As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the two candidates for State Representative of the 13th Essex District five questions that focused on topics ranging from taxes to health insurance and creating jobs in the Commonwealth. Here is Question 5: While the local unemployment rate is on the decline (now at 7.1 percent by the most recent figures), there are still over 1,000 Danvers residents out of work. How will you work to help create new jobs? Theodore Speliotis (D), incumbent The single most important issue facing the residents of my district is jobs and the economy…

As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the two candidates for State Representative of the 13th Essex District five questions that focused on topics ranging from taxes to health insurance and creating jobs in the Commonwealth. Here is Question 4: As health insurance costs continue to burden municipal budgets, where you do stand on granting cities and towns more control over health plan design in order to reduce costs, similar to the control the state has?Theodore Speliotis (D), incumbent Plan design becomes a very attractive option because we have not, in this country…

As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the two candidates for State Representative of the 13th Essex District five questions that focused on topics ranging from taxes to health insurance and creating jobs in the Commonwealth. Here is Question 3: What do you believe is the most important issue for Danvers voters to consider in choosing their candidate for state representative?Theodore Speliotis (D), incumbent The most important issue for the voters of my district is trust. If I am re-elected this term I will be third in seniority in the Massachusetts House of …

As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the two candidates for State Representative of the 13th Essex District five questions that focused on topics ranging from taxes to health insurance and creating jobs in the Commonwealth. Here is Question 2: Where do you stand on ballot Question 3, the the proposal to reduce the sales tax and use tax rates down to 3 percent?Theodore Speliotis (D), incumbent Cutting the sales tax to 3 percent is an interesting question because if the drafters of this proposal asked the voters to roll the tax back to 5 percent they would have …

As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the two candidates for State Representative of the 13th Essex District five questions that focused on topics ranging from taxes to health insurance and creating jobs in the Commonwealth. Here is Question 1: Where do you stand on ballot Question 1, the proposed repeal of the sales tax on alcoholic beverages? Theodore Speliotis (D), incumbent I will vote to repeal the sales tax on alcohol because the state currently collects an excise tax on all liquor sold in the Commonwealth, therefore, this sales tax serves as a tax on a tax.…

As a way to inform our readers about the candidates on the ballot in November, Patch asked the three candidates for the state Senate 2nd Essex District five questions. Here is Question 5: How would you improve the business climate on the North Shore? Sen. Fred Berry (D), incumbent Similar to my first answer, I will continue my record of working with pro-business organizations and educational institutions to develop relationships and agendas that will move the North Shore forward. Improvements in transportation, public education, health care and business development can be seen all over the …

As a way to inform our readers about the candidates on the ballot in November, Patch asked the three candidates for the state Senate 2nd Essex District five questions. Here is Question 4: As the economy comes back into a period of growth, albeit very slowly, what legislation if any do you envision that might further its development along? Sen. Fred Berry (D), incumbent Legislation that legalizes gaming will encourage revenue growth in the commonwealth. There are groups and developers interested in investing in Massachusetts right now if we only open the doors to casinos. If we allow racetrack…

As a way to inform our readers about the candidates on the ballot in November, Patch asked the three candidates for the state Senate 2nd Essex District five questions. Here is Question 3: Do you support repealing the alcohol tax and reducing the sales tax from 6.25 percent to 3 percent (Questions 1 and 3 on the ballot)? Sen. Fred Berry (D), incumbent "No" on 1 and "No" on 3. In short, we cannot afford it. According to data at the Department of Revenue, in-state alcohol sales have not gone down since the implementation of the alcohol tax. I do not believe alcohol should get a sales tax …

As a way to inform our readers about the candidates on the ballot in November, Patch asked the three candidates for the state Senate 2nd Essex District five questions. Here is Question 2: Where do you stand on the proposed law that would repeal the existing law allowing qualified organizations that want to build government-subsidized housing to apply for a single comprehensive permit from a community's Zoning Board of Appeals instead of separate permits from each agency?  Sen. Fred Berry (D), incumbent The law known as 40B is being threatened with a repeal through a ballot question. First …

As a way to inform our readers about the candidates on the ballot in November, Patch asked the three candidates for the state Senate 2nd Essex District five questions. Here is Question 1: What do you think is the No. 1 issue facing your district? Sen. Fred Berry (D), incumbent During these difficult economic times, there is no more critical issue than job creation. I have a solid record of developing job growth in my district. I have built strong partnerships with local economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, rotary clubs, business owners and educational institutions. …

As a way to inform our readers about the candidates on the ballot in November, Patch asked the three candidates for Essex County Sheriff five questions. Here is Question 5: The Sheriff's Department runs the jail but also alternative and rehabilitative programs. What's the balance between those different areas and how will you make those decisions?Damian Anketell (D) The primary role of correctional officers is to correct. To reform people. My job as the next Sheriff of Essex County is to review the best practices in rehabilitation and to utilize an environmental approach to help personalize …

As a way to inform our readers about the candidates on the ballot in November, Patch asked the three candidates for Essex County Sheriff five questions. Here is Question 4: In the current economy the budget is bound to continue to be tight. What are your top priority areas where the Sheriff's Department should spend money? When cuts come down, what areas would you cut first?Damian Anketell (D) The incumbent has increased his upper management staff by over 300 percent in his 14 years in office. The first thing I would to address regarding financial shortages is to restructure those staff into …

As a way to inform our readers about the candidates on the ballot in November, Patch asked the three candidates for Essex County Sheriff five questions. Here is Question 3: The Middleton House of Correction is overcrowded. In your opinion, how bad is that problem? And what would you do about it?Damian Anketell (D) Overcrowding poses an immediate danger to our community's safety. What I would do differently as Sheriff is to work with local law enforcement agencies to develop a diversionary program for first time offenders, excluding those who have committed violent or sexual crimes.Frank …

As a way to inform our readers about the candidates on the ballot in November, Patch asked the three candidates for Essex County Sheriff five questions. Here is Question 2: What ways do you, or would you, have the Sheriff's Department reach out to the communities in Essex County?Damian Anketell (D) The first would be in implement a juvenile identification program and also work more closely with families of those affected by substance abuse.Frank Cousins (R), incumbent The Essex County Sheriff's Department provides community services programs that save thousands to municipalities every year; …

As a way to inform our readers about the candidates on the ballot in November, Patch asked the three candidates for Essex County Sheriff five questions. Here is Question 1: Do you support a regional dispatch operation under control of the Sheriff's Department? If not, why? If so, what would you do to take it from the planning process to reality?Damian Anketell (D) No, I do not support a regional dispatch operation because I question the accuracy of the alleged "cost savings" the Sheriff's Department claims will occur by the development of such a program.Frank Cousins (R), incumbent Yes. The …

As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the two candidates for the Congress in the Sixth Congressional District five questions that focused on topics ranging from the economy and the deficit to war and terrorism.Here is Question 5:If the opposing party has a majority in the 112th Congress, how will you work with the other party?John Tierney (D), incumbent I have a record of working to find common ground with my Republican colleagues whenever possible in order to improve legislation and conduct effective oversight. I have done so in education legislation, oversight …

As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the two candidates for the Congress in the Sixth Congressional District five questions that focused on topics ranging from the economy and the deficit to war and terrorism.Here is Question 4:How will you vote regarding repealing the military's 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' policy with gay military personnel? John Tierney (D) I support repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." There is evidence of significant support for repeal both in the military community and among the public. While we must ensure that repeal will not impact our strong …

As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the two candidates for the Congress in the Sixth Congressional District five questions that focused on topics ranging from the economy and the deficit to war and terrorism. Here is Question 3: How do you think America should proceed in Afghanistan and the fight against terrorism? John Tierney (D), incumbent I have consistently said that a smaller, not larger military footprint in Afghanistan would be the better policy for our troops, our national security, and our country. Evolving our military role in Afghanistan into a …

As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the two candidates for the Congress in the Sixth Congressional District five questions that focused on topics ranging from the economy and the deficit to war and terrorism. Here is Question 2: Massachusetts still has an 8 percent unemployment rate. How would you bring jobs to the Bay State? John Tierney (D), incumbent Since January 2009, we have moved from a (-6.4 percent) economic "growth" rate to a positive rate and went from losing 8 million jobs from 2001-2008 to adding private sector jobs over the last nine months. We still…

As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the two candidates for the Congress in the Sixth Congressional District five questions that focused on topics ranging from the economy and the deficit to war and terrorism.Here is Question 1: How would you address our federal budget deficit and national debt?John Tierney (D), incumbent The federal government, just like families, must rein in and prioritize spending. Just as $61 billion of tax payer money is going to be saved by eliminating special interest lenders from the college loan process, we need to explore all potential …