Jen Benson: Lunenburg resident and Democrat

I believe that government needs to be responsive to the needs of its people. This belief led me to run for the Lunenburg School Committee in 2003. I took office during a difficult time for our schools and helped restore trust between the parents, the School Committee, and other town boards. This belief also led me to run for state representative in 2008 because I felt our towns and local boards should have a strong and independent voice on Beacon Hill. After taking office I created a District Advisory Group with representatives from local government boards to open channels of communication between the state and the towns. I also started holding meetings and scheduling visits with local small business owners.

The most important issue currently facing our commonwealth is unemployment. While the unemployment rate in Massachusetts is below that of the country as a whole, and the unemployment rate in the 37th Middlesex District is below the rate of the commonwealth, there are still far too many people out of work.

In order to improve the economy and create jobs, we needed to lower the cost of doing business in Massachusetts, in particular the cost of health care, and streamline the permitting processes required for creating or expanding businesses. This legislative session we passed a small business health insurance bill and an economic development bill that will help achieve those goals.

The small business health insurance bill works to control the skyrocketing cost of health care by requiring carriers to submit rate filings to the state 90 days before the effective date so the Division of Insurance can determine if a rate is too high for the benefits it provides. The bill also gives consumers access to prescription drug discounts, lowering their health-care costs. I also cosponsored and succeeded in passing an amendment that allows small businesses to work together to purchase insurance at group rates, an area where small businesses were at a great disadvantage to large corporations.

The economic development bill we passed helps with permitting by allowing for expedited permitting in growth districts. The bill lowered capital gains taxes from 5.3 percent to 3 percent for investments held for three years and created a sales tax holiday for the weekend of Aug. 14 and 15, which filled many of our stores that weekend. The bill will help boost the economy and create jobs and received endorsement from groups like the Associated Industries of Massachusetts and the Boston Chamber of Commerce.

I remain committed to the value of strong public education that will provide our commonwealth with its next generation of innovators, workers, and small business owners.

I am not satisfied that we have done enough with these two pieces of legislation. I will continue to look for ways to create new jobs in our commonwealth using collaboration with local businesses, and open access to constituents to come up with new ideas and solutions. I still believe that government works best when it is responsive to the needs of its people.

About Jen Benson:

Kurt Hayes: Boxborough resident and Republican

As I campaign to be your state representative, I have met and chatted with countless voters this year. Whether at the Harvard transfer station, local events, a “Conversations with Kurt” informal town-hall meeting, or on the phone, I hear from voters that their top concern is the continuing jobs and economic crisis as well as the lack of balance and leadership on Beacon Hill.

Voters will have a clear choice on Nov. 2. You have an incumbent state representative who joined Beacon Hill Democrats in heralding a recent CNBC report that rated Massachusetts as the fifth best business-friendly state in the nation. With this view that Massachusetts is business-friendly, it is no surprise that your state government did not take substantive pro-growth action early in this past legislative session to help Massachusetts compete for businesses and jobs. They think we’re doing just fine!

On the other hand, I contend there is much more merit in a study by Chief Executive Magazine that rated Massachusetts as the fifth worst business-friendly state in the nation. The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council also rates Massachusetts near the bottom. Whom do you believe?

As your state representative, I will focus relentlessly on creating a pro-growth climate where small businesses can grow sustainable private-sector jobs. Creating a competitive, pro-growth tax, permitting, and regulatory environment in Massachusetts will enable us to work our way out of the current economic crisis.

My 20 years of experience in the private sector has uniquely prepared me to be an effective state representative, ready to hit the ground running to work toward collaborative solutions that address the tremendous challenges we face. My entire career at IBM is rooted in the ability to come to the table with colleagues, business partners, and customers who have different perspectives, backgrounds, and motivations, yet collaborate and work toward a common goal. We need this same collaboration in the State House. Balance is not just in party affiliation, but also in the background, experience, and approach of those whom you send to Beacon Hill.

Our State House is packed with attorneys and former locally elected office-holders. Attorneys often fall back on their training to be adversarial and focus on winning for “their side,” rather than working for the common good. Those who go straight from locally elected office to the State House without any professional training or experience are often ill-equipped to deal with the complex, highly politicized world of the State House. If I earn the honor of representing you as state representative, my training, experience and background will have prepared me to be an effective voice for balance and a collaborative approach on Beacon Hill.

I hope to meet constituents in person at local events or a “Conversations with Kurt” informal town-hall meeting, or to talk with you on the phone before Nov. 2.

About Kurt Hayes:

 Kurt holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, with a focus on Information Technology, and is employed by IBM. He is a co-founder of LymeLITE.org and is an advocate for Lyme disease awareness, education and legislation. For more information visit www.KurtHayes.com.