State Senate Hopefuls Talk Inflation, Transparency, More In Debate

WAKEFIELD, MA — State senate candidates Jason Lewis and Ed Dombroski met in a debate in Wakefield on Monday night just under a week before the start of early voting in their contested race to represent the Fifth Middlesex District in the state legislature.

The district includes Reading, Wakefield, Stoneham, Melrose, Malden and parts of Winchester. Lewis, an incumbent and a Democrat, has held the seat since 2014. Dombroski, a Wakefield town councilor and a Republican, is looking to unseat Lewis.

Candidates took to the stage at Wakefield’s Galvin Middle School to field questions, providing answers on topics ranging from recent economic hardship for voters to transparency in state legislature work.

Lewis acknowledged the pain of inflation and other issues in response to early questions.

He went on to note previous work on behalf of families in need, pointing to a $500 million tax relief plan that state legislators pitched earlier this year.

He noted work to expand subsidies for housing while adding options for affordable housing amid an ongoing housing shortage. Lewis continued, pointing to work to provide paid family and medical leave in Massachusetts and establish a $15 minimum wage.

“Folks have been through an extraordinarily tough time in the past few years,” Lewis said.

He later added that he will “do everything possible to support working families” if elected to another term in the legislature.

Dombroski responded to Lewis, countering his characterization of work to date.

“You haven’t delivered on those things for our communities,” Dombroski said.

“I’m hearing that people are hurting and they need relief,” he continued, later directing his attention to audience members. “I’m here tonight to say 'I hear you, I am with you and I will work for you.'”

Dombroski highlighted state budget surpluses in calling for more state money going back to taxpayers, be them individuals or business and their owners.

“It is your money and I fundamentally believe that you know how to better spend it than a bunch of politicians on Beacon Hill,” Dombroski said, again to audience members.

Lewis later acknowledged that the state does have a surplus in its current budgeting. He noted ups and downs in the economy, while backing recent action to distribute close to $3 billion in budget surplus money back to taxpayers.

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As Fifth Middlesex candidates discussed inflation and existing tax burdens, both Lewis and Dombroski took positions on this year’s ballot question one, which will add a 4% tax on annual income above $1 million if passed.

Dombroski opposed the question and the new tax it would bring, saying it would impact taxpayers outside of the upper echelons of wealth that supporters say it targets.

He also noted the phrasing of the question.

While the question aims to send collected money to education and transportation uses, that funding is “subject to appropriation” from the state legislature, according to the state’s ballot question summary.

The “subject to appropriation” clause, Dombroski said, opens the door for legislators to divert money away from currently advertised uses if this tax increase question passes.

“There is no guarantee that a single additional penny will be allocated to education or transportation,” Dombroski said.

"It’s a blank check for legislators on Beacon Hill," he added.

Lewis defended the question, noting his role as a sponsor of its related legislation.

He discussed the benefits of funding that he said would indeed go to public schools, higher education access efforts and transportation improvements. He said the question remains limited in scope.

“My opponent parrots the lies and the fear mongering of the billionaires like Bob Kraft and Jim Davis who are spending millions of dollars to fund the opposition,” Lewis said, referencing New England Patriots Owner Kraft and New Balance Owner Davis.

In debating question one, Lewis criticized Dombroski for what he said has been a lack of clear policy positions to date in this year’s senate campaign.

“Nowhere on his website or anywhere did he take a position on any important issue including this critical issue on ballot question one,” Lewis said.

“I’ve been willing to stand up,” Lewis said. “My opponent’s approach could not be further from mine.”

Dombroski addressed Lewis’ comments, saying he has listed clear priorities on his campaign website.

He pushed back further, saying Lewis has been secretive in the ways he has conducted state senate business, including concerns about public access in remote hearings and both the timing and speed of votes, among other things.

Dombroski has separately called for Lewis to participate in additional debates beyond this week’s meeting in Wakefield. Where Dombroski broached the topic on Monday, Lewis did not respond.

Months into their campaign and now a matter of weeks before their general election, both Dombroski and Lewis delivered closing remarks on Monday after touching on a number of topics beyond ballot questions, taxes, transparency and inflation.

“I’m a moderate Republican, my opponent is a far left progressive,” Dombroski said. “That’s a big difference.”

He noted an endorsement from Gov. Charlie Baker, describing himself as a leader who would employ some of the same traits and philosophies that Baker has in the State House.

He called for tax relief and cited support for small businesses, education, police and firefighters as key priorities. He additionally called for more state money for municipal governments to help offset the need for rising local property taxes in paying local bills.

Lewis said he is proud of his years in the senate to date, describing himself as someone with experience getting results for constituents

His role in state senate leadership, Lewis said, has given his district a prominent voice in state decision making.

“There is a clear choice in this race between someone with a proven track record, who is a leader and willing to stand up and speak loudly and clearly on the issues that matter to our communities and my opponent, who in seven months of campaigning didn’t mention his position on a single issue,” Lewis said.

Early voting starts across the Fifth Middlesex District on Saturday. Election day is set for Nov. 8.

See a video recording of Monday’s full debate here.