Why these candidates are running to represent Barnstable and Yarmouth in the state House

State Rep. Kip Diggs, D-Barnstable, is facing a challenge from Republican William Peters to represent the 2nd Barnstable District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives come Nov. 8.

The 2nd Barnstable District includes Precincts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 13 in Barnstable and Precincts 5 and 6 in Yarmouth.

The House of Representatives is a part of the legislative branch of the state government and works with the governor to establish laws and a state budget, according to ballotpedia.org.

We asked both candidates to provide information about their backgrounds, experience and priorities if elected. They are in alphabetical order.

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Kip Diggs

Age: 56

Residence: Barnstable

Education: Barnstable High School

Employment: Former construction inspector for the Department of Public Works in Barnstable County

Political experience: 2nd Barnstable District representative since 2020

Civic involvement: Youth group advisor for the Barnstable youth committee, coached various sports in the community

Why are you running? 

I am running for reelection to the 2nd Barnstable District House of Representatives to continue the groundbreaking work we were able to achieve even while COVID restrictions shut down the Statehouse. I have been gratified that our work has positively changed the lives of our constituents. We secured funding in the budget to provide clinicians that support our police officers, in both Barnstable and Yarmouth, during domestic violence or mental health crisis. We have worked toward aiding Cape Cod Community College to continue building its nursing programs and other critical programs to train a workforce that we need on the Cape so that our young people stay here and work here. The issues facing our district are sometimes daunting. The rising cost of housing and availability affects people trying to make a living here, as well as people who have lived here their whole lives. I have brought funding for housing to the Cape, but there is still so much that needs to be done. My pledge is to keep working hard to address these issues and I believe that Cape Cod is a unique place that needs innovative solutions to address issues that are making it harder for our residents to thrive. Unlike my opponent, I am not from somewhere else and did not parachute into this district from a faraway place. My family has lived in Barnstable for generations. This district is in my heart and soul. I can’t imagine anything more fulfilling than serving my neighbors and friends.

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What is the most pressing issue in your district and how would you address it? 

If there were only one "pressing" issue facing Cape Cod or the 2nd Barnstable District, we would count ourselves as fortunate, but there are many issues that we face that are intertwined and we need to address them all. However, three areas of focus are housing, mental health and wastewater. As mentioned previously, housing is at a critical level and needs to be a top priority. Mental health is festering like a bad infection and I have been collaborating with leading experts in the field. The wastewater issue affects all 15 towns on the Cape because each community is connected to a single freshwater aquifer.

One town's contamination can affect another town’s drinking water supply. My opponent has run a campaign based on the right-wing Republican playbook that is anti-women, anti-minority, anti-poverty and, frankly, unchristian. When we attack human values and denigrate those less fortunate we undermine our own community values. But when we support the right of all people to succeed and thrive, we are supporting a community, a workforce, home buyers and renters, people of all faiths, backgrounds and ethnicities.

There is no single issue that stands apart from all others, but our ability to work and support our families is at the root of many other issues that we need to focus on. Our desire to keep our adult children on the Cape to nurture them as they start their own families is unrealistic if they cannot earn a living and find gainful employment. Cape Cod is a destination for many, some seasonal and some as a place for retirement, but I grew up in this community and see this place as home and I respect it as such.

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How do you differ from other candidates? 

I could not be more different than my opponent in the November election. In his campaign he has embraced a right-wing Trump ideology that is anti-immigrant, anti-women and anti-Cape. He expresses a platform to address federal issues and legislation that cannot be dealt with at the state level. During my first term in the Legislature, I have worked to promote legislation and issues that help Cape Cod and the 2nd Barnstable District. I have worked across the aisle with my Republican colleagues to advance solutions that help citizens on the Cape with housing reform, better access to health care and environmental remediation. I don’t stand on a soapbox in the Legislature and make speeches. I work with my colleagues to advance legislation that helps people in their real lives, and I am always aware of where I came from and who I am there to serve. I represent all my constituents. I have had the privilege of serving on key legislative committees that are very important to the 2nd Barnstable District.

What other information would you like voters to know? 

As a resident of Barnstable who grew up here and attended public schools here, I am reminded by my many friends and neighbors that I am one of them. I have served as an advisor for the Barnstable Youth Group for the last six years and am always so impressed with the knowledge and community involvement of our local young adults. As the construction inspector for the town of Barnstable’s Department of Public Works, I have literally driven every street of this district and know the issues that affect our town and know how we can attract additional state funding to address issues that the town may not have the funding to solve. As a retired former champion boxer, I also understand that hard work, discipline and focus bring results, and I will continue to fight for my district. It has been my pleasure to represent the citizens of the 2nd Barnstable District and I respectfully ask for your support to send me back to Beacon Hill to continue the good work I have begun.   

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William Peters

Age: 51

Residence: Barnstable

Education: Bachelor's Degree in Biology/Chemistry from Greenville College, Ph.D. from University of Alabama, post-doc training at Princeton University and MBA UMASS Amherst

Employment: President of Equip & Consult LLC, biotech consulting

Political experience: None except in school as President of Graduate and Professional Students. I have also worked on several campaigns.

Civic Involvement: Member of Presbyterian Church of Cape Cod.  Active on mission trips throughout U.S.  Active on school council (not the elected school group) at Falmouth High School 1 year pre-COVID.

Why are you running? 

I am running because I see the policies enacted in the commonwealth and the country as a whole, deteriorating the American dream for future generations. Taxes, spending, and focus on projects that are not directly beneficial to the citizens, as inflation and cost of goods rise, is irresponsible and a misuse of the people’s taxes. I am running because our current representative supports all of these destructive measures and we (the people) need to fight back before the dream is gone.

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What is the most pressing issue in your district and how would you address it? 

I think that the most pressing issue for the district is inflation and the cost of goods, I would press for a reduction in taxes for individuals, families, and small businesses. We must move toward providing relief locally, in the commonwealth.  We have the means to do that with a tax surplus. This money belongs to citizens and should be returned as the 1986 bill instructs. I would revisit the gas tax relief that was voted down twice. Relief of 25 cents per gallon for a time would be a huge benefit to families and businesses and should be approved. I will seek legislation that provides tax relief and encourages small business growth.

How do you differ from other candidates? 

I am a Christian, husband, father, scientist, and businessman. This is my history and what I bring to the position of representing the people of 2nd Barnstable. I come from the very group that is struggling due to decisions made by the state government over the last several years, especially throughout the pandemic. I hope that, compared to other candidates, I bring a balance to the House since these groups, people like me, are not being represented well.

What information would you like voters to know?

I think I would like voters to know that a balance on Beacon Hill is attainable starting Nov. 8. No matter what “side” you are on, left, right, or middle, you can’t help to see that our current government consists of one-sided representation. Balance is effective and more representative and one-sided representation is not. Vote for balance.

Contact Asad Jung at ajung@capecodonline. Follow him on Twitter: @asadjungcct.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Rep. Kipp Diggs and William Peters vie for 2nd Barnstable District