The Daily News Transcript Profiles the Race
Rogers Faces First Ballot Challenge In Next Week's Primary
By Brian Falla/ Daily News Staff (September 15, 2006)
NORWOOD -- For the first time since being elected to the state House of Representatives in 1993, Majority Leader John Rogers has a challenger.
Voters in the 12th Norfolk District, which includes Norwood and parts of Walpole, will choose between Norwood Democrats Rogers and Leah O'Leary on Tuesday.
O'Leary said she joined the race to give voters a fresh choice and a new voice, while Rogers points to his 13 years experience and track record on Beacon Hill.
A lifelong Norwood resident, O'Leary has been a social worker for the past 35 years. She is the founder and executive director of A Red Thread Adoption Services located in Norwood.
O'Leary said yesterday she is concerned about the direction of the state and country and thinks both need a new direction. "The rich keep getting richer, the poor, poorer and the middle class is getting squeezed out," said O'Leary.
Rogers is an attorney, graduating from Suffolk Law School in 1992, and has been in House leadership since arriving on Beacon Hill, serving as vice chairman of the Housing & Urban Development and Post Audit & Oversight committees, and as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee for four years before becoming House majority leader last year.
Although both agree the major issues facing the district are education, affordable health care and cost of living for families, they differ in their approach.
O'Leary said more needs to be done to fund education, even if it means finding new revenue sources.
"We are in the bottom quarter on a national level in terms of state funding of education and our schools are hurting," said O'Leary, who said many families are paying close to $1,000 in bus and athletic user fees.
Rogers said he is committed to getting more dollars for local schools and towns and said he has the experience to get it done.
"I know how to deliver important funding and legislation for my district," said Rogers. "For example, this year both Norwood and Walpole received record amounts of local aid - both educational aid and unrestricted local aid."
Rogers believes he has a strong track record of helping families, including pushing to create and preserve a sewer rate relief program to help reduce increases in water and sewer rates. He also said he delivered $1.1 million in state funding to help build an addition to the Norwood Senior Center.
"Virtually every household in our community struggles to balance seemingly limited incomes with ever-increasing bills," said Rogers. "This is why I have spent so much time trying to bring back relief programs and laws that help people deal with their household financial burdens."
O'Leary believes it's time for a fresh approach and a new set of priorities, saying she would fight to make sure businesses are paying their fair share of taxes and make sure that money gets pumped into education and programs to help families.
"There are so many needs that are not being met," said O'Leary. "I've worked with families for 35 years and am very sensitive to how government programs effect real families."
O'Leary said she will fight to make a difference.
"One person can make a difference," said O'Leary. "And I'm a fighter - who else would have done this?"
The Democratic primary election is Tuesday.
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