Congressional Candidates on Governing if Opposite Party is in Majority

In this series, West Roxbury Patch asks the three 9th District Congressional Candidates about certain issues of the day. The November 2 election will be between Congressman Stephen Lynch (D), Vernon Harrison (R) and Phil Dunkelbarger (I). (Attempts were made to get Congressman Lynch's viewpoint for the following Q&A, but they were unsuccessful.)

What strategies/techniques would you use in governing if the opposite party is in the majority?

Vernon Harrison: That in a sense is what I do in my work. I don't know how to talk to anyone else than how I talk to them. That what's one of the problems in Washington is that incumbents and party members are too aligned with their parties.

Stephen Lynch has voted 97 percent of the time with Nancy Pelosi. I think we need more folks like Scott Brown, who whether you agree or disagree with him, votes for a bill he believes in. That's what I would do. I'm not a career politician. I've been supportive of the GOP, but I've always voted for people who would best represent the community. I would vote more along with what my constituents want me to do.

Phil Dunkelbarger: I'm going to have to work with either side, no matter who it is. I was a city councilor for two terms up in Beverly, and local political races are non-partisan. So, basically I know how to count votes. I know what takes place in order to get something done, and that doesn't change.

It makes it easier if you're not part of one of the (major) parties, because you're not expected to tow a line. I would caucus both sides. I would put together coalitions; that's the nature of the legislative process. It's something I know well, and it's not much different than negotiating contracts in business. You've got to arrive at a point where everybody gets something, as long as you're not compromising principle, and you work toward what everybody wants.