Candidates tackle housing, wastewater, abortion, guns at First Barnstable Forum

DENNIS PORT —All three candidates for State representative from the First Barnstable District Brewster, Dennis and precincts 1,2,3,4,7 and 8 in Yarmouth)  fielded questions from the Cape Cod Times, League of Women Voters  of the Cape Cod Area and audience members Tuesday night at the Cape Cod Media Center in Dennis. The three entities sponsored the forum that was live streamed and on teh Center's website and Channels 98 and 99.

.Dennis select board member Chris Flanagan (D), Yarmouth select board member Tracy Post (R) and former Hampden County Commissioner Abraham (Abe) Kasparian (I) are vying for the seat held by retiring rep Tim Whelan (R) of Brewster who is running for Barnstable County Sherriff .

More: Meet the three candidates running for 1st Barnstable District

The Candidates

Tracy Post pointed out residents in the district are facing high costs from inflation.

"People are struggling," she said. "We need a state representative with experience making tough decisions during hard times. With my two decades on the municipal level I am best positioned to advocate for the people of the First Barnstable District. We need to elect a person who is ready on day one. Both of my opponents are on record as favoring bog government and more taxes which I oppose."

Flanagan countered that he was best suited for the job.

"I'm the only candidate taking action on the local economy and housing crisis and labor shortage as an executive officer for the Homebuilders and Remodelers Association and the only candidate with local legislative experience," Flanagan said (he's worked for two state senators) .  "I am running because my family and I felt the impact of quality of life issues on Cape Cod. Owning a home to raise a family seems like a dream because you cant afford it in this market."

Kasparian lives in Yarmouth Portt where he's owned property for decades.

"I work for a fairly large company; Autozone," he said. "I'm a driver and make minimum wage, $15.50 an hour. One thing I'm proposing is to raise and eliminate the minimum wage and turn it into a living wage, with salary starting at $25 an hour for companies of more than 75 employees and $19 for those with 75 or less. I've worked on legislation in two different counties. In Hampden I worked on legislation drafted by students. Consider me as an alternative to the Democratic or Republican side."

Affordable Housing

Affordable housing is a critical issue on Cape, to retain families and  retain a workforce to provide services. Candidates were asked what the legislature could do.

"What they've done in Yarmouth is taken over land and built affordable housing," Kasparian said. "That should be done everywhere, not just Cape Cod, but the entire state. So we need sufficient legislation to create an environment for greater partnering of corporations and government where we own the land and companies own the actual structure.'

Post cited her experience in Yarmouth.

"Door-knocking this issue came up time after time during campaigning. I spent seven years on the planning board and we had a bylaw successfully passed at town meeting creating zoning that could use smaller lots. I served on the Affordable Housing trust and worked on converting hotels to workforce housing. The other pressing goal is year round jobs. Sometimes the tourism industry doesn't come with high quality jobs."

Flanagan noted his day job with the homebuilders  association is steeped in housing issues.

"I work on housing policy day in and day out," Flanagan explained. "One thing is the lack of diversified housing stock. eighty percent of the stock is single family homes. so there are few options for seniors looking to downsize. In Brewster we built one house for one family in one week. In Dennis they changed zoning to repurpose hotels into workforce housing.  Redeveloping old plazas, hotels, I feel that's the way out of this."

Wastewater Treatment on Cape Cod

Cape Cod is expected to spend $4 billion or more dealing with wastewater over the next decades according to estimates. The Cape Cod and the Islands Water Protection Fund will cover  some of this but not all. What can the legislature do?

"On the select board waste water is something we're focusing on," Flanagan said. "Brewster has a water quality plan. Wastewater is costly but we can't afford not to do it. However it's important (towns) have the revenue to tie into wastewater infrastructure whether it's through the county or the state. As state rep I'll be the person to deliver the resources for that infrastructure."

"Where will the money come from," Kasparian asked. "Instead of raising taxes to offset expenses we have to look at the Federal government to lend assistance through their programs that are available. I don't see a problem drafting legislation and working with our Federal partners through our Federal representatives to gain a consensus to have money come back to Cape Cod for a specific purpose. I also would engage students to draft legislation to look into it because its their country and they'll inherit it."

"we've been dealing with this for decades in Yarmouth," Post said. We're a very tourism based economy and we have to build for an influx. The original plan would've put the burden on property taxes and I voted against it. A 40% tax increase is difficult for an older person living in a house. We asked the administration to come back with a plan not on the tax rolls and the first phase was finished without an increase in taxes. This is te kind of person I am. You can't take the easy way..""

Gun Laws

Asked about the spate of shootings and gun rules tthe candidates took different tacks

"I feel Massachusetts does a good job with gun laws," Post said. "All of teh issues revelve around mental health and we need to do a better job with that.- also recognizing teh signs for these people who are sick and hateful."

"Massachusetts has good gun laws," Flanagan agreed, "but we need to be mindful of the changing landscape of what weapons look like. We need to make sure gun laws continue to evolve."

"I'd like to involve students and  take up the issue of guns and draft legislation and see that more money is spent on people with individual needs and to look at oeople that may have problems and that need to e assisted."

Abortion

"I'm pro choice," Post said. "I'm glad the Supreme Court gave it back to the states. The people  have spoken. I support a woman's right to choose. I agree with (Governor) Baker's position on this."

'Abortion should only be allowed with a rape and incest type of pregnancy," Kasparian said. "If a woman is seeking an abortion there has to be a needed component. I  believe life does start at conception and when you terminate life at conception it goes against God's rule."

"I would support the Roe act. A woman's right to choose is important but I was appalled by teh Supreme Court decision.," Flanagan said.

Other issues 

All three candidates were in favor of making committee votes public in the legislature and all three opposed the nuclear power plant in Plymouth dumping radioactive wastewater into Cape Cod Bay.

'I will work hard and tirelessly," Kasparian said in conclusion. "I'm independent and not bound to any party and their rues and regulations. I am able to look at both sides of issues."

"With your support I will use my local legislative experience to advocate for quality of life issues," Flanagan said. "Who is able to deliver for you? I have a long history of public service. I've dedicated my life to it. I've built consensus on both sides of the isle and gotten things over the finish.."

"In Yarmouth I was elected four times (to the select board)," Post recalled. "I was visible in my community always not just during the campaign. I was raised here on Cape Cod and educated here and if we don't make housing more affordable we will continue to lose our greatest resources. I'm proud to say I was endorsed by Tim Whelan and Charlie Baker because they know my ability to produce.".

The forum is expected to be rebroadcast at various times and will be available for listening at capemedia.org and lwvcapecod.org.

Questions may be submitted to lwvcca@gmail.com.

Contact Rich Eldred at reldred@capecodonline.com. Follow him on Twitter: @reldredCodder.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Flanagan, Kasparian and Post square off in candidates forum