Page 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, May 15, 2020 WORKING | from page 1 protective masks. He noted that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts received a donation of 100,000 masks from Taiwan (ROC or the Republic of China), which he helped Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lein * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 Lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net with many others to distribute. In addition, AAPAC Wong’s company Qi Farm and Auto Excellence Group of Saugus collectively donated another 70,000 masks. “I also worked with both Republican and Democrat, Representatives and Senators North and South of Boston, to find out what locations needed the masks,” Wong said. No challengers for reelection bid In a telephone interview Wednesday night, Wong also: –Declared he would campaign as aggressively as he can – while practicing social distancing – even though he was the only candidate who pulled nomination papers and filed them with certified signatures for the Ninth Essex House District seat he has occupied for nine and a We Now Offer For Your Eating Pleasure “UBER EATS” Convenient Delivery Service Bianchi’s Pizza and Renzo’s Full Menu To Go Open for Takeout for Bianchi’s Pizza and Renzo’s Food 381 Revere Beach Blvd., Revere 781-284-5600 half years –Talked about the hardships that COVID-19 caused this spring for candidates, including himself, trying to get on the ballot for the fall state elections –Shared his concerns about how the COVID-19 crisis is adversely affecting Saugus, particularly the Route 1 business corridor Wong seeks a sixth twoyear term representing voters of the Ninth Essex House District. Precincts 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 in Saugus make up the core of the district, which also includes parts of Lynn and Wakefield. The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Election Division confirmed this week that Wong will be the lone candidate on the ballot for the Sept. 1 State Primary Election. Challengers can still emerge as write-in or sticker candidates. And they could compete in the Nov. 3 state elections, which will also include the U.S. Presidential Election. TEN THOUSAND MASKS: State Representative Donald Wong, R-Saugus, center, stands in front of 10,000 surgical masks donated by Asian American PAC. Representing AAPAC are Dr. Harry Gao, left and Jacky An Xie right. (Courtesy Photos to The Saugus Advocate) But that is an unlikely scenario, given that Wong was perfect in winning his fifth term two years ago. He swept all eight precincts in his hometown, all four in Wakefield and two in Lynn.Despite facing two challengers, he won in 2018 by more than 5,200 votes – a margin that was well over twice as much as what he won by two years earlier when he faced one opponent. “I’m not going to take anything for granted,” said Wong, who named Town Meeting Member Julie Ann Mitchell of Precinct 5 as his campaign manager. “I still want to get my name out there because there are a lot of new voters in the district,” he said. He said his longtime manager Corinne Riley isn’t running his campaign this time out of concerns that there’s a potential conflict of interest since her election last fall to the Board of Selectmen. Even as a longtime incumbent, Wong said he experienced difficulty earlier in the year when he had to secure 150 voter signatures for his nomination papers. “It’s a tough time for everyone who is running to get signatures because you can’t do doorknocking,” he said. Wong used Facebook to ask potential supporters to email him if they wanted to sign his nomination papers. He would then go over to their house with the papers to get the signature. “I got 175 signatures. Once it goes over 150, they don’t count it,” Wong recalled. “Now, you only need 75 signatures to qualify,” he added. With Massachusetts still facing months of social distancing, Wong expects to make adjustments in the way he campaigns. Instead of rallies, mingling with the crowds and various campaign gatherings, Wong said, he will make more use of lawn signs, Facebook and other social media. COVID-19 priorities galore It’s a hectic schedule for Wong, who is responsible for constituents in three communities while also working with fellow legislators on a wide range of COVID-related matters that affect everyone in Massachusetts. “The main things I’m working on – people are calling about unemployment and they’re trying to find out what’s going to be opening,” Wong said. In Saugus, there’s a major concern about the Route 1 business corridor, which has been crippled by the shutdown of restaurants and bars. “We usually get over a million dollars alone from the meal tax, but…we’re not going to have that this year,” Wong said. “A lot of businesses are hurting, and many won’t be reopening. It’s pretty bad on Route 1. But it’s not just in Saugus. Look at Chinatown. They lost about 85 percent of their business,” he said. “Throughout the Commonwealth, can you imagine what it’s like for the people who got their licenses and are just starting out in the business? They bought a building but can’t pay the mortgage. Or if they rent, they can’t pay the lease. A lot of these people aren’t coming back.” Wong believes the state needs to be moving toward reopening, but on a cautious phased-in basis advocated by Gov. Charlie Baker, who is expected to provide more details of his four-part plan on WORKING | SEE PAGE 16
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