Page 16 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JAnuARy 16, 2026 BEACON | FROM PAGE 14 whelming majority of the House of Representatives, in often unanimous votes, when I agreed that the particular legislation was more positive than negative.On several occasions, I concluded as a matter of conscience that the negative outweighed the good and I voted accordingly.” Rep. Alan Slivia: “While I respect the speaker, my votes refl ect the specifi c concerns of my district. I strongly believe that we are elected to independently review each issue and cast a vote in the best interest of the people I represent. Diff erences of opinion are or should be viewed as a healthy part of the legislative process. I remain committed to working collaboratively with my colleagues and leadership as we move forward.” Beacon Hill Roll Call also asked all 122 representatives who voted with Mariano 100 percent of the time to explain why they did so. Only fi ve responded. Rep. John Rogers: “Throughout the 2025 session, I supported the House leadership on roll call votes because I believed those measures advanced the best interests of my district and the commonwealth. Speaker Mariano and I share broad priorities around responsible governance, economic stability and protecting critical public services. As with any legislative session, there are policy areas where members may raise concerns or work behind the scenes to shape outcomes, but roll call votes do not always City of Everett PLANNING BOARD 484 BROADWAY EVERETT, MA 02149 Frederick Cafasso- Chairman LEGAL NOTICE EVERETT PLANNING BOARD PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO SECTION 37, “EVERETT DOCKLANDS INNOVATION DISTRICT” In accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 40A, Section 5 and Section 12 of the City of Everett Zoning Ordinance (Revised Ordinances, Appendix A), the Everett Planning Board shall conduct the required public hearing for a submitted zoning ordinance amendment. Said public hearing shall be held during a regular meeting of the Planning Board, scheduled on Monday, February 2nd, 2026 at 6:00PM in the Speaker George Keverian Room at Everett City Hall, Third Floor, 484 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149. At said meeting, the public shall be allowed to speak on the proposed amendment to the City of Everett’s Zoning Ordinance, which contemplates to add “Data Centers” to the Prohibited Uses portion of Section 37’s Use Category Table. A copy of the proposed zoning amendment is on file and available in the Office of the City Clerk and the Department of Planning and Development, both located at City Hall, 484 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149 and can be inspected online anytime at http://www.cityofeverett.com/449/ Planning-Board and/or by request during regular City Hall business hours by contacting The Planning and Development Office at 617-394-2334. All persons interested in or wishing to be heard on the applications may attend and participate in the virtual hearing designated above in accordance with the information for public participation that will be included on the Agenda of the meeting that will be posted in accordance with the Open Meeting Law under Planning Board at: http://www.cityofeverett.com/AgendaCenter. Questions and comments can be directed in advance of the public hearing to Matt Lattanzi of the Department of Planning & Development at Matt.Lattanzi@ci.everett.ma.us or 617-394-2230. Frederick Cafasso Chairman January 16, 23, 2026 capture the full scope of those discussions.” Rep. Dawne Shand: “Those bills met the needs of my district or aligned with its values. I work with my fellow legislators to make sure my district’s concerns are heard as the legislation is in progress. My votes represent an agreement with my colleagues on their hard work.” Rep. Tom Stanley: “The reason there is a high percentage of members voting with Speaker Mariano is because the speaker and his leadership team work to fi nd consensus between members and stakeholders on legislation before it comes to the fl oor for a vote. In 2025, the House passed legislation protecting health care workers, public transit workers and home care workers; enhancing child welfare protections; reforming early literacy instruction; extending benefi ts for retired teachers; and removing offensive language in the General Laws. The House also passed several supplemental budgets, including one directing $1.39 billion in surplus Fair Share surtax revenue to make new investments in public transportation and public education. 2026 will be another productive year and I look forward to working with Speaker Mariano and my colleagues in the House on supporting the 9th Middlesex and the City of Waltham.” Rep. Brian McMurtry: “Legislation that reaches the fl oor is rarely the work of a single moment, it is the result of years of committee hearings, commissions, careful research, extensive discussion and multiple drafts that together form consensus. I am proud of my voting record because it refl ects the priorities and concerns of the constituents I am honored to represent.” THE REPUBLICANS: None of the 24 GOP members voted with Jones 100 percent of the time. The Republican representative who voted the least percentage of times with Jones is Rep. John Gaskey (R-Carver) who voted with Jones only 64.2 percent of the time. “I was sent to Beacon Hill by my district that was demanding change,” Gaskey told Beacon Hill Roll Call.“They were tired of the state funding and supporting illegal immigrants over citizens and veterans. They were tired of ‘go along to get along’ politics. That message is codifi ed in my voting record.” Rounding out the top five GOP representatives who voted with Jones the least percentage of times are Reps. Nick Boldyga (R-Southwick) who voted with Jones 66.6 percent of the time; Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica) who voted with Jones 67.9 percent of the time; Alyson Sullivan-Almeida (R-Abington) who voted with Jones 77.7 percent of the time; and Ken Sweezey who voted with Jones 81.2 percent of the time. Beacon Hill Roll Call asked all these representatives why they voted the most times of the 24 GOP representatives who voted the opposite of Jones on some roll calls. Only one responded. “The Minority Leader [Brad Jones] votes in lockstep with the Democrats and their failed policies,” said Rep. Boldyga. “He allows the Beacon Hill Machine to continue to steamroll the taxpayers. My voting record is consistent and principled in defense of my constituents and taxpayers all across the commonwealth. It only makes sense that our voting records do not align.” Jones told Beacon Hill Roll Call, “The members of the House Republican Caucus represent many diverse districts across the state, so a particular policy or budget issue that is popular in some members’ districts might not have the same support in other members’ districts. It does not surprise me that none of the caucus members voted with me 100 percent of the time. The numbers seem to be a refl ection of my encouragement to members to always be mindful of voting the interests of their district and constituency fi rst and foremost.” THE UNENROLLED: Rep. Susannah Whipps (U-Athol) is the only unenrolled House member and is not affi liated with either the Republican or Democratic party. We based her record on how many times she voted with Democratic House Speaker Ron Mariano. She voted with Mariano 100 percent of the time. THE CRITICS: Aaron Singer, the producer and director of the documentary “Shadows on the Hill”: “If representatives are ashamed of voting in lockstep with Mariano, they can band together and force a rules rewrite. Until they do, the speaker will keep punishing dissent, and 92 percent of House Democrats will face an opponent with a great slogan: ‘my opponent answers to Mariano, not you.’” Mary Connaughton, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Government Transparency at the Pioneer Institute: “Legislators come into offi ce believing they’ll make a diff erence on Beacon Hill. They learn quickly that it’s in their best interest to get along by going along. The stipend scheme rewards loyalty to party leadership and is a systematic way of thwarting open debate and legislator independence. We will never have the Legislature envisioned by John Adams without meaningful reform.” Paul Craney, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance: “The leader of the House Republicans voted with the Democratic speaker over 60 percent of the time. Taxpayers are completely abandoned at the Statehouse when the Republican Minority Leader gets his marching orders from the Democratic speaker. Taxpayers need a watchdog by the leader of the minority party, not a lap dog for the majority party. The Republicans in the House need to elect a leader to lead them, not a babysitter for the speaker. It’s time new people step up into leadership roles with the Republican BEACON | SEE PAGE 17
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