Candidate Q&A, Part 2

From Monday to Wednesday, we’re featuring House candidates’ thoughts on six questions posed to them. The responses from Democrat Steve DiNatale and Republican Edward Niemczura are presented unedited. Our brief analysis follows their answers. Remember, the election is next Tuesday, Nov. 7.

What do you see as the top priority as a “big project” for the city?

DiNatale: That is a very complex question that has many components of city government which are linked as stakeholders. I believe increasing our police presence on Main Street and a continuing effort to link FSC with the downtown. We must also continue to make an effort to increase job opportunities in the region and in so doing decrease the number of individuals who struggle with poverty. Linkages with Devens and pursuing a knowledge based economy particularly with FSC are some of the ways we can improve our economic state.

Niemczura: The implementation of a RT 2 connector, preferably connecting the John Fitch Highway to RT 2 via the Airport Rd/ Crawford St corridor. A new exit should be created on RT 2, and not continue to funnel traffic through Rt 12 or Rt 13. We need a multi pronged effort to look at all points of ingress and egress to Fitchburg, so that it can assume its rightful place as the pre-eminent city in the Montachusett area.

Another big project for the city and state should be establishing one tax rate only for Fitchburg and all cities and towns in Massachusetts. The current system puts every business in Massachusetts of potential jeopardy of high taxes on plants and equipment that has already resulted in companies and people moving out of the state and citizens being forced into lower paying jobs. I will introduce legislation that will eliminate the ability of cities and towns to raise taxes on businesses 20, 30, 50% or more over property taxes paid by families. My government reform package will make such increases unnecessary, saving jobs and encouraging growth and prosperity.

Our Thoughts: Maybe we didn’t word the question very well, but Niemczura’s Route 2 connector seems a lot more like a “big project” than DiNatale’s answer. The Route 2 connector is ground well covered, and most think it’s never going to happen, but good for Niemczura for trying. I wonder a little bit how Niemczura fills in the tax gap if business and residential are taxed equally. Do property taxes go up? Residents vote, businesses don’t.


Education and public safety are two of the priorities for the city. How can those services improve? If more funding is the answer, how does the state provide that funding within its own budget? Would cuts or budgetary slowdowns be necessary in other areas? Which areas would you target?

DiNatale: We as a legislature need to reexamine the formulas for funding to cities and towns. The Board of Ed also must be careful when placing demands on already strapped systems with mandates that take away from learning and add levels of bureaucracy. Also these mandates come with no added revenue. The state has made a step in the right direction recently however, the gap still exists to bring Chapter 70 funding back to levels of 3 or 4 years ago. Public safety dollars can come in the form of community policing grants (with significant increases) and also increases in local aid. Of course the added revenue that is provided to the city will have to be spent prudently and streamlining of services or elimination all together of certain costs would have to follow. We also need to consider the fixed costs that are chocking municipal governments with regard to health insurance and retirements.

Niemczura: Education: Empower Superintendents to expel students who are non- conforming to the schools disciplinary code. These children act as distractions and make it hard for teachers to teach and students to learn.

We should also lengthen the school day and the school year. Focus on reading writing and arithmetic old way and new way with every subject taught. Reform tenure and encourage private sector involvement in teaching. The teachers unions now prevent the private sector from getting involved.

Public safety: Work for more cooperation between State and Local police forces. State Police should be more than just a highway detail organization to act as flagmen on construction projects. They should be assisting local chiefs with drugs, gangs, and fugitives.

(On the funding portion of the question:)
1) Reduce funding to persons whose immigration status cannot be determined. Illegal immigrants should not be eligible for public assistance dollars, other than for humanitarian aid, or passage back to their native land.

2) My reform package will eliminate the competition for the never ending increases in taxes and funding required by special interest groups and the politically connected.
1) My reform package will reform all regulations so that people’s rights are not hindered by Legislative regulations. Environmental regulations will have to meet the requirement that property rights will not be taken away in the name of environmental protection. We will protect the environment and restore property rights at the same time. I will introduce legislation that will reduce the total of all state regulations and restore liberties taken away by special interest groups and the Democrats desire for socialism.

Our Thoughts: We’d like some more information on Niemczura’s reform package. His website doesn’t have anything on it. The gap in Chapter 70 DiNatale refers is about $3 million if you look at 2004, and about $2.5 million if you look at 2003. Of course, if 40 percent of state revenues is targeted to local aid, those numbers would disappear quickly. DiNatale is picking up the city’s message on unfunded mandates from the Department of Education. However, we feel ed reform has benefited the state’s schools, and it’s going to continue. The funding issue is part of a larger discussion on local aid, Prop 2 ½ and other factors. Oh yeah, don’t forget the city has done very little to improve education funding on its side.