Fourth District Rep Candidates Spar Over Economy, Housing, Energy

by Bethany Gibbons

            ORLEANS --- In a lively debate Monday night at the Nauset Regional Middle School, Democratic State Representative Sarah Peake squared off against Republican hopeful Don Howell. The incumbent and her challenger weighed in on a wide range of topics, from the use of cell phones while driving to homeowner’s insurance, but the candidates presented a unified front in identifying the state of the economy as the most pressing issue facing Cape Codders today.

            Provincetown resident Peake highlighted her record in the Fourth Barnstable District seat in the House. “I’ve voted on over 300 bills and have a 100 percent voting record in the House,” she said. She detailed her efforts, including signing on to two bills to help those facing foreclosure, “bringing back $925,000 to the region [for the Flex Bus] as a freshman legislator,” her work to secure funding for the arts as well as signing on to the Ocean’s Act and other environmental legislation. She promised that her first bill will be a meaningful homeowner’s insurance policy for Cape Codders.

            Howell, a former Harwich selectman, pledged to “…work for the little guy, and not just because I am a little guy.” He focused on lessening the tax burden. “I wish the sales tax holiday was more like the Christmas holiday, with two weeks off,” he said. He vowed to reduce paperwork for small businesses, citing his 15 years of experience as a small business owner. He pointed to his fiscal experience as a senior federal program manager operating two U.S. Marshall’s drug seizure centers. “Every few years our legislators spend away our reserves and then a downturn hits,” he said.

            Monday night’s debate was co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Cape Cod Area (LWVCCA) and the Cape Cod Times, and featured questions from the LWVCCA, the Cape Cod Times, written questions (selected by the LWVCCA) from the audience, and from the candidates themselves.

            With the national mortgage crisis looming large on Americans’ minds, the candidates debated the local response. “We have to do everything at the state level to help,” Howell said. “Anything that the state could do to lower anything temporarily would be a good idea; gas tax, sales tax, anything that we could do to allow them to stay in their houses would be important.”

            Peake focused on the bills she signed onto in order to help families and individuals faced with foreclosure. “They were filed late in the House and I expect that they will be re-filed, and I will continue to be a co-sponsor,” she said. “One of the bills allows for better notification to the homeowner [of impending foreclosure] and provides for a court procedure. There will be room for a neutral third party to see if there is any room for negotiation. This bill would go a long way to stopping some of those foreclosures and keeping people in their homes.”          

            Questioned about support for Proposition 2 ½ overrides, both candidates declared misgivings.

            “I don’t support Prop 2 ½ overrides,” Howell said. “The problem is that it exempts those same people who vote for them, the seniors, from paying for them. You’re threatening to create an ageist war.”

            Peake explained her initial support. “I did vote for it at the time,” she said. “It was giving control to local communities. Down the road, the state board of assessors met and they spoke of the unintended consequences, like how to administer it. I might do it differently now. I would do it differently.”

            When asked about methods to encourage young families to stay in the area, the candidates responded with differing initiatives. Howell said, “I actually have kids,” and noted that the exodus of young people means that they are voting with their feet. “The taxes are too high,” he explained. “As for affordable housing, I taught my kids to take control of their problems and to own them. I’ve been a board member of the Harwich Ecumenical Council for the Homeless…. I’ve worked on these problems and not always through the government.” He wants to support local organizations that help working people to remain on the Cape.

            Peake wants to “keep funds flowing to the district.” She described the lack of affordable child care as “one of the biggest issues facing young families today.” She spoke of her discussions with Elizabeth Aldred of The Children’s Place in Eastham and how, from information garnered there, she put together a group of people to look into the reduction in the income requirements for child care vouchers. “As we look at the fragility of our economy, something like that can be the tipping point,” she said. “I think that a ‘pothole’ account for something like childcare vouchers would be appropriate here.”

            The candidates were in agreement about a number of issues. Both oppose casino gambling. Both also support increased enforcement of laws to prevent drivers from talking on cell phones while operating a vehicle, or of drafting new legislation to make that a priority.

            The incumbent and her challenger criticized the Cape Wind project as being poorly planned and agreed on the Broadband Bill to increase Internet accessibility and speed on the Cape in an effort to attract new businesses and service.

            Asked about a change in the drinking age, Peake commented that she “hadn’t seen anything compelling to lower the drinking age.” Howell stated, “I don’t think the drinking age has any impact,” and called for more rigorous sentencing, including jail time, for repeat DUI offenders.

            When the question of offshore drilling was raised, Howell said, “There is going to have to be some offshore drilling,” while also acknowledging that “we have to do something about greenhouse gasses.”

            Peake said that she opposes offshore drilling. “Georges Bank is the bread and butter of our fishing industry. I wouldn’t want to do anything that would negatively impact that area.”

10/9/08