First Barnstable candidates asked about housing, abortion, guns. Here's what they said

DENNIS PORT — The three hopefuls for state representative in the First Barnstable District offered their thoughts on issues facing the district during a forum Tuesday night at the Cape Media Center.

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Republican Tracy Post, Democrat Christopher Flanagan and We the People Party candidate Abraham Kasparian fielded questions from the Cape Cod Times, the League of Women Voters of the Cape Cod area and audience members. The event was livestreamed on the center's website and on public access channels 98 and 99.

The first district includes Brewster, Dennis and precincts 1,2,3,4,7 and 8 in Yarmouth.

Flanagan, a Dennis Select Board member, Post, a Yarmouth select board member, and Kasparian, former Hampden County commissioner who lives in Yarmouth Port, are vying for the seat held by Rep. Tim Whelan, R-Brewster, who is stepping down to run for Barnstable County Sherriff.

Post said residents in the district are facing high costs from inflation.

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"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 big government and more taxes which I oppose."

Flanagan countered that he is 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.

Flanagan has 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 can't afford it in this market."

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"I work for a fairly large company, Autozone," Kasparian 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."

How to address need for more affordable housing

Affordable housing is a critical problem on Cape Cod. Home prices make it difficult for families to live here and keeping 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.

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"Door-knocking this issue came up time after time during campaigning," she said. "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 said his job with the homebuilders association is steeped in housing issues.

"I work on housing policy day in and day out," Flanagan said. "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."

How can state help with 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. Candidates were asked what can the Legislature do.

"On the select board wastewater 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."

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Post spoke of her experience dealing with the problem in Yarmouth.

"We've been dealing with this for decades," she said. We're a very tourism-based economy and we have to build for an influx."

Yarmouth agreed to install sewers and build a treatment plant last year.

"The original plan would've put the burden on property taxes and I voted against it," she said. "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 the kind of person I am. You can't take the easy way."

Where candidates stand on gun laws

Asked about the spate of shootings and gun laws the candidates took different tacks.

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

Flanagan said gun legislation must keep pace with the changes in weaponry.

"Massachusetts has good gun laws," he said, "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 people that may have problems and that need to be assisted," Kasparian said.

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"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 (Gov. Charlie) Baker's position on this."

Kasparian said abortion should only be allowed in cases of rape or incest.

"I believe life does start at conception and when you terminate life at conception it goes against God's rule," he said.

Flanagan said he supports the right to abortion.

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"A woman's right to choose is important but I was appalled by the Supreme Court decision," he said.

All three candidates support making committee votes public in the Legislature and all three are opposed to Holtec's plan to dump millions of gallons of radioactive wastewater into Cape Cod Bay.

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

Flanagan vowed to deliver for constituents.

"With your support I will use my local legislative experience to advocate for quality of life issues," he 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 aisle and gotten things over the finish line"

Post said she is a proven quantity in politics.

"In Yarmouth I was elected four times (to the select board)," she said. "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.

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

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: First Barnstable candidates square off on housing and more in forum