#chris finn

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The CBC Television series Comics! was a late night stand-up series that showcased a different Toronto-based comedian for 30 minutes each week.

US Space Force 'Purpose'

Democratic candidate Chris Finn has been disappointed with the lack of action and understanding State Rep. Donald Wong has shown towards the 9th Essex District.

According to Finn, last week's debate only further emphasized what was painfully obvious - it's time for a change in the State House. 

"He's had four years to accomplish something, anything," sad Finn. "He talks about changing the formula for Ch. 70 - school funding - for our towns and yet nothing has been done in the four years he has been our Representative. The Review commission Representative Wong continues to reference as his solution to the problem is actually not anything new, this commission has been required to meet at least once every four years since the passage of the Education Reform Act of 1993.  People see that I have a young son who will be attending our public schools in just a few years and they know that I will not allow our state to ignore this issue any longer.

“By admission Representative Wong’s biggest accomplishments over four years are a 100% voter record and a vote on something that he didn’t even draft, I’m not particularly impressed.  If you or I simply showed up to work, and did nothing more, we wouldn’t have our jobs for very long.” 

The debate also highlighted a number of key differences between the candidates.

"I support earned sick leave so that our working parents do not have to choose between staying home to care for a sick child and going to work for fear of losing a job that they need; Wong does not," Finn said.

"I support equal pay for women who perform equal work; Wong does not. I will fight to bring in equitable funding for education in our district; Wong has not. I support expanding the bottle bill because it’s a common sense approach to protecting our environment; Wong does not."

“I have already proven myself as someone who is fighting to help our seniors afford living on a fixed income so that they may remain independent and in their own homes as long as they can by fighting to reduce their real estate taxes.  Representative Wong has not.”

For four years, Wong has done little to help this district and it's a fact not lost on Finn.

"It's disappointing to see someone in the State House, representing our district, that doesn't fight for what the voters in this district want and need," Finn said. "It's 2014 and Representative Wong refuses to fight for equal pay for women. Wakefield and Saugus are among the lowest in receiving state funds for our schools.Our working families are struggling and Representative Wong voted against a reasonable increase in the minimum wage, which is a vote to help his business interests, not the hardworking individuals and families of our district.Representative Wong has had his chance to improve the district and I believe he has failed us.

“This is not an election based on experience.  Experience only gets our district so far without action.  Give me half the time Representative Wong has had as our State Representative and I believe I can do twice as much for Wakefield, Saugus and Lynn.”

Chris Finn is the Democratic candidate for State Representative of the 9th Essex District.

 Town Meeting Member and Democratic candidate for State Representative of the 9th Essex District, Christopher Finn, has come out in support of suspended Saugus Town Manager, Scott Crabtree.

Recently the Saugus Board of Selectmen suspended Crabtree after listing nine vaguely-written charges.

"I, along with the majority of Town Meeting Members in Saugus, support and trust Scott Crabtree," Finn said. "For the two years that Scott has been our Town Manager we have seen great improvements to the Town of Saugus."

Among Crabtree's accomplishments, Finn listed $1 million being placed in a stabilization fund, support for a capital improvements plan so that the town's tax dollars are more efficiently spent and moving Saugus closer to becoming a green community, saving the town money in the process.

"For the first time in a long while Saugus had stability in Town leadership and was moving forward," Finn said. "Scott, along with me and other community members recently began the process of acquiring state funds for a new Saugus High School - something the town desperately needs. The news of Crabtree's suspension shocked many residents in town -  there was a better way to address this problem.”

"The process of suspending and possibly firing our Town Manager seems rushed and unnecessary," Finn said. "If communication was the biggest concern of the Board, then let's work on mediating a solution. Surely, our tax dollars can be better spent on improving our Town than on avoidable litigation and lawyer’s fees.”

Another cause for concern to Finn is the makeup of the Board of Selectmen.

"The firing of a Town Manager is a drastic step taken by the Board of Selectmen," Finn said. "It is concerning that Representative Wong's former campaign manager sits on this Board, along with others Representative Wong held signs for in the most recent Town election, all of whom voted 4-1 to suspend Scott Crabtree.  Given the very public history of disagreements between Mr. Wong and Mr. Crabtree, there is a perception that this decision may have been based on politics and not performance. Mr. Wong has yet to speak publicly about the Board's rash decision and his silence is deafening as our town begins to head down a difficult path."

“I believe we need to end the plague of political divisiveness and work together towards our common goals to better our community, such as a new high school in Saugus, better care for our seniors, working to preserve Union Hospital as a full-service community hospital, and more efficient government spending.”