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.