The MDTC, the Medway Republican Town Committee, the Franklin Democratic Town Committee and the Franklin Republican Town Committee co-hosted a debate between Democratic State Rep. Jeff Roy and his Republican opponent, Charles Bailey.
The debate was October 8.
Cappy Capozzoli, veteran from Medway, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The candidates made opening and closing statements, and Franklin DTC Chair Rachel Plukas and Medway RTC Chair Tim Harris asked questions of the candidates. Darrell Kulesza was the master of ceremonies, and Larry Ellsworth was the timekeeper.
Watch the Debate
The debate aired live and can be streamed on Medway Cable with captions. The debate begins at about 10:30 minutes in.
Franklin Matters also has a video that can be streamed with captions.
Questions
- Massachusetts is considered one of the least transparent legislatures in the country. Constituents do not know who supports and opposes bills. Should all committee and full-body votes be documented roll call votes? What other specific changes would you support to open the legislative process? (1 minute)
- The MBTA Communities zoning law requirements will significantly impact communities like Franklin and Medway. The additional units will strain our schools, police, fire, and infrastructure. Do believe this legislation is appropriate for Medway and Franklin? Why? What legislation would you propose to mitigate the financial impacts that each community will face? (1 minute)
- Water supplies are increasingly testing positive for PFAS and other dangerous and forever chemicals. What new rules, practices, and programs can the state put in place to protect water supplies (examples: ban artificial turf, limit lawn chemicals, limit farming pesticides) and make it affordable and practical for municipalities? How will you support Medway and Franklin with respect to funding PFAS-related upgrades? (1 minute)
- Do you support funding of programs for undocumented migrants in the Commonwealth? Why? (30 seconds)
- There are now inequities in access and funding between vocational schools and comprehensive schools. Taking into consideration the need for a well-trained workforce, what actions would you propose to mitigate those inequities? (1 minute)
- Medway and Franklin are both minimum-school-aid districts. As our State Representative, what actions would you take to support our schools in maintaining the high level of education that has been provided to students, and to attract and retain qualified teachers? (1 minute)
- The Governor recently signed “An Act Modernizing Firearms Laws” that significantly updated the laws around guns and made them more stringent. Please explain your position on this Act. (1 minute)
- Building new housing is costly and getting more so. Many factors cause this price rise including the cost of labor, materials, and land, plus environmental and other requirements placed on developers. Restrictive zoning also plays a part by reducing the number of sites for multifamily or mixed-use development. Seniors and young families are being priced out of the market. How would you tackle the problem of too-high housing costs? (1 minute)
- Synthetic Turf fields are being constructed using taxpayer funds across the state. Health and safety concerns have been raised by many citizens of Medway and Franklin. Should these fields be regulated or even allowed by the state? (1 minute)
- The current system for providing affordable housing is unsustainable. In addition, there is a shortage of affordable and accessible housing in Franklin and Medway. How would you address these issues to make housing affordable and accessible to all? (1 minute)
- The Cannabis Commission has ruled that Host Agreements are no longer allowed and those in place must be terminated. In this case the Town of Medway would lose an anticipated $500,000 a year in revenue it currently receives. Did you support this ruling or would you vote to repeal this ruling? (1 minute)
- Hospitals and other health care facilities are in crisis. Private equity, including the selling and renting back of the properties have gotten much of the blame for our state-wide crisis. What incentives, penalties, oversight and restrictions do you support to improve all hospitals and health care facilities? According to medicare.gov, two local nursing homes, Medway Country Manor and Cedarwood Gardens in Franklin, have a 2 and a 3 out of 5 rating. Specifically, what would you do to try to turn these two sites around? (1.5 minutes)
- What are the three or four most important infrastructure issues facing the state, and specifically in our district? What specific actions would you propose to address them? (1 minute)
- Communities like Medway are seeing an influx of energy projects driven by the state’s renewable energy goals. What should the state be doing to help mitigate the impact on these communities? (1 minute)
- Franklin and Medway, like many communities, are planning much-needed municipal building projects like schools and police and fire stations. Rising costs and tight municipal budgets make it very difficult to allocate funds for these projects. What specific actions do you support to help municipalities fund and execute projects like these? For example, should the state have a Municipal Building Authority similar to the Mass. School Building Authority? (1 minute)
- Do you support the legislation that gave the DPU the authority to overrule local by-laws in order to build battery storage facilities similar to the one being built in the town of Medway? If yes please explain why you support this legislation, which actually took away the rights of the local citizens by allowing the developers to bypass the approval of local planning and zoning boards. (1 minute)
- Describe two situations: one, where you changed your mind on a significant issue after listening to opposing viewpoints; and two, a time when you had to make an unpopular but principled decision. (1 minute)
Photos
Photos by Sue Rorke