…Two earnest but relatively unknown candidates vie for the House seat in the Second Essex district where conservative Democrat Harriett Stanley, who rarely marched in lockstep with the House leadership, is stepping down. Democrat Barry Fogel speaks thoughtfully on transportation and environmental challenges in the Merrimack Valley, especially the need to see pending road and bridge projects to fruition. The West Newbury attorney is eager to review state tax credits to ensure that companies are meeting policy objectives. Republican candidate Lenny Mirra, also of West Newbury, is a strong critic of labor practices that run up the cost of public construction projects. But Fogel takes the broader view of the district.

Read the full story at the Boston Globe website

Click on the play button above to listen to an interview with Barry conducted by Win Damon of WNBP radio in Newburyport.

NEWBURY — Voters with questions about this year’s ballot questions will have a chance to get some answers at an information night in Newbury just four days before the Nov. 6 election.

Move To Amend North Shore and the Social Action Committee, First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist, Newburyport, are sponsoring the presentation on Friday, Nov. 2, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Firefighters Memorial Hall on Morgan Avenue, next to the Newbury Town Hall on High Road (Route 1A).

The main speakers will be 2nd Essex District state representative candidates Barry Fogel, Democrat, and Lenny Mirra, Republican, both of whom have said they are concerned about excessive and often anonymous campaign contributions brought on by the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 decision known as Citizens United.

Organizers say they invited the two candidates because their views on the issue emphasize its non-partisan nature. They say polls across the county as well as votes in the area have shown support for a Democracy Amendment, which would, in part, lead to regulation of campaign spending…

Read the full story at the Newburyport Daily News website.

Click on the play button above to listen to an interview with Barry conducted by WNBP radio in Newburyport.

by Mac Cerullo

Following weeks of door-to-door campaigning, the candidates for the 2nd Essex District state representative seat shared the stage for the first time last night at a debate that gave them a chance to differentiate themselves for voters.

Democrat Barry Fogel and Republican Lenny Mirra, both of West Newbury, debated over issues including state spending, campaign financing, local projects and corruption on Beacon Hill in front of a packed house at the Boxford Community Center.

Throughout the evening, Fogel repeatedly emphasized the district’s need for a lawmaker who understands legislation and who has the skills to navigate the complexities of Beacon Hill. He highlighted his qualifications as a lawyer and his belief in approaching the state’s issues with a pragmatic and glass-half-full point of view…

Read the full story at the Newburyport Daily News website.

by Mac Cerullo

The two candidates for the Second Essex District state representative seat will face off in their first debate tonight at 7 at the Boxford Community Center.

Democrat Barry Fogel and Republican Lenny Mirra, both of West Newbury, will state their case directly to voters for the first time in a race that has largely been overshadowed by some of the higher profile local elections.

The debate is being co-sponsored by the Democratic and Republican Town Committees of Boxford, and Gerald Johnston, Boxford’s town moderator, will moderate the debate…

Read the full story at the Newburyport Daily News website

by Mac Cerullo

Roughly a week before facing off in their first debate, the two candidates for the Second Essex District representative seat explained their positions on taxes, jobs and regulation while also laying out their vision of what a healthy economy would look like.

Democrat Barry Fogel and Republican Lenny Mirra, who will be facing off in November’s general election for the seat held by Rep. Harriett Stanley, differ greatly on matters of job creation and regulation, but do share similar views on taxes. Both believe the state sales tax should be reduced to 5 percent, and each favors reducing the state income tax as well.

The two candidates will likely try to draw further distinctions between each other at the upcoming debates later this month…

Read the full story at the Newburyport Daily News website

Candidates say issues, not geography, to dominate race

by Mac Cerullo

WEST NEWBURY — Two weeks removed from a busy state primary season, both candidates for the Second Essex District representative seat are now looking ahead to what promises to be a hotly contested race to the finish.

Republican Lenny Mirra and Democrat Barry Fogel, who both hail from West Newbury, will be facing off in November’s general election to replace Rep. Harriett Stanley, D-West Newbury, who is stepping down after 18 years in the Legislature. The 2nd Essex District includes Newbury, West Newbury, Merrimac, Georgetown, Groveland and parts of Haverhill and Boxford.

…“I’m not asking for their vote simply because I’m a Democrat, I’m asking for their vote because I feel that I’ll be the better representative on Beacon Hill,” Fogel said. “That’s been my main thrust, focusing on my expertise and ability of problem solving.”

Read the full story at the Newburyport Daily News website