Senator Creem Defends Seat With Record, Experience

State Senator  Cynthia Creem, defending her post against Democratic primary challenger Charles Rudnick, said she finds herself fighting a selective critic.  

"He's refused to acknowledge all of the good things that I've done," Creem said.

Some of those things, she said, include reforming sentencing and CORI law, which expanded access to criminal histories to all employers and housing providers, and reduced the length of time an offense appears on an applicant's record.  She also helped close corporate tax loopholes that brought in more revenue for the state, worked to secure the maximum state aid for the district's communities and was the original sponsor of the law to promote stem cell research in Massachusetts.  

Also, she said, Rudnick isn't taking into account the benefit of her experience, and how long it has taken to build the political capital necessary to be a strong voice for the district. "I wanted to be chief of the judiciary the day I was elected," Creem said, but such an influential post doesn't get handed to newly elected officials. Creem was named chair of the judiciary committee in February 2009. She's been in office for 12 years.

On generating jobs in the state, Creem said, "I think we need to look at ways to encourage people to spend money here." One of those ways, she said, is to make sure tax credits are tied to the creation of jobs. 

According to her website, as revenue chair, Creem supported tax incentives and capital funding for the life sciences, which has helped bring jobs to the state. She's also in support of assisting start-ups hiring in Massachusetts to develop new drugs and new technologies, as well as offering certificate and training programs to align the workforce with the biotech industry.

On health care, Creem said she would like to study the problem  of rising costs, particularly on how payments are made. On this issue, Creem said she trusts the judgement of Dr. John Feldman, an Alderman in Newton and health care cost control advocate.

During her campaigning, which has recently ramped up since the end of the legislative session in July, Creem said she has been happy to learn of the wide support from her constituents for the work she's done. "I never realized how many people throught I had done a good job," Creem said. She said she hopes those voices make themselves heard at the polls. "I'm a leader that they need to get back in office," Creem said. 

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.