Election 2018: Candidate Profile Of John Hugo

Lifelong Massachusetts resident John Hugo is challenging Rep. Katherine Clark for the state's 5th Congressional District this year. The district includes Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge, Framingham, Lexington, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Natick, Sherborn, Stoneham, Sudbury, Wayland, Waltham, Watertown, Weston, Winchester and Woburn.

The 55-year-old Republican who grew up in Arlington describes himself as a "working class candidate." He has served in town government in Arlington and has worked as a dispatcher for over 35 years.

Hugo is a certified computer technician and currently lives in Woburn. The following are responses Hugo gave to questions Patch posed to all candidates running in the race:

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The national debt. I advocate a balanced budget Amendment. 21 trillion is madness. So much could be accomplished with billions we spend on the interest and managing the debt. It is unfair that we are saddling the next generation with so much debt. Something has to change.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Katherine Clark has always refused to debate (not even once for Congress) I am always open to debate. Clark is a far left extremist - I am a conservative - libertarian. Clark believes in open borders and is a globalist. I believe in secure borders and am a nationalist. Clark always votes for higher taxes - I will always work to reduce taxation to the lowest level possible. I was born in Arlington and lived here my whole life- Clark was born in Connecticut.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

Clark is an embarrassment. She walked out of a moment of silence in Congress for the poor victims of the Las Vegas shooter and mocked religious people. She refused to represent us at the inaugural. She supported the witch hunt against Justice Kavanaugh. She is rude to constituents who disagree with her. She opposes the first and second Amendments. And she always supports raising taxes on the backs of the working class.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

We must stop spending money earmarked for Social Security. We must transfer the "War on Drugs" to a "War on Addiction". I support term limits. I support Limited, efficient and constitutional government.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I won the primary with 64% of the vote. So I have a mandate to run. I am qualified because I am a patriotic citizen who loves his country. The framers of our Constitution envisioned citizen candidates who would serve their country for a few terms and then retire to live under the laws which they helped to pass. Katherine Clark is just another lifelong politician. She lives in a giant mansion on a hill where I live in a small apartment. I am far more in touch with the working classes.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

God loves us all. And it pleases Him if we love and care for each other.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I love my country, our Constitution and our flag. I love our traditions of welcoming all people to embrace our values and become Americans. I humble ask for your vote so I can go to Washington and work to preserve that way of life that I hold so dear.

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