THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021 Page 9 ~ FIVE QUESTIONS WITH THE CANDIDATE ~ VALENTINO CAPOBIANCO T he Democratic Primary for the 19th Suff olk District representative seat, representing Winthrop and a portion of Revere, is on March 2. Following are the answers to questions put to candidate Valentino Capobianco. 1. What is your background and why are running for the 19th Suff olk seat? I grew up in Winthrop and I have spent the last decade actively involved in public service to make our community stronger. I currently serve on the Winthrop School Committee, and in the past worked as the Chief of Staff for State Senator Paul Feeney, a Community Liaison for Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, and a Legislative Aide for Speaker DeLeo. I am running for State Representative so that I can use my decade of experience in public service to ensure that current and future generations can thrive and prosper right here in Winthrop and Revere. 2. What are the biggest issues you see facing Winthrop and Revere today? The biggest issues facing our community today are COVID recovery, education, and healthcare. As a Chief of Staff in the Massachusetts Senate, I have seen fi rst-hand what families and businesses are going through, and how important emergency measures like rapid vaccine distribution, extended unemployment benefits, and emergency hazard pay are to families. On the School Committee, I learned just how hard it was to successfully fi ght for an increase in teacher pay and to fi nance the construction of our new Middle-High School. As the son of a nurse who specializes in substance abuse treatment, I know how hard it is for people suff ering from addiction and mental health problems to get the care that they need. I will take the experiences with me to Beacon Hill and fi ght for the future that our community deserves. 3. How can the state and the legislature help hard-hit communities like Revere rebound from the Covid-19 pandemic? The first priority of the legislature should be to facilitate a speedy recovery from COVID-19 that doesn’t leave families behind. In order to do that, we must fi rst ensure that the vaccine is rolled out as quickly and as equitably as possible. We need to extend emergency measures like expanded unemployment benefi ts, emergency sick time, and eviction moratoriums. Additionally, we must also protect our small businesses. As a State Representative, I will work closely with our local businesses and Chambers of Commerce to identify areas where the State can help our small businesses with measures like tax relief, regulation changes, and bridge loans to keep these cornerstones of our community on their feet during this crisis. 4. How can the legislature help balance development in communities like Winthrop and Revere while making sure the communities are still affordable for working class families? We need the State to do more to fund our children’s future so we aren’t overly reliant on property tax increases in order to fund our schools. I am a strong supporter of the Student Opportunity Act, which will provide an additional $12.5 million in funding to Winthrop and Revere. We also must expand access to public transportation in order to link workers and businesses in our community with jobs and customers. Projects like the Blue Line Expansion are a great place to start, and I am proud to have earned the support of Transport Workers Union Local 2054 because of my commitment to expanding public transit. Lastly, we must hold MASSPORT accountable when they cause damage to our community. When I served on the Winthrop Airport Hazards Committee, I joined my fellow committee members in successfully lobbying Congresswoman Clark’s offi ce for Federal Mitigation Funding in the form of soundproof windows. As a State Rep, I will fi ght to make sure this funding is fully released, and will continue to hold MASSPORT accountable when they cause damage in our community. We can help you buy a house. So you can create a home. WHETHER YOU’RE READY TO BUY OR REFINANCE, WE’LL GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS. TALK TO ONE OF OUR RESIDENTIAL LENDERS TODAY. 5. What unique skills and qualifi cations would you bring to Beacon Hill, and how would those skills benefit the residents of the 19th Suff olk District? In this race, voters do not have to choose between a candidate with experience and a candidate with a bold, forward-thinking vision for change. I bring to the table bold plans to get us through the pandemic, strengthen our public schools, and guarantee access to quality, affordable, healthcare as well as a track record of results from my decade in public service. On the Winthrop School Committee, I led the charge on getting our teachers a pay raise and fi nancing the Construction of our new, stateof-the-art Middle-High School. On the Winthrop Airport Hazards Committee, I fought to make sure our communities were treated fairly, and that MASSPORT was held accountable for the damage it has caused. As the Chief of Staff for Senator Paul Feeney and a Legislative Aide to Speaker DeLeo, I learned the value of accessibility and constituent service. Voters can count on me being ready on Day 1 should I have the honor of serving as their next State Representative. AUTOTECH 1989 SINCE CA$H FOR YOUR CAR! DRIVE IT - PUSH IT - TOW IT! 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