Representing 8^th Bristol District Serving Communities of Westport and Fall River

To bring jobs to Fall River and Westport, we should focus on tourism, developing our waterfront and luring high end textile manufacturing. We have an unequalled historic district and rich and vibrant Portuguese and Lebanese cultures. Fall River is at the center of a population that numbers in the millions, surrounded as we are by Boston, Providence, Newport and Cape Cod and many more millions pass through on their way to vacation on the Cape and Islands. We have a waterfront that begs to be developed in a fashion similar to Newport and Providence. We have a workforce happy to work in the manufacturing environment. We support a number of high end textile manufacturers who value quality and fast turn around that can’t be found in China. Let’s use them as ambassadors to others here.

While I was chair of the Finance Committee, I was able to bring funding for Westport Community Schools above state mandated minimum for the first time in years. We have talented and dedicated teachers and administrators in our districts. We should stay out of their way by reducing onerous and increasing bureaucratic paperwork. We have to find more funding for our schools. We are falling behind many other nations and we are failing our children and grandchildren. It is not uncommon for our teachers to spend out of their pockets thousands of dollars each year for books and supplies that the schools cannot provide. I don’t have a magic wand but I promise to work hard on education.

Public safety is an issue to many. Protection of their home and family is their first priority. I have helped bring in a new fire station for Westport, one million dollars below budget and on time. Bringing more jobs will take people off the streets and reduce crime.

Protecting the environment has been my family’s passion for decades. We raise grass fed beef cattle without chemicals, antibiotics or hormones. We have placed conservation restrictions on our farm to keep it in agriculture forever. We created a joint marketing effort for our neighbors who farm to reach local consumers directly. I served as lead fundraiser for the Westport Land Conservation Trust for ten years and helped raise millions of dollars to protect our farms and river. I will continue to be a leader in protecting our magnificent lands and waters.

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