Westford EagleOctober 07, 2009
Citing a lack of choices for the voters in the 2nd Middlesex district, Republican Paul Avella is throwing his hat in the ring for a second time against state Rep. Jim Arciero.
The vote is more than a year away, but Avella said he is announcing his bid early to increase his name recognition in the Littleton, Westford and Chelmsford precincts. Last year, Avella won in Littleton and gave Arciero a fight in Chelmsford, but Arciero, a native of Westford, pulled out the win due to the hometown vote.
But now, Avella sees a weakness caused by persistent "arrogance" on Beacon Hill, he said. The decision to make another run was not difficult.
"It was easy, actually," he said. "Problems exist now that have been exacerbated in the last year. There is a continuing level of arrogance and a decline in responsiveness in the legislature and governor's office. They seem to think increasing taxes fixes everything."
Avella said the current shortfall in revenue, which he estimates at $243 million, is a red flag.
"People are going outside the state to shop; there is less revenue; proprietors have less income and hire fewer people, who in turn have less income," he said.
He said, "corruption is part of the culture" on Beacon Hill, citing the election of former Speaker Sal DiMasi.
"Anyone that voted for him was an enabler of corruption," said Avella. "It's insulting."
On the national level, Avella faulted Sen. John Kerry for "slipping in" a $20 million proposed educational center in Ted Kennedy's name.
"He slipped it in under the radar," said Avella. "It was unlikely to be noticed, but it was. It was an insult to Kennedy. And (candidate) Martha Coakley said she saw nothing wrong with it."
Avella was reelected last spring to a second term on the Littleton School Committee. He thinks that demonstrates his commitment to working for the good of the town. He wants to bring that same energy to the State House and to electing more Republicans to statewide office.
"The single party system breeds a level of arrogance that grows exponentially," he said. "We have to fix that. I will continue to stand up to fix it."
Although he lost to Arciero, Avella said "more people know who I am." His message of less taxes and educational excellence remains the same.
"I am not into taxing into oblivion," he said. "I am proud of my record in Littleton."
He cites the recent raising of the bond rating from A+ to AA.
"It's difficult to do that," he said. "We are doing something right on the School Committee. I have exhibited leadership. I didn't just step up one day and say I wanted to run. I have been working in the community. I've been elected and reelected. I am not a flip-flopper."
Avella plans to reach out to more voters during the year. He is still backing a plan to redo the redistricting plan in Chelmsford into "four House seats to one Senate seat."
He is still calling for the need for tort reform in health care, something on which he said Arciero was "reticent."
Avella thinks more Republicans will run in 2010.
"I see good news for 2010," he said.
The vote is more than a year away, but Avella said he is announcing his bid early to increase his name recognition in the Littleton, Westford and Chelmsford precincts. Last year, Avella won in Littleton and gave Arciero a fight in Chelmsford, but Arciero, a native of Westford, pulled out the win due to the hometown vote.
But now, Avella sees a weakness caused by persistent "arrogance" on Beacon Hill, he said. The decision to make another run was not difficult.
"It was easy, actually," he said. "Problems exist now that have been exacerbated in the last year. There is a continuing level of arrogance and a decline in responsiveness in the legislature and governor's office. They seem to think increasing taxes fixes everything."
Avella said the current shortfall in revenue, which he estimates at $243 million, is a red flag.
"People are going outside the state to shop; there is less revenue; proprietors have less income and hire fewer people, who in turn have less income," he said.
He said, "corruption is part of the culture" on Beacon Hill, citing the election of former Speaker Sal DiMasi.
"Anyone that voted for him was an enabler of corruption," said Avella. "It's insulting."
On the national level, Avella faulted Sen. John Kerry for "slipping in" a $20 million proposed educational center in Ted Kennedy's name.
"He slipped it in under the radar," said Avella. "It was unlikely to be noticed, but it was. It was an insult to Kennedy. And (candidate) Martha Coakley said she saw nothing wrong with it."
Avella was reelected last spring to a second term on the Littleton School Committee. He thinks that demonstrates his commitment to working for the good of the town. He wants to bring that same energy to the State House and to electing more Republicans to statewide office.
"The single party system breeds a level of arrogance that grows exponentially," he said. "We have to fix that. I will continue to stand up to fix it."
Although he lost to Arciero, Avella said "more people know who I am." His message of less taxes and educational excellence remains the same.
"I am not into taxing into oblivion," he said. "I am proud of my record in Littleton."
He cites the recent raising of the bond rating from A+ to AA.
"It's difficult to do that," he said. "We are doing something right on the School Committee. I have exhibited leadership. I didn't just step up one day and say I wanted to run. I have been working in the community. I've been elected and reelected. I am not a flip-flopper."
Avella plans to reach out to more voters during the year. He is still backing a plan to redo the redistricting plan in Chelmsford into "four House seats to one Senate seat."
He is still calling for the need for tort reform in health care, something on which he said Arciero was "reticent."
Avella thinks more Republicans will run in 2010.
"I see good news for 2010," he said.