NORTH ATTLEBORO - The candidates seeking the town's state representative and senate seats debated Tuesday night on North TV.
Democrat Adam Scanlon and Republican John Simmons kicked off the evening by debating for almost an hour. The winner will attempt to fill the large shoes of Elizabeth "Betty" Poirier, who announced in the spring she would not be seeking an 11th term.
Scanlon closed Tuesday's debate by taking a shot at his fellow town councilor, “I do know what people are going through because I take time to listen to them. Unfortunately, my opponent says we are all the same, we are not all the same, not all of us live behind a white picket fence.”
Simmons painted a different picture. “I understand your issues and concerns because I lived those issues, those issues are my issues and we are the same. We have the same worries; we have the same concerns,” Simmons said.
The two candidates hoping to serve the Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District in the senate followed. Incumbent Democrat Rebecca Rausch is vying for a second two-year term after upsetting veteran representative and senator Richard Ross in 2018. She is being challenged by Republican Matt Kelly, a Franklin town councilor.
Rausch stressed her experience throughout the debate, “I’m the candidate with the lengthy proven track record of successes on behalf of everyone in this district.”
Kelly stressed the importance of focusing on finances and their impact, “We need people in the state senate that will pass a budget on time, reduce your tax burden and recognize that small businesses are the backbone of our cities and towns.”
Tuesday night was the only time the candidates in the two races will debate. The debate will be replayed through the November 3 election on North TV's Government Channel: Comcast 98 and Verizon 23 and local cable stations throughout the districts.
You can also stream the debates and North TV's one-on-one interviews with the state representative candidates by becoming a North TV Insider.
Click below to stream the entirety of the candidates' closing statements:
