Don Howell's Blog

We Face Some Tough Times Ahead

It's no secret, people are hurting. Cape home foreclosures are up. People are raiding their change jars to make ends meet. Churches are reporting unprecedented requests from folks who need assistance; and all this without the first home heating bill being due! These are shaping up to be tough times all across the state. So you need someone on Beacon Hill who has the experience to deal with these issues and who is willing to be in your corner.

My wife and I have always tried to give our kids real values. Among them was to take responsibility for themselves and the world around them. We also taught them to respect and work with others in order to achieve results. They have seen me devote nearly two decades of my life here working with many groups - ranging from the arts community to environmental groups; housing to senior and youth advocacy groups - sharing the knowledge I gained at Fordham University and my course work at the London School of Economics.

In fact, as a former senior program manager in the Federal Government (during the last 8 of my 17 years employed there), I brought my program from $3 million in sales to $26 million in sales in just 5 years - that's about the size of a small town's annual budget. All of that came in very handy as I served my town on the Planning Board, the Water Quality Management Task Force and as a 6 year Selectman (two as its chair). And my peers across the Cape relied on me, electing me the President of the Cape Cod Selectmen's and Councilors Association.

By contrast, as our economic woes have risen, my opponent has been going from party to party raising money for this race and her future congressional ambitions. Boston Mayor Menino came to Truro to be with Rep. Peake. House Speaker Sal DiMasi hosted a lavish Truro fundraiser for his "friend". And a single powerful PAC held not one, but two fundraisers for her in Provincetown in little more than a month. So why, after two years, did we "run out of time" to pass any Homeowners Insurance Reform to give you back some money in your pocket? We were asked to trust Rep Peake when she promised us two years ago that insurance reform would be her 1^st priority. We have nothing to show for it, except her promise that reform will once again be her 1^st priority, if you elect her again.

I'm not sure whose voice your current Rep is listening to, but it's not yours!

I'm just an average guy looking for real change for the people of Harwich, Chatham, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro and Provincetown.

We moved to the Cape and left our careers so that we could raise our family in this community. The journey included adding to the family by fostering and adopting. My wife, Pam, works at Cape Cod Hospital as an RN while I ran a small business here for 11 years. Like many of you, we've struggled with paying student loans. We have seen our gas and oil bills soar.  And like many of you, we continue to pay our mortgage and skyrocketing homeowner's insurance bills (not to mention utilities bills). Whether you are just starting out or are retired on a fixed income, this election is about you. Simply put, I share your concerns because I live with them, too.

I am the only candidate running for any state office advocating term limits. That's real change! And I'm proud to have received the endorsement of a respected small business organization many Cape Codders belong to; the NFIB (the National Federation of Independent Business). By contrast, my opponent received a dismal rating by both the NFIB and the Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) given on their 2007-2008 legislative scorecards. She doesn't seem to understand the concerns of working people.

As a Governor's appointee to the Local Government Advisory Commission, I fought on behalf of local Republicans and Democrats to get back the lottery money that the state took from us in its last fiscal crisis. My opponent voted this past year not to return $450 million of that money (your money) to our towns. My town could have used that money and I'll bet yours could have, too. For that matter, you would have had more money in your pocket to pay your bills if the income tax rate had been lowered to 5%, as we voted at the ballot box. I support that rollback immediately. Our current Representative continues to ignore your voice on that, too.

You are never going to see results until people are held accountable. During my years as a Selectman, I made sure for the first time that all budget meetings with schools, police and fire were televised so that everyone could see them at home (it wasn't my money I was spending). My opponent, on the other hand, voted against having her votes in committees being posted on the internet. She told a constituent "...all my votes are public... all you have to do is go to Boston to find out..." By the way, try going to the state site to find out any vote. All you'll need is the date it passed. If you don't know it, you're out of luck; there's no other way to search - unless, ofcourse, you are a legislator. They use their own internal system; one the public cannot access. What are these people trying to hide?

So join me in restoring an honest, balanced two-party system to the State House; one that carries your voice to Beacon Hill - not that of the Mayor of Boston or a House Speaker who has served 30 years in office.

My wide ranging experience - especially in finances - will help Beacon Hill make wise choices during the difficult times ahead. I won't need to rely on the recommendations provided by an aging career leadership. I can also make a promise that will be kept; your well being will be my only guide.

Together, we can make a difference. Together, we can make our government work for us again!

Please vote for me on November 4^th.