On June 27, the League of Women Voters of Newton sponsored a debate among the three candidates to succeed the retiring Rep. Kay Khan as state representative for the 11th Middlesex district. Alex Jablon and Amy Sangiolo seek the Democratic party nomination. The winner of the September 3 primary will face Republican Vladislav (Steve) Yanovsky in the November 5 general election.
Jenn Adams, News Director of NewTV, moderated the hour-long debate. The format consisted of opening and closing statements by each candidate, bookending a series of questions selected by the League of Women Voters.
The debate had a complicated dynamic, as it featured two candidates contending for the Democratic nomination, along with a Republican candidate who will oppose the eventual Democratic nominee. The two Democratic candidates, Sangiolo and Jablon, held similar positions on most issues and sought to highlight where they differed from each other. The two Democrats’ responses to questions were, in most cases, dramatically different from those of the Republican candidate, Yanovsky.
In their comments, Sangiolo emphasized her experience and skill as a legislator and as a provider of constituent services. Jablon’s emphasis was on his financial skill as an auditor and his youth. Yanovsky emphasized that he would bring a conservative alternative to “failed liberal policies in Massachusetts.”
Candidates were asked how to offset a decline in gas tax revenues that fund transportation infrastructure. In her response Sangiolo proposed increasing the price of carbon by raising the gas tax and Jablon proposed filling loopholes in the state tax code, while Yanovsky favored reducing spending.
The moderator asked about pending legislation to ban or limit the use of PFAS (known as “forever chemicals”). Sangiolo stated her support for the legislation. Yanovsky said that evidence was insufficient, and that he favored market forces rather than laws deciding the usage of PFAS. Jablon said markets need regulation and that he agreed with Sangiolo, saying there was sufficient evidence of serious harm from PFAS to move forward on banning or limiting their use.
When asked about housing shortages in the state, leading to the outmigration of young people, Jablon favored increasing the supply of housing at all price points, including market-rate housing. Sangiolo disagreed, saying that the district needed more housing but has sufficient market-rate housing and that increases in market-rate housing would barely affect house prices. Yanovsky favored no state action on housing and restated his goal of reducing taxes.
The most contentious moment of the debate came after Yanovsky used the term “invaders” to describe immigrants without legal authorization. In Jablon’s response, he angrily took issue with the term invaders, saying it was shameful characterization. In her response, Sangiolo echoed Jablon’s critical comments, calling Yanovsky’s comments offensive.
NewTV’s video of the 11th Middlesex candidates forum is here.
...Other News...
League of Women Voters and NewTV host 12th Middlesex candidates forum with Humphrey, Lipof, and Schwartz
Alex Jablon announces his candidacy for 11th Middlesex House seat
CRRC virtual debate: 11th Middlesex State Representative Democratic candidates (Jablon, Sangiolo), July 31
Climate groups host forum for State Representative candidates