For the past twenty years, our district has come to expect full time representation on Beacon Hill from our State Representative, and that is exactly what we deserve. I am proud to say that I am the only candidate who will be able to give this district 100 percent of my time, attention and dedication.
Attending many events throughout Grafton, Northbridge and Upton, as well as getting out and personally door knocking over 4,000 doors to try and meet as many voters are I possibly can, has been extremely rewarding. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with my seven years of working with Representative George Peterson and having relevant experience certainly resonating with many individuals.
I am going to stand for accountability and transparency. A top priority of mine will be to advocate for more local aid to come back to our communities. In a state where our budget has grown by $1 billion dollars a year for the last ten years, we should be seeing more coming back to our communities. In that timeframe, our local aid numbers have decreased by roughly $300 million dollars, and I will not stand for that. I will fight to bring balance to our one party ruled state.
Another key issue is doing all we can to ensure we have superior schools. Since day one, I have said that we need to find a way to have the state and federal government pick up more of the special education costs. In fact, I would explore fully funding the Special Education Circuit Breaker, where all of the money would follow the student, thus not pitting school district against school district, or parent against parent. This would also free up additional dollars within the district for other educational programs.
No senior should ever have to move out of their residence because of increased taxes, and we must help seniors who are having trouble paying real estate taxes. I will work with the town assessors of Grafton, Northbridge and Upton to see that the criteria for tax abatement programs are increased.
Our vote for State Representative will show the direction we want our district to go, moving forward. We cannot afford another rubberstamp vote to go to Beacon Hill. We cannot afford to have on the job training for our next State Representative. We need an independent voice, and someone who has the proven relationships to work across the aisle to get things done in Boston. I have the relevant experience, and will have a seamless transition into advocating for Grafton, Northbridge and Upton, as well as bring balance to our legislature.
I respectfully ask for your vote Tuesday, November 4th, and assure you that I am the best candidate to continue the full time representation that each and every one of you deserves.
Sincerely,
David Muradian, Jr.
UPTON DAILY 