Alan Ingram
Express correspondent
Republican State Senate candidates Kari MacRae and Mathew J. Muratore faced off in a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of the Plymouth area Thursday night, highlighting their differing approaches to key issues facing the district.
The candidates are vying for the Republican nomination in the Sept. 3 primary for the Plymouth and Barnstable District seat. The district includes Kingston, Pembroke, Plymouth and Plympton in Plymouth County. MacRae positioned herself as a political outsider focused on citizen involvement. “Well, my qualifications are simply I’m a citizen. I’m a citizen of the Commonwealth. I am passionate about making sure that everybody has opportunities. I’m on the school committee in the town of Bourne. I’ve served now two terms and was re-elected. And I think it’s important that everybody gets involved with local politics,” MacRae said, emphasizing her passion for ensuring opportunities for all.
Muratore touted his experience in government and the private sector. “I’ve been serving as a state legislator for ten years now. I think that coupled with my business experience as a small business owner, my community involvement, involved in all sorts of different community organizations such as the Economic Foundation, the Rotary Club, etc., plus,being a father of six daughters gives you a lot of life experience. And so, I think that’s what makes you the most qualified for this,” Muratore said. Both candidates identified affordability and the migrant crisis as top issues facing the district.”We have an affordability issue in this state,” Muratore said. “We are recently ranked as the number one place to live in Massachusetts. But one of the most expensive places to live.” MacRae agreed, linking affordability challenges to immigration: “Immigration, illegal immigration, is taking a lot of resources from our citizens. That is a big problem.” The candidates diverged on tax policy. MacRae advocated for eliminating the sales tax entirely, arguing for fiscal responsibility in state spending. “I say we should get rid of the sales tax and make sure that they’re being more fiscally responsible with the tax dollars that they’re taking from us up on Beacon Hill,” she said. Muratore supported more targeted tax cuts, including reducing the sales tax to 5% andproviding incentives for small businesses. He expressed concern about wealthy residentsleaving the state due to high taxes.
On housing affordability, MacRae emphasized prioritizing citizens, veterans, and seniors for housing resources. “We need to make sure that we are prioritizing the citizens, prioritizing the veterans, and prioritizing senior citizens,” she said.
Muratore focused on the need to increase housing supply, stating Massachusetts is about 200,000 units behind in housing. He supported the recent $5.4 billion housing bond bill to create incentives for housing development. The candidates also differed in their approach to working within the legislature. MacRae argued for electing more Republicans to push back against the Democratic majority. “I think the biggest thing that we need to do is we need to get more Republicans and Independents elected,” she said. Muratore emphasized his ability to work across the aisle, stating, “The more you actually can work with people, whether it’s in your own party or on the other side, you’re able to, you know, affect change.”
Both candidates expressed support for increasing transparency in the legislature, with MacRae promising to always disclose her votes and reasoning to constituents.
The primary election is scheduled for Sept. 3, with the winner advancing to face Dylan Fernandes, running unopposed in the Democratic Primary, in November.

Cite Fernandes as only candidate to support the Roe Act protecting women’s reproductive rights

Planned Parenthood of Massachusetts and Reproductive Equity Now have both endorsed Representative Dylan Fernandes in his campaign for State Senate. These endorsements highlight Fernandes’ steadfast advocacy for reproductive rights and healthcare access, reinforcing his dedication to protecting reproductive freedoms across the state and citing the fact that he is the only true pro-choice candidate in the race.
“I am the only candidate running who supported the Roe Act protecting a woman’s right to choose and I will always support women and families across our district,” said Fernandes. “Women of the Plymouth and Barnstable District won’t go back. I am proud to be the pro reproductive freedom candidate and have the support of Planned Parenthood and Reproductive Equity Now.
Dominique Lee, President of the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts (PPAF), emphasized the importance of Fernandes’ candidacy: “Right now, patients here and around the country are counting on Massachusetts to make abortion, contraception, and LGBTQ+ health care as accessible as possible, especially in the face of a possible federal Administration hell-bent on eliminating access to this care. That’s why we must elect lawmakers that are bold, effective, unapologetic champions for reproductive freedom in every district. As Senator, Dylan will prioritize advancing reproductive health equity in Massachusetts, dismantling barriers to care, and ensuring safe, legal abortion is accessible to all. The stakes have never been higher in the fight for reproductive rights and health care access, and the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund is proud to endorse and fight alongside Dylan.”
Throughout his tenure in the State House, Fernandes has championed numerous bills to safeguard reproductive rights and expand access to healthcare services. He is the only candidate to vote in favor of the ROE Act protecting women’s right to choose in Massachusetts. His Republican opponents have a zero rating on reproductive rights from Planned Parenthood and Reproductive Equity Now. Fernandes’ legislative record includes advocating for protections for reproductive healthcare, promoting gender-affirming care, and working to eliminate healthcare disparities.
Fernandes currently serves as Vice Chair of the Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources and holds positions on the Committees on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy, and on Global Warming and Climate Change.

Plympton’s Board of Selectmen met on Monday, Aug. 12, and voted unanimously to adopt a three-page, single-spaced “Code of Conduct” enumerating behavior and protocols for a varety of situations.
In introducing the policy outline, Town Administrator Liz Dennehy distributed the handbook with the following message:
The Board of Selectmen has unanimously approved the concept of establishing a Code of Conduct for Boards and Committees. We believe that this Code, which is comprised of language from the Massachusetts Municipal Association and other communities, will serve as a guide for maintaining civility in communications amongst Boards and Committees, Town staff and the general public and will ultimately further enhance our ability to provide efficient, effective and responsive public service as a Town government team. While we’re aware that in terms of implementation, elected Boards or Committees can certainly opt out, we’re hopeful that everyone will see this as a useful tool in terms of encouraging respectful communications and furthering Town initiatives in the provision of public service.”
The guide deals with acceptable conduct generally and in relation to the community, other elected and appointed officials, conduct in relation to town administration and town staff.
The Town Clerk shall provide a copy of this policy to all elected and appointed officials upon its issuance and upon the subsequent appointment or re-appointment of officials.
Each official shall sign a statement that they have read and understood the policy and that they will comply with all requirements set forth herein. In the event that any member declines to sign the statement form, that fact shall be noted by the Town Clerk on said form.
Should any official receive or become aware of a violation of this policy, they should report the violation to the Town Administrator and his/her department head.
Violation of its policy may constitute good cause for removal of appointed board/committee members.
Elected officials, while ultimately accountable to the voters of Plympton, may be subject to a request for their resignation, public censure or reprimand, or a recall petition, accordingly.
A complete copy of the Plympton Code of Conduct policy can be found at the office of the Plympton Town Clerk.

Alan Ingram
Express correspondent
Kingston selectmen have approved a comprehensive road improvement plan aimed at enhancing safety and connectivity throughout the town.
The plan, presented by Environmental Partners at the July 30th Board of Selectmen meeting, prioritizes projects on both town and state-owned roads. It includes upgrades to Main Street, intersection redesigns, and new pedestrian facilities.
Jim Fitzgerald, Principal at Environmental Partners, explained the project’s goals: “We want to put the town in a good position to solicit those other alternative funding sources to supplement the Chapter 90 [state funding].”
The top-rated project for town-owned roads is along Main Street, focusing on improving pedestrian safety. The plan proposes installing improved crosswalks at regular intervals, ensuring ADA accessibility, and potentially adding rectangular rapid flashing beacons at key intersections.
Other high-priority projects include redesigning the intersection of Pembroke Street at Lake Street and Station Street near the high school, and adding a shared-use path on Lake Street.
For state-owned roads, the plan prioritizes improvements to the intersection of Main Street, Summer Street, and Linden Street. This location saw 44 crashes over a five-year period, including eight with injuries and one fatality.
Margot Schoenfelder, Senior Project Manager at Environmental Partners, emphasized the importance of the prioritization methodology: “We find creating a set of criteria that is made public and having it be quantitative is really important for justifying how the town’s prioritizing projects.”
Paul Basler, Kingston’s Streets, Trees, and Parks Superintendent, stressed the need for road maintenance funding. “We need money in this town to maintain the current roads we have,” Basler said. “We got $415,000 from Chapter 90 this year. That Chapter 90 money is earmarked for Ring Road, Prospect Street, and Thomas Street. Those three jobs alone are worth almost $2 million.”
Town Planner Valerie Massard noted that the next steps involve seeking funding opportunities. “We’re not gonna be able to predict where we’re gonna start. We’re gonna go with opportunity meets money,” she said.
The Selectmen unanimously accepted the state and local road improvement priorities report. The full report is available on the town’s website.

BOSTON – State Representative Kathy LaNatra announced that the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) today denied the permit modification sought by Holtec Decommissioning International, LLC, to discharge up to 1.1 million gallons of industrial wastewater from the former Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station into Cape Cod Bay. Cape Cod Bay is a protected ocean sanctuary as defined under the Massachusetts Ocean Sanctuaries Act, which prohibits the dumping or discharge of industrial wastes into protected state waters.
“I am thrilled with the MassDEP’s decision to deny Holtec’s request to dump over 1 million gallons of wastewater into Cape Cod Bay,” said State Rep. Kathy LaNatra (D – Kingston). “Cape Cod Bay is the lifeblood of the economy of both the South Shore and Cape Cod. People live, work and play on the water and on its shores. The plan to dump nuclear wastewater into the bay is yet another attempt by Holtec to ignore the pleas of residents in the area in an attempt to maximize their profits over the health of Cape Cod Bay. Today’s decision is the culmination of a lot of hard work by myself and my colleagues in the State Legislature, and shows what can happen when Federal, State and local officials work together towards a common goal of protecting the health and safety both of the residents that we serve as well as the environment that they, and generations to come, rely upon. I want to thank the MassDEP, the Healey-Driscoll Administration and all officials involved in this decision.”
Pilgrim stopped generating electricity in May 2019. As part of its decommissioning of the plant, Holtec requested that MassDEP modify Pilgrim’s state Surface Water Discharge Permit to authorize Holtec to discharge up to 1.1 million gallons of treated wastewater from the facility into Cape Cod Bay.
MassDEP reviewed the Holtec application, and after consultation with the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, determined that Cape Cod Bay is a protected ocean sanctuary. The Ocean Sanctuaries Act prohibits the “dumping or discharge of commercial, municipal, domestic or industrial wastes” into ocean sanctuaries. The water that Holtec proposes to discharge qualifies as industrial wastewater, and therefore, the proposed discharge is prohibited.
MassDEP issued its final determination after holding a public hearing and public comment period and conducting an extensive review of the more than 1,000 comments received. The final determination and the public comments are available online.
MassDEP’s mission is to protect and enhance the Commonwealth’s natural resources – air, water and land – to provide for the health, safety and welfare of all people, and to ensure a clean and safe environment for future generations. In carrying out this mission, MassDEP commits to address and advance environmental justice and equity for all people of the Commonwealth; to provide meaningful, inclusive opportunities for people to participate in agency decisions that affect their lives; and to ensure a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Cite Fernandes’ long time leadership on climate action and renewable energy
Representative Dylan Fernandes has received the endorsement of  both the Sierra Club and the Environmental League of Massachusetts (ELM) in his bid for State Senate.  These endorsements from two of the most respected environmental organizations in the state underscore Fernandes’ strong record on environmental issues and his leadership in the fight against climate change.
“We need to protect the water resources of the Plymouth and Barnstable district and ensure that our communities are resilient in the face of climate change,” said Fernandes. “In 8 years as state representative, I’ve been a champion of clean air and water and we have more work ahead to protect our environment.”
“Fernandes has been a critical leader on environmental policy in his time in the legislature,” said Casey Bowers, Executive Director of the ELM Action Fund. “He has successfully championed clean water, the blue economy, and innovative ideas to ensure that Massachusetts remains a national leader in combating climate change. We are certain that he will continue to prioritize our beautiful beaches and outdoor spaces in the Senate.”
“Dylan Fernandes has been a strong advocate for clean air, clean water, and offshore wind,” said Celia Doremus, Political Chair of the Sierra Club Massachusetts Chapter. “As a member of the State House, he has sponsored and helped pass bills to support a transition to clean energy and clean water infrastructure investments. We encourage voters to support him in his race for State Senate.”
Since his initial election in 2016, Representative Fernandes has sponsored dozens of bills  advancing clean air and clean water. The first bill he passed through the House was legislation signing Massachusetts onto the Paris Climate Accords in the wake of Donald Trump pulling America out of this historic agreement.  He serves as Vice Chair of the Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources, and has seats on the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy, as well as the Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change.

A Norwell man has been indicted on charges that he sexually assaulted fifteen patients in his care as a Pediatrician at South Shore Medical Center, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced.
A Plymouth County grand jury indicted Richard A. Kauff, 68, of Norwell, on nine counts of Rape of a Child with Force, and eight counts of Indecent Assault and Battery on a Child Under 14.
Kauff is out on $50,000 cash bail with conditions of release he is ordered to stay away and have no contact with the victims, or South Shore Medical Center facilities in Norwell and Kingston. Additionally, the Commonwealth requested that Kauff have no unsupervised contact with children under 16, that he surrender his passport, remain in the Commonwealth, and relinquish his medical license.
Since 1983 Kauff worked as a pediatrician and was most recently associated with South Shore Medical Center in Norwell. Kauff saw patients in both the Kingston and Norwell offices connected to South Shore Medical, until his retirement in 2022.
On October 4, 2023, an anonymous person posted to local Facebook group that they believed they were sexually assaulted during an annual checkup. Others replied to the Facebook post and urged the victim to report the incident to Norwell Police.
The following day, another victim reported to Norwell Police a similar incident. Both victims alleged the perpetrator was Kauff. After the Norwell Police Department sought charges against Kauff in the Hingham District Court, over three dozen individuals came forward to report similar experiences with Kauff.  As a result, an extensive grand jury investigation was conducted to identify additional alleged victims and the viability of prosecution on charges based on the analysis of statute of limitations and other legal issues.  After several months of investigation, the grand jury has returned seventeen indictments for fifteen different victims spanning twenty-three years
Kauff will be arraigned on the charges in Superior Court at a later date.
The case was investigated by Norwell Police.

Plymouth, MA –The Community Land and Water Coalition invites the public to join a community forum titled “Protecting Our Land and Waters: Part II” on Thursday, July 18, from 6:00 to 7:45 pm in the Fehlow Meeting Room at the Plymouth Public Library.
This forum aims to foster an informed dialogue on the challenges and opportunities surrounding land conservation in Southeastern Massachusetts. It serves as a platform for community members, environmental advocates, and stakeholders to discuss pressing issues, share insights, and explore collaborative solutions.
The event will feature presentations from local conservationists and environmental experts, followed by an open discussion and networking session. Attendees will have the chance to learn about ongoing initiatives, voice concerns, and discover ways to contribute to the preservation of our natural landscapes through grassroot efforts and community organizing.
Free and open to the public, this forum encourages community involvement in shaping the future of land conservation advocacy efforts in our region.
Community Land
& Water Coalition
P.O. Box 1699
Plymouth MA 02362
www.communitylandandwater.org
Check out our You Tube Channel  for drone footage of earth removal sites, meeting recordings and educational webinars. Working to preserve, protect and steward the land and water resources of Southeastern Massachusetts. We are losing them fast.
Join us on Facebook Twitter  Instagram

Legislation will protect property owners from “equity theft”
BOSTON – Representative Kathy LaNatra joined her colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing “An Act relative to municipal tax lien procedures and protections for property owners in the Commonwealth,” which would align current statute with a recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. The legislation secures the rights of property owners to reclaim any excess equity to which they are entitled after all taxes and fees are repaid to the municipalities following a tax foreclosure, while substantially increasing notifications and other protections for property owners throughout the foreclosure process.
“This legislation brings Massachusetts statutes in line with recent Court decisions and ensures  the rights of property owners are protected in the foreclosure process,” said Representative Kathy LaNatra (D – Kingston). “This legislation ensures cities and towns are paid what they are owed and property owners hard-earned equity is protected, making the Commonwealth a better place for working families. Thank you to Speaker Mariano, Chairman Cusack, and Chairman Michlewitz for their work on this important legislation.”
The Supreme Court ruled in Tyler v. Hennepin County, Minnesota that state laws allowing municipalities to retain equity from a foreclosed property, in excess of any taxes and fees owed by a property owner, were unconstitutional under the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This ruling had an impact on the municipal tax lien foreclosure process in the Commonwealth, since Massachusetts law also allowed municipalities or third parties that purchased tax liens to keep excess equity following a property foreclosure for unpaid taxes. Underscoring the need for legislative action, a recent ruling by the Massachusetts Superior Court (Ashley M. Mills v. City of Springfield) found that the property foreclosure process in Massachusetts was unconstitutional, a ruling that was supported by legal briefings from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office.
This bill ensures that Massachusetts law is constitutional throughout all municipalities in the Commonwealth, and fair to those subject to municipal tax lien foreclosure proceedings. This legislation does the following:
• Requires that a detailed accounting be taken following a foreclosure in a tax taking of the excess equity that is available;
• Any excess equity must be returned to the former owner within 60 days;
• Allows for retroactive claims for excess equity from May 25, 2023, until date of passage;
Updates notice requirements where the subject property is residential;
• Allows former owners the opportunity to file a claim in Superior Court if there is a dispute on the amount of excess equity owed;
• Increases the maximum length for repayment agreements for owed taxes from five to 10 years;
• Decrease the amount for a down payment for the repayment agreements from 25 percent to 10 percent and;
• Establishes a special commission to conduct a comprehensive study relative to the current law and practices around the collection of delinquent property tax revenue by municipalities in the Commonwealth.
• Having passed the House of Representatives 154-0, the bill now goes to the Senate for its consideration.