Here is why I am Going to Vote for Christina Delisio

To the Editor:  

Here is why I am going to vote for Christina Delisio for state representative in our upcoming special election on Tuesday March 31^st. 

Moving to Manchester in 2002, I was delighted to team up with long-time resident Charlotte Wilson to run Democrat Candidate Devel Patrick’s wildly successful 2004 gubernatorial campaign.  Still a full-fledge Democrat in 2007, I then ran  Barack Obama’s successful 2009 presidential campaign in Manchester, and in 2012 I headed up the local campaign for Elizabeth Warren’s first senatorial campaign.  

But today, like many, I am no longer a registered Democrat… nor registered Republican.  Instead, I remain unenrolled in any political party.  Today, I find it important to ignore political parties. Instead, I look for the most knowledgeable, experienced, educated and effective candidate to represent me in our state and federal governing bodies.     

Having done my research, Christina Delisio wins my vote hands down.  As a three-term elected member of Manchester’s Planning Board, Christina has shown us her ability to analyze and speak out on proposed local initiatives and controversial state mandates. As an attorney, she knows how to research, understand, and then question the full meaning within any piece of proposed legislation… before deciding to promote it or speak against it.   

Most important… when Delisio finds that proposed legislation needs more thoughtful consideration, she has never been afraid to stand up and help voters understand the positive and negative effects of what is being proposed.  

More and more authoritarian or top-down state laws are now being introduced that take control away from local cities and towns. In Manchester, we suddenly have to connect with an arms-length regional police dispatch office, instead of being allowed to speak directly with our local police force.  Today, Manchester residents continue to fight to block a state-mandated high-rise apartment that will border our pristine conservation land. And this year, our new state representative will have to deal with the state’s recently proposed RIGHT TO MOVE legislation! 

What is this proposed RIGHT TO MOVE legislation?  Introduced into the US Congress this past year, the RIGHT TO MOVE law would limit the number of miles a state-licensed gas-powered car is allowed to drive each year.      

The bill would do three things: Instead of making Massachusett’s public transportation free, which would certainly encourage more folks to use the commuter line and subway, thus reducing vehicle gas emissions, the RIGHT TO MOVE bill would instead require our state ‘s Department of Transportation to set goals for “reducing the number of statewide driving miles.”   This sounds like MORE big government over-reach… as Massachusetts would somehow monitor how many miles my car is driven within a twelve-month period! 

Yes… we, on Cape Ann, have a clear choice on Tuesday, March 31^st.  We can cast a vote for Christine Delisio and know that we are being represented by a highly intelligent, independent-minded lawyer who has clearly shown her leadership ability… or we can elect just another Democrat who will most likely vote with the rest of the 132 Democrats in the state legislature.  Sadly, our lop-sided state legislature is too often just a rubber stamp for our Democratic governor’s agenda. 

 PLEASE vote for thoughtful representation for Cape Ann on Tuesday, March 31st.  Vote Christina Delisio.  

Susan Wadia-Els

Manchester