Rudnick Asks For A Shot At Beacon Hill

Charles Rudnick, Democratic primary challenger to State Senator  Cynthia Creem, says he's frustrated by the incumbent's performance, and that of state legislators in general.

"I've become increasingly disillusioned with Beacon Hill," Rudnick said. During her 12 years representing the district, he said, Creem has had her chance to make a difference. "And frankly, the results have been disappointing," Rudnick said.

A recent example of the Senate's frustrating behavior, Rudnick said, was their recess after a lengthy, ultimately fruitless debate on casino gambling, taken with many other important issues - such as wind farm legislation and reform of the probation department - unresolved. "I would have been a strong voice for urging the members not to go into recess," Rudnick said, until those issues were acted on.

Rudnick's strong voice, he said, would have taken the form of speaking out, and holding press conferences if necessary, he said, to bring pressure to bear on senate members to keep working. Rudnick said he wouldn't be fighting that battle alone. "There are other legislators who feel the same way," Rudnick said.

Rudnick criticized Creem's action on alimony reform. As chair of the Judiciary Committee, the senator appointed a task force to present possible reforms a year ago. A year is too long to draft a reform of the legislation, Rudnick said.  

He was also critical of her performance on reform of the Probation Department, namely her proposal to create a task force to address the situation. "I don't think that task force was ever created," Rudnick said.

Creem proposed the task force to address Probation Department reforms in May within an amendment to the state budget. However, according to State House News Service, the bill including the proposal was altered by the senate and was vetoed by the Governor, who protested its failure to impose term limits on the department's commissioner. Creem supported the veto, noting her disapproval of her colleague's changes, which changed the scope of the task force.

On Health Care, Rudnick said he brings some insight to the table by virtue of his seven years as director of communications at medical device company Boston Scientific. Rudnick didn't offer specific reforms, but said he intended to draw on others' expertise to fight rising health care costs.

When asked how he would draw more jobs to the state, the senate challenger said he'd work to foster direct flights with three countries identified by MassPort as having rapidly growing economies: Israel, China and Japan. He said he'd start a forum with Mass Port to discuss how to encourage direct flights. 

Rudnick said he'd also support legislation that would streamline wind turbine permitting in the state, and work to secure federal grants for the state to help attract foreign investors.

Rudnick and Creem will contest for the First Middlesex and Norfolk district seat (including Newton, Brookline and Wellesley precincts A, C, D, and E ) Tuesday, Sept. 14.