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SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass. — The Daily Voice recently sat down with state Rep. Carolyn Dykema (D-Holliston), who is running for re-election in the 8th Middlesex District. Dykema will face Republican Marty Lamb on Nov. 6.
Who will you support for state representative?
View ResultsWho will you support for state representative?
-
Carolyn Dykema (D)
30% -
Marty Lamb (R)
70%
The Daily Voice: What in your past experience qualifies you for this seat?
Rep. Dykema: Local government experience. I served on the [Holliston] Planning Board for five years; before that I was on a wastewater commission and a sewer action commission, working with the state to understand the needs of the community and open up a line of connection there. So I think having an understanding of what it’s like to actively try to address local challenges and to work with the state to find a way to do that is absolutely critical. Local needs are what we’re about serving as legislators at the state house, so to have an understanding of what those needs are at the ground level, I believe, is what makes me the strongest candidate for this position.
DV: How do you feel you can work with other legislators to accomplish your goals, including across party lines?
CD: I’ve got experience; I’ve clearly got more experience than my opponent in that respect. I sponsored a bill for municipal health care reform and I had a Republican co-sponsor of that bill. And components of that bill ended up in final legislation. My veterans’ bills have broad Republican support. I represent Westborough, and for the last two years have worked directly with two republican legislators to address Westborough’s needs. So I have a proven history of being able to work across party lines.
The Westborough State Hospital is being redeveloped, and under the usual framework the community does not have a formal role in how that decision making is done and how that property is redeveloped. We filed a bill—again, with Republican support—that required local representation from both Northborough and Westborough on that commission on the redevelopment of Westborough State Hospital. Towns ought to be able to control their own destiny, especially with a property like that.
DV: We’ve heard a lot lately about the impact of unfunded mandates, including at a recent meeting in Shrewsbury. Do you think these mandates are a problem? If so, what is your solution?
CD: A lot of times, special education funding comes up as an unfunded mandate. A lot of those mandates come down from the Federal Government and they’re there to address the need. I think we need to be careful about what kind of requirements we put on our communities because they cost money, obviously especially now more than ever we need to be very careful about that. But I also think that the government has a role to play to ensure that special education students get a fair education. I think the question is about who pays for it, and there’s a fairness question.
DV: Can anything be done to increase state reimbursement for the special education circuit breaker? What about transportation funding for special education students, which is not reimbursed?
CD: There’s been a lot of discussion about whether to include transportation as part of the circuit breaker, which reimburses 70 percent of special educations costs. The question is where is the money going to come from? And at this point in time, everybody is strapped for cash. I will say that—whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat—that local aid is the number one priority. By local aid I consider special education circuit breaker funding—which is up dramatically this year—Chap. 70 education funding, transportation funding. So from a state perspective, we recognize that the towns are fiscally strapped, and we work to push as much money down to the local level to help them meet those obligations.
Are there more conversations to be had, about how to pay for these mandates? I think there absolutely are. And hopefully, as the economy picks up to some extent there will be additional revenues that come in.
DV: You're running to represent several communities. How will you make sure that you are representing the residents of all of your communities, especially those that are split, like Westborough?
CD: The more communities that you have, the more time you have to put in to make sure that you’re truly giving each community the best representation that you can give them. Which is why I think this is a full-time job. I stay in very close touch with the community leaders, be it the Board of Selectmen or the individual departments, like the planning departments, over the Westborough State Hospital property. So it’s really a matter of putting in the time and taking the time to build those relationships.
That’s why I do local office hours, and have since I was elected. That’s why I do a quarterly newsletter—anybody who contacts my office and gives me their e-mail gets this newsletter. Communication is a huge part of what I do.
Comments (13)
Oh, "Napolitano", what a silly comment. Really? Really, you think I ever tried to claim that Carolyn has never voted with the Speaker or with a union?
Of course, Carolyn votes in ways that make sense, and only extremists like you and Marty could ever think they're always wrong.
I don't think I can simplify this for you any further: Carolyn votes with the Speaker or with the unions when it makes sense but not when it doesn't make sense.
Marty? What does he even believe? He can't seem to stick to anything for more than one election. Independent, then Tea Party, then Republican, then independent - whichever way the wind blows, Marty blows.
It's refreshing to see Mr. Roney admit Ms Dykema votes with the Speaker and the unions. He couldn't deny it any longer, especially when the roll call votes are right there in print for everyone to see.
The facts are undeniable. Ms Dykema votes in lockstep with the Speaker from Winthrop 95% of the time and votes to satisfy special interest big labor union demands. That way, the endorse, donate money and manpower.
Marty Lamb is the true independent having been unenrolled as a voter for decades. He represents the taxpayer interests. He's the one endorsed by the National Federation of Independent Business and Citizens for Limited Taxation, great watchdog groups that focus on people's actual voting record, and they know from scrutiny that Ms Dykema's votes are strongly anti-small business and hurt the economy by raising taxes, spending recklessly and burdening business and killing jobs.
Odd that "Napolitano" (actually Desiree Awiszio, Lamb's campaign manager) would claim I can't defend Carolyn's voting record, when that's exactly what I've been doing. Does Naps even try to make sense any more?
Carolyn Dykema is someone who succeeds, someone who builds alliances and relationships irrespective of party, someone who votes with the Speaker or with the unions when it makes sense but not when it doesn't make sense.
Carolyn is exactly the kind of person we need in elective office - a giver not a taker, focused on the needs of her district, successful, insightful, extremely accessible, and caring.
As shown by Mr. Roney and Mr. Ray, they can't defend Ms. Dykema's voting record which is all public info and listed with roll call votes.
So, they just simply try to deny it and play the game, "say it aint so, Joe".
They'll say anything to distract. That's all they've got.
Hello all,
I truly fear for Mr. Roney's mental health, and general well being. His constant vitriolic rants, which have littered 8th district blog's for months, are analogous to the ramblings of one afflicted with sever fever. He obviously holds a tenuous grasp on the facts surrounding this race; in addition to consistently displaying his ineptitude with each post.
Marty Lamb is a man of honor and integrity, a man who I would be proud to have represent me on Beacon hill. The level of honesty, and consistency, which Mr. Lamb has displayed has been exemplary. If anyone out there wants to vote for a suit to represent you on beacon hill; then Dykema, and her blue pants suits, are there for ya! She is as ably gifted to handle legislation, and our representation, as a .college freshmen. She went from Grad school, to an environmentally destructive planning board; and then slithered her way into Beacon hill. Mr. Roney, I have some advice for you.... General Washington said " It is better to remain silent, and have others think you a fool, then to open ones mouth; and remove all doubt." You should seriously consider these words of wisdom.
Grant Borman
Masters in Public Administration Graduate.
LOL. So much concern. Too bad it's insincere.
I truly wish Marty were running wherever you're registered to vote, Grant, but you're not a voter in the Eighth Middlesex.
Your insults toward Carolyn are, to put it mildly, childish. Take your own advice.
K Napolitano, do you have anything else to do with your time other than trying to discredit a well-respected, effective, hard-working individual? Why will good people continue to go into politics if they have to deal with meanness, lies & negativity like you dish out under the safety of a pseudonym?
Take it from Dan Haley, who was the Republican nominee for state representative in 2008 and is endorsing Representative Dykema. This is what Mr. Haley said in part:
"Representative Dykema and I disagree on many issues. But during our 2008 race and after I have found her to be open-minded and accessible, ready always to engage in a conversation or respectful debate, and – most importantly – willing on important issues to go up against the State House’s powerful Democratic leadership on behalf of her constituents, as she did on the controversial casino gaming bill.
Like Brown, Dykema works harder than most any of her colleagues. Like Brown she is in politics for the right reasons and undeniably dedicated to public service and the communities she represents. Like Brown, Dykema approaches campaigning from a position of presumed respect and regard for her opponent and his supporters, preferring to focus on issues that unite while others pound incessantly at so-called ‘wedge issues.’"
Read more: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/opinion/x1890057899/Haley-Go-Ahead-Split-That-Ticket#ixzz2AVjfcOiz
A couple of the lame Lamb lies:
As readers who pay attention know, only family daycares who take state vouchers can unionize, and even those get to choose. There's no forced unionization, but the Lamb smear brigade has kept claiming that falsehood now for several months. They think they can fool you with it.
Over half the bills in the House pass with broad bipartisan consensus. Carolyn Dykema is part of that consensus, working with Democrats and Republicans alike. She in fact is less partisan in her votes than every single Republican Rep.
Nothing "Napolitano" says - or Marty Lamb, for that matter - should ever be mistaken for the facts without independent confirmation.
Marty has run an extremely negative campaign, based almost entirely on attacks that turn out to be half truths at best.
So I'll deal with something that Marty and his anti-tax extremists say that's actually true, the sales tax increase. Carolyn voted for this in 2009, in a time when there was a huge gap in the state budget due to the financial crisis (brought to you by people like Marty on a national level). At the time, the state was ready to saddle Metrowest with a huge Pike toll increase to pay for the Big Dig. Instead, the whole state is paying for it, as is fair. Better for us. Our credit rating is its highest ever, AA+. This also meant that the state could maintain local aid to education in order to keep our public schools number one.
Apparently, Marty would have us pay the entire Big Dig, have a lower credit rating (like him!), and not maintain our state's biggest competitive advantage. (He has called for huge extra expenses in education without any way to pay for them - a typical empty promise from Marty.)
Further, the voters had a chance to repeal the sales tax in 2010 and didn't, at the same time they re-elected Carolyn and voted down Marty. Which is going to happen again...
In other news, I'd better hunt up that photo with the kitten since it annoys the lame Lamb smear brigade so much.
There's nothing the Democrats can do to defend the left wing voting record of Ms Dykema, her votes to raise taxes, to stop Secure Communities, to burden business, to force unionization on small women owned daycares, and on and on. These are facts and public record, and all her supporters do is complain because they can't defend it. It's pointing out the truth and facts of her voting record. This is how she represents constituents on Beacon Hill. This is what really matters, not how many ribbons she cuts, or plaques she presents, or kitties she hugs.
Here are the facts....
WHAT CAROLYN DYKEMA FAILS TO DISCLOSE ABOUT HER VOTING RECORD
She Votes For the Speaker Not the District
Dykema Fails To Mention that the Percentage she votes with the Speaker is 95.37
Holliston, MA ...Today Marty Lamb, Republican candidate for State Representative in the Eighth Middlesex District, responded to Rep. Carolyn Dykema's letter regarding "for the district 100% of the time."
"At the Hopkinton debate last week, Rep. Dykema admitted to voting wrong. She doesn't vote for the district. She votes for the Speaker 95.37% of the time. You don't have to believe me. I am happy to send people her voting record," said Lamb. "She claims to always vote for the district, but yet she sent $35million of our tax dollars to bail out Lawrence. That did not help Holliston, Hopkinton, Southborough, and Westborough."
Lamb is not surprised by this attempt to mislead voters, because today the Worcester Telegram endorsed his candidacy and called him the candidate of "balance."
People should look at the actual votes to judge for themselves. Here are some of Rep. Dykema's roll call votes:
She voted with the Speaker against putting committee votes online not once but twice. (2009 and 2011) This keeps the public in the dark.
"How is this helping transparency? It doesn't. Denying people the right to know about votes was purely partisan," said Lamb.
She voted with the Speaker against requiring an independent audit of the House financial records (Roll Call 13 2.11.09)
She voted twice with the Speaker against an amendment to require equal member ship of the Ethics Committee making it nonpartisan (Roll Call 4 1.20.11 and Roll Call 7 2.11.09)
She voted with the Speaker against requiring to report all LOCAL bills within 45 days (Roll Call 20 2.11.09)
She voted with the Speaker against an amendment requiring all bills be in print 24 hours before a vote (Roll Call 8 1.20.11)
Please note that during the Rules debate, Rep. Dykema voted 100% of the time with the Speaker.
She voted with the Speaker against allowing a House floor vote on a new code of Ethics for the House (Roll Call 117 10.5.11)
She voted with the Speaker against an amendment to increase transparency for independent expenditures campaigns (Roll call 38 3.26.09) Note that Rep. Dykema has been a recipient of multiple independent expenditures.
She voted with the Speaker for a parliamentary gimmick to kill requiring voters to show ID to vote (Roll Call 267 5.31.12)
She voted with the Speaker for an amendment to prohibit an effort to obtain a person's legal status before receiving welfare benefits thus allowing illegal immigrants get taxpayer funded benefits (Roll Call 129 5.1.09)
She voted with the Speaker against an amendment to require the state to participate in the Obama administration's Secure communities program that helps deport criminal illegal immigrants (Roll Call 73 4.28.11)
She voted with the Speaker numerous times to kill amendment to stop illegal immigrants from getting taxpayer funded benefits. (Roll Calls 134 11.1.11, Roll Call 71 4.28.11)
She voted with the Speaker to kill an amendment to lower the sales tax from 6.25% to 5.75% (Roll Call 130 11.1.11)
She voted with the Speaker to increase the sales tax by 25%, increased fees at the Registry and to implement a double taxation on alcohol (Roll Call 154 6.19.09)
She voted with the Speaker to bailout the city of Lawrence with $35 million of your tax dollars (Roll Call 294 3.3.10)
She voted with the Speaker against allowing Sheriff's to charge inmates $5 to help pay for housing (Roll Call 82 4.27.09)
She voted with the Speaker against an amendment requiring votes to be taken to increase tolls (Roll Call 51 4.7.09 and Roll Call 60 4.8.09)
She voted with the Speaker against an amendment to gradually roll back the income tax to 5% (Roll Call 39 4.24.11)
Presently cell phone companies have to charge sales tax on the amount a package costs even if it is being discounted. She voted with the Speaker against an amendment that would have allowed customers to only pay the sales tax on what is actually being spent (Roll Call 38 4.25.11)
She voted with the Speaker on a parliamentary gimmick to prevent the House from voting on making one weekend in August the permanent sales tax free weekend (Roll Call 93 7.27.11)
She voted with the Speaker to increase the sales tax by 25% (Roll Call 87 4.27.09)
She voted with the Speaker on a parliamentary gimmick to prevent the House from repealing the double taxation on alcohol (Roll Call 264 11/18.09)
When it comes to pension, please remember she voted against capping state pensions at $100,000 (Roll Call 138 11.2.11)
She voted with the Speaker against an amendment to prohibit pensions for felons for the period of the person's incarceration (Roll Call 66 4.14.09)
There are more Roll Call votes!
"What Rep. Dykema says and writes back to the district are completely different from voting record. When you look at the actual voting record, you see a very partisan incumbent who is attempting to fool voters. I am happy to send the roll call votes for people to review," said Lamb. "People should see the votes."
Is anyone else sick and tired of Marty Lamb's campaign of smears and negativity? I know I am.
Is "Napolitano" giving us all of this week's lame Lamb anti-Dykema email? I doubt it. Those whiners are filled with more attacks than you can shake a stick at.
Some rebuttals:
- Carolyn has a lot more successful business experience than Marty.
- NFIB is a Republican organization, and anyone who says otherwise is nfibbing. This election cycle, it has spend $3.3 million, all of it to benefit Republicans.
- Carolyn made sure that all communities she represents were data sharing under Secure Communities, rather than voting the silly bumpersticker.
- There's no forced unionization. This is simply a lame Lamb lie.
- CLT represents some people, hardly all of us. If you want fiscal responsibility, you have to pay your bills (and Marty's), and the sales tax passed in 2009, and was supported by the voters in 2010, to do just that.
- Every single Republican (even many more moderate than lame Lamb) voted with GOP Leader Brad Jones more often than Carolyn voted with the Speaker. Every one.
I'd love to bat back to lame Lamb lies all day, but I do have a job and a living to earn.
Representative Dykema is extremely well-respected by those who know her -- Republicans, Democrats and Independents.
Even though she only represents one Westborough precinct, Representative Dykema gives our entire town her full attention. She is extremely hard-working, responsive, pragmatic and intelligent.
Most recently, Representative Dykema was instrumental in helping Westborough obtain additional Chapter 70 Education Funds and to be reimbursed for the previously unfunded mandate of busing homeless students back to their home districts.
I will be proud to vote for Representative Carolyn Dykema again on November 6th.
Ms. Dykema does everything she can to run and hide from her dismal anti-business voting record of raising taxes, burdening business, and killing jobs. That's the key. It's how they represent us on Beacon Hill. They can cut ribbons and pose for photo ops and hug kitties in the district, and then on Beacon Hill, march in and watch for the light to see how the Speaker from Winthrop votes and follow the leader. This is what Ms. Dykema has done 95% of the time, lockstep voting with the left wing in her party.
Here is a piece of the anti business voting ratings of Dykema.
1. 13% rating with Citizens for Limited Taxation. That means she votes against taxpayers 87% of the time.
2. 38% rating from NFIB. That means she votes against small businesses 62% of the time
3. She voted for mandatory unionization of home day care centers
These are independent and bipartisan organizations.
The head of the NFIB organization, Bill Vernon has endorsed Democrats Mike Rodrigues, Dave Torrisi, Colleen Garry, Harriett Stanley and others. NFIB’s endorsements are based on legislators’ voting records during the two year legislative session with votes covering a wide range of issues like health care and health insurance, independent contractor law, unemployment insurance, and taxes. NFIB supports and endorses legislators who support lowering the cost of doing business, improving the business climate, and encouraging job growth among small businesses
Ms Dykema votes in lockstep with the Speaker from Winthrop 95% of the time, which has nothing to do with Middlesex towns in this district.
Roll Call 11-130 She voted with the Speaker on a parliamentary maneuver to block rolling back the sales tax from 6.25% to 5.75%
Roll Call 11-094 She voted with the Speaker on a parliamentary gimmick to block the vote on designating a permanent weekend in August as the sales tax-free weekend.
Roll Call 09-155 She voted with the Speaker to enact the budget that raised taxes and fees by $1 billion
Roll Call 09-087 She voted with the Speaker in favor of the sales tax increase
Roll Call 09-264 She voted with the Speaker to double tax alcohol.
Dykema voted against capping state pensions at $100,000.
Dykema voted against auditing legislative accounts. Even Suzanne Bump said she wants to do this.
She was hurting the district when she voted to force home day care people into a state union. That was a vote solely for the unions. That vote hurts a lot of local small businesses and parents who need and trust local day cares.
That vote was a big hit to women, both women who are mothers and women who run these small Mom owned daycares. It raises their costs and puts them out of business.
Dykema voted against Secure Communities which is an Obama program. It crosses party lines. It's common sense. Dykema protects illegal aliens committing crimes against citizens here. Disgraceful. She aligned herself with Deval Patrick to oppose Secure Communities which was activated DESPITE all the Democrat efforts to stop it.
Dykema was on the wrong side of the issue again.
Sharing was NOT in place without Secure Communities (SC). Data stopped at the FBI and was not passed on to Homeland Security. SC brought Homeland Security into the loop. Also, prior to SC, Law Enforcement could use discretion and decide when they felt like notifying Homeland Security, leaving potential profiling problems wide open. Under SC there is no discretion, all those arrested & booked must be submitted
What could be worse than a Representative who is voting against you constantly ? They are not there doing any good, and it's time to replace them !