THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2022 Page 19 BHRC | FROM PAGE 15 of leaving the scene of an accident that results in a death and imposes up to a $5,000 fi ne and/or 2.5 years in prison for that new crime. The bill, dubbed the James Ward Act, was fi led in response to the tragic death of a young man in the district of sponsor Rep. Kathy LaNatra (R-Kingston). According to LaNatra’s offi ce, James Ward was riding ATVs with his father and his brother. He collided with another driver, who told James’ father that he would go and get help but he never returned to the scene and went back to the party which he was attending. Sadly, the young man later succumbed to his injuries. “I fi led this legislation to prevent ATV riders from fleeing the scene of an accident and ensure that they are held accountable for their actions,” said sponsor Rep. Kathy LaNatra (R-Kingston). “I want to ensure that what the Ward family went through on that tragic day, doesn’t happen again.” EXTEND TAX BREAKS TO MORE FARMERS (H 3059) — The House approved and sent to the Senate a bill that would expand current law and make more farmers eligible for a favorable valuation of property process that results in a tax break. Under current law, to be eligible for the favorable valuation and the resulting tax break, a farmer must own and be farming a minimum of fi ve contiguous acres of land. The bill would reduce the required number to two and not require the acres to be contiguous. The bill also reduces the required acres to two in cities or towns with a population of more than 50,000. Supporters said that farming practices have been modernized and farmers no longer need vast contiguous acreage to grow crops and manage their livestock. They noted that in Eastern Massachusetts, contiguous land is getting harder to acquire. “Farming is changing and it is growing exceedingly diffi - cult for new farmers to fi nd land and for existing farmers to keep the land they have,” said the measure’s sponsor Rep. Paul Schmid (D-Westport). “This bill would extend the benefi ts of a favorable valuation to small plots eff ectively preserving far land in Massachusetts.” QUOTABLE QUOTES — BAY STATE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION EDITION Sen. Sonia Chang Diaz (D-Boston) dropped out of the race for the Democratic nomination for governor. Her name will still remain on the September Democratic primary ballot as June 10 was the last day a candidates can withdraw their name from the ballot. Her exit leaves Attorney General Maura Healey as the only Democrat actively campaigning for the Democratic nomination. Former Sen. Geoff Diehl and Chris Doughty are vying for the Republican nod. Here are some quotes from Chang-Diaz upon her exit from the campaign: “I know my announcement about this campaign will feel like an ending to many of you, but I don’t see it that way. I got into this race because Beacon Hill has taken too long to address our commonwealth’s biggest challenges due to a lack of courage from our political leaders. We don’t overcome that by winning one election. We overcome it by winning a handful and then dozens and then hundreds of elections.” —Chang-Diaz. “The reality is this race has always been about more than just me. It’s been about all of us coming together and building a movement for courage and urgency in this state. A good leader calls the question and focuses resources not just on themselves—but on the best way to build our power and win real change for the long-term.” —Change-Diaz “I am going to be spending my time campaigning and marshaling my supporters and the movement we’ve built for these Courage Democrats down ballot, candidates who walk the walk when it comes to our values. I have no doubt that they will fi ght to put courage over politics in our state, and I am going to be using my energy to help put them into offi ce.” —Chang-Diaz Here’s what the candidates still in the race said: “I’m deeply grateful to Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz for her many years of service to Massachusetts and her inspired leadership during this campaign. The legacy of her campaign will live on through the young girls who finally saw themselves represented in a candidate for the highest offi ce in the state. I look forward to continuing to partner with Sen. Chang-Díaz to bring people together and make Massachusetts work for all of our families.” —Maura Healey “I would like to thank State Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz for her candidacy for governor and I wish her all the best. Her departure from the race makes this now a clear contest between my vision to make Massachusetts a better place to live and work, and the policies of Maura Healey which would drive more families and businesses to leave our state in search of better opportunities elsewhere. I look forward to a spirited campaign that provides contrast between these two diff erent visions over the next several months.” —Geoff Diehl Chris Doughty did not respond to repeated requests BHRC | SEE PAGE 20
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