CRAIG WILL OPT OUT OF PENSION

No Perks or Pension for Craig

Upton, MA …Today Shawn Craig, Republican candidate for State Representative and Iraq war veteran, announced that he will opt out of the state pension system when elected. He will refuse to take a pension from the state.

“No perks or pension for me. I’m running to promote public service, not political gamesmanship or legislative perks. As the next State Representative, I promise to the people of this district that I will opt out of the state pension system,” said Craig. “This pledge shows my further commitment to be solely focused on public service.”

Craig plans on setting a new example at the State House. He will refuse both the pension and per diems which pay for legislators to commute to the state House. He believes that state politicians should not be eligible for pensions.

“Serving in the House should not be a lifetime position. We would be better served by more diversity, not professional politicians,” said Craig.

By removing elected officials from being able to collect pensions, the state would be depoliticizing the system. If officials are no longer part of the system, they will be able to make sound decisions without consideration of self-interest.

“We need to restore people’s faith in the legislature,” said Craig.

Two months ago, Craig challenged his opponents Marty Green and David Muradian to pledge not to take per diems and to work to end this legislative perk. Craig has sent both candidates a pledge to sign if they agree. Neither candidate has responded.

“I am disappointed that neither candidate has decided to join me in calling for an end of per diems. I don’t believe that legislators should get this special perk. They should have to pay to drive to work like the rest of us,” said Craig.

Legislators can claim a per diem for every day they go to the State House. The amounts vary from district depending on the distance representatives have to drive to the State House. It ranges from $10 per day to $90. Last year Senator Stan Rosenberg claimed the most in per diems. He accepted $12,840.

The Abolish Per Diem Pledge simply requests that if elected that person will refuse to take per diems and work to end the legislative perk.

Craig is a member of the Upton Finance Committee and is the liaison to the Mendon Upton Regional School District. He is also the Vice-Chairman of the Mendon-Upton Multi-Board Task Force. In addition, he is a member of the VFW and Upton Men’s Club.

Professionally, Craig has 16 years of private sector experience with the majority spent within the financial services industry. He worked for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) for 8.5 years where he investigated broker-dealers for compliance with federal securities laws and FINRA rules and regulations. This included both routine as well as special investigations involving the review and discovery of money laundering, fraud, embezzlement, insider trading and unsuitable investments. One investigation of which he was the team lead resulted in the discovery of fraud and misrepresentation at a firm located in Braintree, MA. Craig drafted a referral whereby the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission became engaged along with the FBI. The firm’s owner was detained October 2, 2012 and sentenced in April 2013 to 17 years in federal prison plus 3 years supervised probation and $9 million in restitution. Craig left FINRA in 2013 to start a consulting business focused on helping small broker-dealers.

Craig earned his B.A. from Roanoke College, where he double majored in International Relations and Business, and an M.S. in Finance from Suffolk University in Boston.

For more information, visit the campaign website at shawncraig2014.com