Over the last couple of weeks, we have seen what one-party rule has done for the 2017 state budget.  When Gov. Baker followed the law in making some difficult choices to reduce the budget, our representatives vetoed them, one after another, after another. As they did so, they did not dare raise taxes, or cut elsewhere. No, they decided to ignore the law requiring a balanced budget, and went ahead and approved overspending in the hopes that “everything will work out” somehow. In other words, they kicked the can down the road when the problem will be bigger.

The Sept. 8 primary is right around the corner, and we have the opportunity to put some fiscal sanity back into the legislature.  I am writing in support of Sid Starks of East Longmeadow, a fiscal conservative who is running a sticker campaign to defeat incumbent Brian Ashe of Longmeadow, who voted to override almost all the Governor’s vetoes.

Sid is not a Johnny-come-lately, jumping in at the last minute with a sticker campaign.  He would hate my telling you this, but he chose to suspend his campaign and spend time out of state to deal with a family illness.  Now that things are stable again, he is asking for our support to defeat Brian Ashe.  If you live in Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, Hampden or Monson, please make a note somewhere to write in “Sidney Starks” as your representative in the 2nd Hampden District on Thursday, Sept. 8 or pick up his sticker on your way into the polls in these towns.

R. Patrick Henry, Jr.
East Longmeadow