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Oak point clubs: we have plenty of room for your pictures and announcements! See Clubs for more information.

Responses:

• Wayne Perkins
• Marsha Brunelle's response
• Michael O'Shaughnessy's response
• Greg Stevens response

There's a recall election coming up September 29th in Middleboro. You'll be given a ballot that asks something like "Do you want to recall Selectman Wayne Perkins?". If you vote not to recall him, you still need to vote FOR him in the next section. Those votes only matter if the recall itself passes. It's redundant, but that's the way it is. If you say you do want to recall him, you will have your choice of one or more candidates to vote for to fill his seat. The ballot will include the same questions for Marsha Brunelle and Steve Spataro (currently sitting selectmen).

I'm sure there will be a "candidates night" and other informational sessions around town. However, I'd like to offer the candidates the opportunity to answer some questions here. If they choose to answer, I'll publish their response unedited and without further comment by me. Fair enough? Here's what I'd like to know:

Unfortunately, not all candidates chose to answer, but we hope that what we have will be helpful.

First, what experience do you have that you believe qualifies you for this position?

The DOR report requested by the current Selectmen suggests that the Board should formally give up some of its present powers to the Town Manager. Do you agree or disagree with this? Feel free to explain why, of course.

For sitting Selectmen: you asked for DOR's help; do you want to take the advice that was given?

Regardless of whether or not you believe the proposed Wampanoag Casino has positive or negative impacts on Middleboro, we need to get through at least three to five years before any of that will happen. What's your plan for doing that?

If you are opposed to this Casino Resort, but it does become reality, do you believe that you can work effectively with the Tribal-Town Advisory Committee?

If you are opposed, do you plan to use the powers of this office to work toward negating the actuality of this project if possible?

Overall, do you feel Middleboro needs to concentrate more on reducing costs or increasing revenue? Of course "both" is also a valid answer.

If the Casino does NOT come to Middleboro (or if it comes and is, in fact, a cash drain rather than a benefit), what is your plan for fiscal stability long term?

If you feel we do need to increase revenue, do you think we need to increase homeowner taxes to meet our needs, and if so, what is your estimate of how much they might need to increase?

Do you feel that the Board needs to be more responsive to the town's voters?

Do you feel that the Board has a responsibility to present clear and complete information to Town Meeting voters and if so, do you think they presently accomplish that goal? If not, what changes would you try to effect?

Do you think Oak Point homeowners should be paying more taxes (yes, this was effectively decided at a previous town meeting, but there are still voters who believe this needs addressing).

And of course you should feel free to speak about anything else you'd like to put on the table. Unlike a newspaper, radio show, or candidates night, we have virtually unlimited space and time here. I suggest that shorter is probably better than longer just because of people's attention spans, but please write as much as you feel necessary. If you'd like to include your picture or other exhibits, feel free to do that also.

Don't feel that you have to follow a strict question and answer format: if you want to just write an editorial that covers what you want to cover go ahead. Just remember that people do expect to find these answers therein.

I thank you in advance and hope that all of you will take the opportunity to answer these questions and post your views here. Submissions by email are preferred, plain text is better than word processing documents, but whatever you send (even if it's just a letter), we'll get it published.

Responses:

• Wayne Perkins
• Marsha Brunelle's response
• Michael O'Shaughnessy's response
• Greg Stevens response

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Run, Jessie, Run
Vote Influence
Voters Against Recall Rally
Recall Election
Politics