Garlick, O’Leary Touch on Religion, 40B in Debate

With 12 days to campaign before the election, Republican John O'Leary and Democrat Denise Garlick, both challengers for Lida Harkins' State Representative seat, took to Dover for the first in a series of public debates.

With members of the local media serving as panelists (including Patch, Gatehouse Media and the Boston Globe), the candidates were given a chance for opening and closing remarks, as well as an hour to answer questions on a wide range of topics Thursday evening.

Both candidates related that they would be voting no on all three ballot questions, specifically citing that Question 3, which would cut the sales tax in the state from six percent to three, was the wrong idea.

"We're already facing a $2 billion deficit and Question 3 is something that this state can't tolerate," Garlick said.

O'Leary related that he believes dropping to three percent is too drastic a cut, but that he would like to cut income taxes to five percent.

"We need to work toward a place where we listen to the will of the people that want lower taxes," he said.

On the topic of 40B and how it pertains to Question 2, both candidates agreed that there need to be some fixes with the housing program, but that it serves a need in each community.

"I oppose the question, but man is 40B a flawed law," O'Leary stated. "There are supposed to be limits on the 40B developers' profits, but we've seen $100 million in excess profits owed to the town (in Needham).

O'Leary clarified that 40B "does encourage affordable housing," but that there are many backdoor deals currently taking place.

Garlick agreed that developers should be watched, but that repealing 40B "would be a tragedy," pointing to a home in Needham that opened its doors earlier this year as a "model for the state."

With school bullying prevalent in today's news, particularly as it pertains to gay individuals, the candidates were asked what they would do to help curb such behavior. O'Leary related that he has seen Needham schools do a good job of "fostering students of all needs" and that he backs the anti-bullying legislation signed in May, but that work still remains to make sure it is properly implemented.

"The anti-bullying legislation can be difficult to codify, but it's something that I support completely," he said.

Garlick also backed the legislation and agreed that more work can still be done.

"I'm very glad for the anti-bullying law," she said. "It's a good first step."

With the inclusion of God in classroom-led Pledge of Allegiances becoming an issue for many parents of late, the candidates were asked about the inclusion of religion in governmental affairs.

"There is a famous phrase that goes, 'Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's,'" Garlick answered.

O'Leary, though, sees the issue as a bit more complicated. Religious freedom is "extremely important," he said, but that it is equally important to respect those who wish to obtain from religion.

"It's often a challenge where religion is excluded now and it makes it tough to practice in that setting," he said. "At the same time, if someone does not want to use God in a pledge, they shouldn't have to."

The two candidates will face off again Monday night as part of a League of Women Voters candidates' forum in Needham.