This was a fabulous event. I saw this advertised and as an unaffiliated voter, I wanted to attend and learn more about the candidates. I certainly have been receiving literature at my door, and I know these people are working hard to reach me. I'm glad they are ! Two of these candidates have also knocked on my door. I like the ideas they put forward. They represent new ideas and a fresh perspective that is very much needed on Beacon Hill. The positive change starts by voting for them, and I will in November.

Our thanks to the candidates for visiting with us yesterday.

There is understandably significant interest in the Presidential and Senatorial races this year, but we must not neglect the important races for Beacon Hill.

On the State Senate side there are currently only 4 elected Republicans, just 10% of the total. There is a very significant need to elect Republicans to restore a better balance of representation. The incumbent, Mr. Eldridge, is the most liberal Senator in Boston - in a District that voted overwhelmingly for Scott Brown. The election of Dean Cavaretta will be a very good first step in returning representation to Westborough in the Senate.

The same is true on the House side where Republicans hold only 20% of the seats. Incumbent Ms. Dykema is a 98% voter with the Speaker in a District that went 60-40 for Scott Brown. Her form of liberalism is at odds with the voters here, and Marty Lamb is the better choice for voters in Precinct 2.

In Precincts 1 and 3, Steven Levy is actually an incumbent Republican Representative who was redistricted out of his seat in Marlboro by the Democrat leaders. As a result, Westborough and Northboro voters are now new to Mr. Levy, a very principled conservative voice who we need to re-elect.

Matt Beaton is running unopposed (Precincts 4,5). After taking over for Karyn Polito Matt has made his mark very quickly on Beacon Hill, and we are fortunate to have him representing our interests.

Marty Lamb is very impressive. He would definately be a massive improvement over Dykema. Sykema loves tax increases - she will be voting to raise the income tax and per-mile tax if reelected. Marty Lamb would support lower taxes and more sensible state spending.

I like Marty Lamb and will vote for him as my State Representative. I was appalled to see Carolyn Dykema vote on Beacon Hill for the bill forcing hundreds of women-owned home based day care centers to be unionized. This will raise the cost of child care, and put local trusting daycares out of our reach. Clearly, the Dykema campaign is only interested in special interest money, not our interests as citizen constituents.

Mr. Lamb is a breath of fresh air with very practical ideas about improving the business climate in this state. We have to end the one-party rule in MA if citizens are to have any say in the way we are taxed, how our health care is managed and how out-of-control entitlement programs are dealt with.

A few factual words in defense of Carolyn Dykema's excellent record as our State Rep:

Carolyn opposed the Speaker's number one legislative priority, casinos. She serves us, no one else.

The Massachusetts income tax rate has gone down during Carolyn's time in office, from 5.3% to 5.25%. As the economy improves, it is likely to go down all the way to 5%, unless Marty's fellow Tea Party Republicans in DC continue to damage the economy for political gain.

Home daycare providers are not forced to unionize. They're given the choice. Only those that take state vouchers because they serve the working poor even have the choice.

Carolyn gets her campaign money from local sources, friends, and family. She'll have a campaign finance disclosure posted this week, as required, at http://www.efs.cpf.state.ma.us/SearchReportResults.aspx?cpfId=14746

Now back to the usual steady diet of misinformation, already in progress.

Kelly - "...misinformation...". You mean like, "...unless Marty's fellow Tea Party Republicans in DC continue to damage the economy for political gain."?

As for facts, juxtpose your assertion that Carolyn does not serve the speaker because she opposed the casino bill with the with the fact that she voted with the speaker 98% of the time. On balance, she does not serve us.

The fact that Carolyn opposed the Speaker's top priority proves he doesn't run her. I suspect that 98% number is made up. I've never seen the slightest documentation of it. My guess is most of the Republicans vote with the Speaker most of the time, too, since most legislation passes the House overwhelmingly, and many other votes are procedural.

About what you call my misinformation:

Marty is a Tea Party Republican. Check.

Congress and DC are full of Tea Party Republicans. Check.

Damaging the economy? The Tea Party Republicans got elected because employment is poor, and they have yet to pass anything related to jobs. Mitch McConnell on the Senate side is on record as setting the first priority of Republicans as keeping President Obama from winning a second term. Interpretation, not misinformation. Check!

Dykema Disinformation campaign continues. Taxes went down 0.05%. That is a pathetic joke. She raised them $2 billion! 95.37% she votes with the Speaker.

Mr. Roney or Carolyn are either lying or don't understand the bill. There is no choice. Accept one child on a voucher and you are forced into a state union.

Stop lying to save her job.

Ah, another made-up percentage, but this one has two decimal places. I'm supposed to be impressed, but I'm not.

$2 billion? Also made up. Something here is pathetic, but it's not my numbers.

I've actually read the daycare bill, and your statements about it are wrong.

As I said above, back to the steady diet of misinformation.

These are the facts from the legislative records on roll call votes at the State House. It’s public information, and I am sure you are capable of looking it up yourself. In 2011, Rep Dykema voted 95% with the Speaker.

So let's have an honest assessment of her voting record vs the Speaker, as to whether she represents us or the Speaker. Consider that she votes 5% against the Speaker and add the weight that 1 of those votes was against the Speaker's top priority, and compare it to voting 95% with the Speaker. Does that comparison indicate that she represents us, or votes pretty much lock step with the Speaker? Even with the extra weight of voting aganst the Speaker's top priority (which passed, anyway, btw), she votes overwhelmingly with the Speaker, and which, for a District that voted 60-40 for Scott Brown, does not represent us.

Facts about forced unionization of home daycare and how bad this is which Dykema voted for.

http://www.nfib.com/nfib-in-my-state/nfib-in-my-state-content?cmsid=60179

I liked Marty Lamb's plan to help the economic problems we have as well. I don't hear these ideas coming from anywhere else. No one else is talking about it. He's the only one with proposals and the perspective. Mr. Lamb is the only person talking substantively about the issues. I don't hear that from the other side of the aisle at all. I don't think they have any ideas, they've been in control so long and it's all so stagnant. They don't know what to do. We're on the wrong track, and we need new legislators with the ideas and plans to put us on the right track. We need a big change for the better on Beacon Hill. We can do a lot better than what we've got now.

When we voted to roll back the state income tax to 5%, the legislature voted to ignore the people's vote "because of the bad economy". Mr Roney is taking that 12 steps further in deceit & speculation.

I am curious were Mr. Roney got his info on the tax rate dropping from 5.3 to 5.25%. According to the Dept of Revenue (DOR) web site http://www.mass.gov/dor/individuals/filing-and-payment-information/guide-to-personal-income-tax/tax-rates.html, the rate is 5.3% and cap gains are 12%.

Does he think he knows more than the Dept of Revenue ?! It's all there in black and white. The truth and facts are stubborn things.

Gina (if that's your real name), you call me deceitful, and you think you have proof. But you're wrong: http://www.mass.gov/dor/docs/dor/news/pressreleases/2011/tax-rate-cut.pdf.

The rate cut has been effective since Jan. 1, so it did not affect your 2011 taxes.

You owe me an apology.

Although I have not read “The Act” to which your link refers, this is sufficient enough for this discussion to show you are not misinforming on this point, Kelly – I give you credit for that - well played.

With all due respect, though, you’ll have to pardon my deep suspicion that, after the election in Nov, an overwhelming MA Democratic legislature and Democratic governor will reverse this and keep the income tax rate at 5.3% - especially since the public does not seem to know anything about this. I am honestly confused why this would not be widely known.

Big Biden Deal

For a family making $60,000 a year that is $30 a year! Even the 1% making $250K a year it only nets $125 "savings".

It was already mentioned above in a much earlier post that taxes went down a whopping .05% ! BIG WHOOP.

I never said my 2011 taxes were affected. That's you puttting words in my mouth. Again, more deception.

The fact is when we voted to roll back the state income tax to 5%, the legislature voted to ignore the people's vote "because of the bad economy".

I was talking about the forced unionization of daycare. And you are NOT telling the truth. There is also an NFIB link posted above. I'll say it again, truth and facts are stubborn things. Shame on you. You owe a thousand apologies.

If the legislature wanted to increase the rates, they could just do it. Senate Republicans gave an amendment to increase rates and Democrats said No and voted it down. So, this is just a way to put home daycare people into a union. Now, home daycare have to pay union dues and put it in the cost of doing business.

If the home daycare centers wants to add children to their center to cover the costs, they can only take voucher children.

Dykema's people should be ashamed for not telling the truth. Shame on Dykema.

I have proven two things.

First Dykema is running away from her record and hiding it as much as possible, especially the vote she made to force unionization on home based day cares. That has always been my issue of great concern and was my original post. This hurts small women owned business, and all of us who are mothers who rely on local daycares who are trustworthy. It raises costs which are passed on to us, or causes them to close their doors. It hurts all of us.

Her surrogate on the board cannot defend it, and only makes false claims in return. Review my posts and I have never call him names. People on these boards ask questions in their posts, too, and that's what I did as well. Others respond with links and posts as well to chime in.

Yet, he does not apologize for the false accusations about "liar" and "insulting people". This has never been said in any posts on this board except his alone. He's the one putting words in people's mouths. He's instead taking shots in return at character.

As a result I have proven another thing, this is why Dykema refuses to sign the clean campaign pledge. This is what she and her surrogates do. He speaks for her, is a mouthpiece for her. She should condemn what he is doing and saying, otherwise, that means she is condoning it.

It's a shameful act. It would have been easier to ask for recommendations on what puppy would be a great addition to the family for the kids, and thankfully, that was brought up in other Patch stories when asked for pics of their dogs. People chimed in.

In this case, there is no substance from the Dykema campaign, just divert attention to something else, put words in people's mouths when they ask questions, avoid the hot button issues like forced unionization of home day care which Dykema voted for to support her big labor special interest union friends, and prove once again why they don't sign the clean campaign pledge.

If Dykema does not openly condemn what goes on, she agrees with this and condones it, and that speaks volumes.

Again, review all the posts and the only one with the word "liar" and "insulting" and references to "character" are in Mr. Roney's posts and I think it's shameful and should be removed.