Robocall Campaign In Tewksbury, Wilmington Takes Aim At State Rep

TEWKSBURY, MA — Voters in Wilmington and Tewksbury have been receiving automated phone calls and have reported social media campaigns claiming that state Rep. Dave Robertson (D-Tewksbury) supported an 80 percent tax increase that was secretly railroaded through a constitutional convention. Not true, the first-year legislator for Tewksbury and Wilmington said in a statement released late Tuesday afternoon.

"To put it plainly, it’s a blatant use of scare tactics to at [best] misconstrue truth and at worst, deliberately spread misinformation," Robertson said. "I would never support a tax of 80%, nor an increase on the working and middle class folks who are the real job creators."

What Robertson did supported was the inclusion of a ballot question in the November election which would give voters the chance to weigh in on the hotly-debated Fair Share Amendment, which would raise taxes on income over $1 million in any given year. Robertson said he also supports the measure, noting that the money would go to fund education and transportation and is "an opportunity to reduce taxes for those in the working and middle classes."

More than 150,000 people signed a petition to have the Fair Share Amendment included on the November 2018 ballot, but the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts ruled that the question needed to be reworded.

"By using this state money to offset local costs, our towns can contain our property tax rates and subsequently provide superior services. Others disagree, and have great concerns, and I believe should have a chance to state their case," Robertson said. "Hence why I voted for this initiative to appear as a ballot question, and one that could be debated and decided directly by the citizens of the Commonwealth."

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).