm for Marty Lamb all the way! If you want to know why...well, just look at all of his mailings!
Kelly Roney
10:45 pm on Friday, October 19, 2012
Lamb's so-called specifics were so vague and unattainable that they amount to mere rhetoric - exactly the kind of poorly reasoned proposal that Carolyn Dykema has the good sense to reject.
Here are some of Lamb's proposals:
Turn community colleges into research centers. This is a gross misunderstanding of their mission, and he provides no conceivable way to pay for it, anyway.
Lower class sizes in public schools, which everyone is for, but which he provides no funding for. Marty needs an arithmetic class.
Full-day kindergarten, another popular proposal that he can pay lip service to but can't fund.
This is a man who wants to have his cake and eat his and yours, too. Ridiculous.
He's running on fiscal responsibility, and yet it's becoming obvious he can't balance a checkbook.
Iron Mike
11:59 pm on Friday, October 19, 2012
I think Dykema's 'specifics' are well worth noting.
- Voted for DeLeo, now votes WITH him...
- Voted for casinos – essentially trying to balance the books on the backs of our gambling addicted...
- Voted to unionize family day care centers...
- Voted for the Transgender Bathroom Bill...[so you can be charged with a hate crime].
- Failed to do ANYTHING to lower our $103 Billion state debt; in fact, - she voted to RAISE it!
When it comes to 'specifics' – I think she is specifically the type of 'go along with the old boys' Progressive that is ruining our state's economy and driving business out of state. The PROOF is that we're only voting for nine (9) congressional seats this year.
It is specifically time for Marty – and a whole bunch more like him across the state.
Kelly Roney
9:53 am on Saturday, October 20, 2012
Carolyn opposed and voted against casinos. Mike, you're lying when you say the opposite.
There was no bathroom bill. So sorry you've lost your right to beat up transgenders.
Carolyn votes less with the Speaker than every single Republican votes with the GOP Leader.
Carolyn voted to allow family daycares to unionize, not to force them.
Massachusetts is a great place to live. The economy here is a lot better than in the red states where Marty would prefer to live.
Forbes Magazine rates our quality of life number one in the country.
K Napolitano
12:17 am on Saturday, October 20, 2012
Marty Lamb did a great job in that debate, very substantive. I can see his background as an owner in small business really contributes. He put forth substantive plans for the economy, and he's the only one who had step by step plans he could talk about to help turn things around. Clearly, he's put the thought into it, and that's what we need, a working legislator who brings forth ideas and a fresh perspective, the positive change on Beacon Hill which is sorely needed to help get us out of this stagnation.
Jul Palladino
12:27 am on Saturday, October 20, 2012
Agreed ! Marty Lamb is a successful small business owner who has managed really well and made all the right decisions in a lousy economy. That takes a keen understanding of business and how the economy works. He has the business experience and the ideas. He knows what it takes to create jobs in the private sector which are jobs that last. About 80% of jobs are in small business.
Lamb is the one who brings the reality check to Beacon Hill, and that is sorely needed. He will bring private sector solutions to an institution that is stuck in reverse. We need to move forward with Marty Lamb and ideas that work !
Darlene Hayes
2:17 am on Saturday, October 20, 2012
Lamb's NOT "flexible or versitille" in the market place, He laughed off being a lawyer saying he is only focused on a small niche in real estate. Reality check: He didnt thrive in a healthy economy, a bankruptcy on public record & attended only 4 town mtgs in 17yrs. He says education is important but the school system is the greatest % of a town's budget & discussed at more than 4 town mtngs in 17yrs. "The Holliston council for elementary schools" & "the campaign for Holliston schools" appear nonexistant or very outdated, neither are listed in the Holliston Public Schools or the Town of Holliston websites. They must have existed since on Lamb's bio but without dates so assume lack current relevance. "Common Sense", in business you promote the employee who earns his way to the next level because of efforts in the workplace. Recognition and greater responsibility is earned in business. The same applies to the public sector give more responsibility to those who have earned it is as local community servants. Lamb has not earned a place on Beacon Hill.
Dykema is well educated, business experience in small & large sectors, and community involvement including elected local positions all before going to Beacon Hill. She has earned her place as State Rep and deserving of reelection.
Kelly Roney
5:32 pm on Saturday, October 20, 2012
If Marty's a reality check, he's a bounced reality check.
His business experience has been less than successful.
Carolyn, on the other hand, has been successful at all levels, public and private.
There's really no contest if you're looking for well-thought-out, community-oriented, bridge-building representation. I feel privileged to be represented by a person of the high quality of Rep. Dykema.
Joe Barbieri
12:47 am on Saturday, October 20, 2012
Marty Lamb was endorsed by Citizens For Limited Taxation (CLT). They know who is the true friend of the taxpayer and that's Lamb. They are a terrific watchdog group. CLT really watches out for the taxpayer.
Barbara Anderson is a true and tireless champion for working families. A State Representative Marty Lamb will serve us well on Beacon Hill.
Kelly Roney
9:56 am on Saturday, October 20, 2012
How's Marty going to pay for his harebrained scheme to turn community colleges into research centers? There's a new idea that's a non-starter.
We'd all love smaller class sizes, but Marty has no credible way to pay for it. Unless you count swampland along 495!
Marty's ideas are bumpersticker fantasies like Newt Gingrich's moon base.
Darlene Hayes
10:09 am on Saturday, October 20, 2012
Maybe he will raise the funds at his event at Ken's in Framingham. One would think he would choose to host his event at a small business in the district where he is soliciting support for their votes instead of giving revenue to a business in Framingham.
Joe Barbieri
1:11 pm on Saturday, October 20, 2012
Mr. Lamb has held his fundraiser events in the district at the Marathon in Hopkinton, Carbone's in Hopkinton, Owen O'Leary's in Southborough, VFW in Holliston, and other locals.
Your jealousy shines through with these cheap baseless, empty shots.
Darlene Hayes
11:57 am on Monday, October 22, 2012
Yes Joe, Mr Lamb has been all over the district with his hand out fundraising, too bad he hasnt had his hands out giving back to his community over the years.
Gina Sabin
1:20 pm on Saturday, October 20, 2012
Dykema voted to increase the sales tax a HUGE 25%. She also voted to double tax alcohol. She also opposed the meals tax holiday voting against that. These tax increases hurt families and business. Employee roles shrink even more.
Seniors on fixed incomes get hurt with the big sales tax increase. Restaurants are hurt with no meals tax holiday. It's all a burden for families, seniors, businesses. It's a big hit to everyone living in this state. We are taxed so much.
BJ Babineau
1:25 pm on Saturday, October 20, 2012
Marty Lamb is the only person with a plan to revive the economy. Dykema has none. Lamb has the creative solutions. Dykema and the Beacon Hill gang stand for nothing but stagnation with this economy.
Dykema and Beacon Hill have done nothing to help turn things around. Their actions instead burden people and business and end up hurting more. People are fed up with the same old song Beacon Hill is playing.
Kelly Roney
5:28 pm on Saturday, October 20, 2012
Odd definition of "nothing," BJ.
Here are a few of the things Carolyn has done to help:
Kept local aid to education high. This keeps teachers and public safety personnel employed, which helps avoid the massive unemployment seen in red states.
Helped control health care costs for small businesses, for towns, and for all businesses and citizens.
Frozen the insurance rates for unemployment insurance.
What's Marty done? The real definition of nothing.
You might look around America for contrasts. You'll find that Massachusetts is comparatively doing very well. That doesn't mean Carolyn will relax. There's still far too much to do to make our lives better (even though our quality of life is the best in America, according to conservative magazine Forbes).
Darlene Hayes
2:59 pm on Saturday, October 20, 2012
What Lamb has is unrealistic IDEAS not a COMMON SENSE plan. A plan is well thought out with steps for implementation, how costs associated with will be covered, turn keyed and maintained. His ideas have none of these.
Darlene Hayes
3:34 pm on Saturday, October 20, 2012
No one wants a sales tax increase but at times its a lesser of two evils to spread the burden of the 24billion in Big Dig costs to ALL consumers than just commuters who utilize the pike. I commute a lot and a round trip in and out of Cambridge is already over $8 per day/$40 week, without the sales tax increase this was at minimum expected to double (16day/80wk) this would have been a huge financial hit for many commuters in the 8th district. In my case in particular, we are two working parents who at one time were both commuting with different schedules and sites (so capooling wasnt an option), my family's cost would have quadrupled.
With the sales tax increase an item that has a cost of a $100, the cost increase to the consumer is $1.25. Driving to NH will not make sense for anyone who has to burn more than a half gallon of gas to do so and see this as a much more fair bearable burden to ALL and not just commuters on the Pike. I dont see this as a huge burden on anyone and in comparison in New England: we all NH has no sales tax but other huge costs to live there, VT is 6% but with municipality fees can be as high as 7%, CT is 6.35%, RI and ME are both 7%. Ms Dykema voted with the people of her district in mind, not to burden the working commuters in this district to bear the weight of the Big Dig.