Letters: Rodney Elliott’s been there for us, let’s be there for him

Rodney Elliott has always been there for our neighborhood of Centralville. When I was head of the Centralville Neighborhood Action Group, I called Rodney on many issues. It never mattered how big or small, he always answered his phone and helped whether it was dealing with a loud party or illegal dumping. Any problem, any time of day, he responded. Rodney shows up.

As a former mayor and 24-year city councilor, there isn’t an issue he hasn’t dealt with including working with state agencies. Rodney knows the who’s who and what’s what of cutting red tape. As a senior, I was happy with his motion to sue big pharma which brought in millions of dollars, and his support for the gas tax holiday for hardworking families. Rodney has worked hard his whole life from helping with his family’s small business at a young age to decades at environmental agencies.

Rodney has the experience, but most importantly, he has heart. The heart of a leader who cares about his community enough to volunteer countless hours to many organizations including working with our youth as part of Lowell Youth Soccer and Centralville Basketball.

It is because he’s been there for me and my neighborhood that I will get out on Tuesday, Sept. 6, and cast my ballot for Rodney Elliott for state representative. Let’s put this hard-working responsive person in a position to help all of us.

The Massachusetts House of Representatives needs to put people first and pass the tax relief economic development bill now. Had the process not been halted, checks would be going out averaging $250 for individuals and $500 for those filing jointly.

What could working families do with an extra $250 or $500 dollars? To many, this money could provide at least some immediate help with clothes for school or additional groceries for families already struggling with inflation and gas prices.

I commend the Legislature for passing critical bills for mental health, infrastructure, and climate change, along with comprehensive sports betting that allows businesses to remain competitive. However, they fell short by not passing the sweeping $4 billion-dollar-plus economic development bill.

The pending bill provides $1 billion dollars in tax relief ($500 million in one-time tax rebates, and $500 million in permanent cuts). It also makes significant investments in MassWorks, clean energy environmental infrastructure, technology, education, Clean Water Trust, nursing homes, rental assistance, affordable housing, and millions to boost research initiatives. The direct rebates to taxpayers comes during a time the state enjoys an unprecedented $5 billion dollar surplus. Families need that help now, not in January 2023.

The House is waiting on a review of a 1986 law, Chapter 62F which calls for the return of certain tax surpluses, now estimated at $3 billion dollars. That surplus should be returned to the taxpayers immediately.

This law’s been on the books since 1986 and there has been plenty of time to study the effect. The Economic Development bill stands on its own merits and should be passed now. Working families and our many support organizations in Lowell and Chelmsford cannot wait for funding on vital projects. I am urging the House to advance the economic relief legislation through informal session and approve it immediately or return into formal session.

The critical funding for programs in Lowell includes monies for: Lowell High School athletic fields, the Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust, UTEC, Lowell Acre Crossing, Lowell Community Health Center, Cambodia Town Lowell, Inc.; the Bridge Club of Greater Lowell; Project Learn, Inc.; Megan House Foundation Inc.; Acre Family Child Care and more.

In Chelmsford, there are also very vital programs at stake including $150,000 for improvements to the playing field and Varney playground equipment; $150,000 for an excessive wastewater flow system; and $250,000 for a PFAS remediation system.

Residents of the 16th Middlesex District deserve a state representative that will work tirelessly to secure the funding we need. Serving on the local level for 24 years, I saw your struggles firsthand. If I have the honor of serving as your state representative, I will use my experience to make government work for all of us. Let’s put people first and pass the Economic Development bill.

 
Rodney Elliott is a candidate for state representative in the 16th Middlesex District which includes the Lowell neighborhoods of Pawtucketville, Centralville; and the Chelmsford neighborhoods of North Chelmsford and the Westlands. For more visit rodneyelliott.com 

By MELANIE GILBERT | mgilbert@lowellsun.com |

PUBLISHED: November 2, 2022 at 7:35 p.m. | UPDATED: November 3, 2022 at 6:56 a.m.

LOWELL — With less than a week before Election Day, the candidates for the 16th Middlesex District seat delivered their homestretch message to voters during a radio debate held Nov. 1.

Both Republican Karla Miller and Democrat Rodney Elliott believe they are the best person to lead the district in the race to replace former state Rep. Tom Golden, who stepped down in April to accept the role as Lowell’s city manager.

They pitched listeners on their competing policy positions on inflation, infrastructure, energy independence, reproductive rights and mental health resources.

Miller, who was raised in Chelmsford and has lived in Lowell for more than 20 years, said her newcomer status was a benefit to voters.

“I’m a taxpayer like you who is fed up with the status quo,” she said in her opening statement. “Rather than sit by and watch the state be destroyed from within, I decided to be proactive and be part of the solution.”

In contrast, Elliott, who born in the area of Lowell formerly known as Little Canada and now lives in Pawtucketville, said that his 26 years of service in city and state government would yield immediate results for constituents.

“Experience counts in this district,” he said. “We need a state representative who is going to go to work on Day One to get results. That’s the state representative you’re going to have if you elect me.”

Elliot has been a Lowell city councilor and mayor, and currently serves as a commissioner on the Lowell Housing Authority board. Miller is a Realtor with Keller Williams.

The hourlong debate was held at the Market Street studio of WCAP. Former City Councilor Marty Lorrey asked questions of the candidates, with News Director and Morning News Anchor Gary Francis moderating.

Both candidates agreed that the Rourke Bridge replacement project is a priority. They also both supported increased resources for mental health, homelessness and substance use issues, but were divided on approaches to addressing those areas.

Miller advocated taking impacted populations out of the cities, and building facilities and farms in rural areas, which would be underwritten by private investment.

“I believe that we should be building facilities,” Miller said. “And they should be in rural areas — perhaps on farmland — where the people can work the farms, and feel like they’re doing something and creating things.”

Elliott said he was in favor of supportive services that met people where they were, such as the proposed crisis-diversion facility of the Middlesex County Restoration Center. He said he would secure funding from sports betting revenues.

“In order to appropriately fund these important services, you need a revenue stream,” Elliott said. “I think that a percentage of sports betting revenue should be funneled to support mental health and substance abuse programs.”

As comparison, he cited the approach Lowell took in diverting revenue from citywide cannabis operations.

Last fiscal year, the city hauled in about $1.4 million in revenue from legal pot. The city has collected a combined amount of $3.3 million in revenue from the recreational marijuana business since 2016.

There was a canyon-wide gap in the candidates’ position on reproductive rights, with Miller arguing that women are using abortion as a means of contraception. She advocated instead for increased reproductive education.

“I believe in the need to protect life whenever possible,” Miller stated. “It (abortion) seems to be used as a contraceptive because it is out of hand with how many abortions are being performed. I think we need more education with young girls and women with contraception.”

Elliott called the issue of abortion a personal decision that belongs with a woman and her doctor, and he took offense with Miller’s characterization of the reason why women have abortions.

“Quite frankly, the comment made by my opponent that women were using abortion as contraception is to me  baseless and harmful,“ Elliott said. “I don’t feel anyone, certainly not a man, should be making that decision. It’s a woman’s fundamental right to have autonomy over her body. It’s a health care decision between a woman and her doctor.”

The candidates agreed that inflation and rising energy costs posed real challenges to the financial security of many constituents.

Elliott said Lowell had the foresight in 2012 to create the municipal electricity aggregation program, but that reducing the country’s fossil fuel dependency was vital. He advocated for tax credits and climate-based investments such as wind power.

“Offshore wind is an important part of providing a balanced energy plan,” Elliott said. “I don’t think the commonwealth should solely be relying on fossil fuels. We need to diversify the portfolio.”

Miller blamed Democrats for creating inflation and high gas prices and taxes, and said the solution was to stop electing them to statewide offices. She argued that the state was “going over the cliff” because of “Massachusetts’ Green New Deal.”

“This is not working for people,” Miller said. “We have to slow this down.”

In keeping with her opening statement, Miller closed by saying that Democrats had created the problems, and it would take a Republican to clean it up.

“Even if you have never voted Republican in the past, I am asking you to help me help you,” she said. “We can no longer afford Democrats.”

In his closing statement, Elliott said he would be the “voice of people,” and get things done.

“I understand budgets and appropriations — there’s no learning curve. I know how to get things done,” he said. “The district needs a representative who is going to go there and fight for funding on Day One.”