Candidate Stresses Independence

Seeking to distinguish herself from her opponent in the Nov. 2 election, realtor K.C. Winslow said she wants to be an independent voice for the voters in the 14th Middlesex district.

The incumbent, Rep. Cory Atkins is running for her seventh term, and Winslow thinks it's time for a change. Winslow spoke at a small gathering hosted by Wendy McNally at the Concord Country Club on Thursday morning.

"The time seems right," Winslow said of her challenge to the long-serving incumbent. "The climate is open to new ideas."

Winslow is running as an Independent. She said there are no other Independent's in the legislature. She branded herself as fiscally conservative and socially moderate.

Winslow lives in Concord with her three sons; "an active community member and active hockey mom" and realtor.

The makeup of the 14th Middlesex district is troubling, she said, because of the way Chelmsford was treated. The district is comprised of Concord, Carlisle, half of Acton and one-quarter of Chelmsford. She thinks she can win in Chelmsford on the issue of gerrymandering alone.

She is supportive of handing matters of carving the state into districts to an independent commission rather than letting the legislature do it, as it has done in the past. She said Atkins opposed the ban on having the legislature handle redistricting.

But she believes it will be a hard-fought election with Atkins' many years on Beacon Hill. Winslow said she will not accept money from lobbyinsts or unions.

She said one possible "silver lining" to the economic downturn is that people have a chance to examine how they spend their money. Winslow opposes any tax increases, but does not want the state to allow casinos or racinos in.

Winslow also opposes the Concord local income tax that is under study because she thinks it would take so long and be so complicated to get final passage at the state level, possibly amending the state Constitution. She said that the community could use its time more productively by seeking ways to lessen the impact of the property tax.

"Let's raise the amount for seniors to get the tax credit," she said.

Winslow got a taste of local politics when she organized the "stroll on Lowell," a move that ultimately led to the extension of sidewalks on the heavily-traveled Lowell Road. Winslow said she got a petition going and organized her neighbors in the Lindsay Pond area where she lives to advocate for the sidewalks.

"Eventually we got it to Town Meeting and it passed overwhelmingly," said Winslow. She said Middlesex School contributed about $150,000 to the project.

After that experience, Winslow said she was asked to join the cemetery committee in Concord, which she did.

"This is something I always wanted to do," she said about running for state office.

But the defining moment came when she read a story about Atkins saying she was running unopposed for her seventh term, and saw herself as a "den mother," Winslow said, "going door to door getting Democrats elected."

"Don't get me wrong, Cory is a very nice person, who has served for a very long time," said Winslow. "But the story was an epiphany for me. I realized I could offer something new and different. People are frustrated right now; frustrated with partisan politics."

"I offer a different type of representation," said Winslow. "As an Independent I am there to represent the people. I won't take money from special interests."

"That is my mission," she said. "I will find common ground, listen, and get things done."

Winslow said she has always been "unenrolled," though she dislikes that term. "I am a person without a regisgtration to either party." She said "most" of the voters in the area describe themselves as unenrolled as well.

She said gerrymandering, or the awkward carving up of a district based on political cronyism, is "alive and well and living in Massachusetts, especially in Chelmsford."

She said in 2002 Chelmsford was divided into four democratic-leaning precincts.

"Ten years later, the town is still smarting," said Winslow. "That many precincts dilutes their voting power."

Winslow also said the number of contested races statewide is low: 30 percent two years ago and 46 percent this year.

"The chips are stacked against the minority party," said Winslow. "We need independent leadership to bring an end to gerrymandering."

She said of the 160 seats in the House, 144 are Democrats, and "none are Independent...yet"

She said giving businesses tax credits for hiring is one way to maintain a good quality of life.

"Casinos are not the solution," she said. "There are social costs. We are better than that."

She said she would ensure, if elected, that state reimbursements for schools (Chapter 70) and local aid "go from the state back to the towns."

"Help me bring common sense to Beacon Hill," she said.

Winslow's website is www.kcwinslow.com. Her email is kc@kcwinslow.com.