Carnevale Ready to Challenge for Senate Seat

It was just about a year ago now when Dave Carnevale decided he had enough. For the past three-and-a-half years the lifelong Medford resident has owned and operated a beverage distribution company – Paradiso Importing.

But now Carnevale has decided to try and take his business-mind to the state house. Carnevale recently announced his intent to run against state senate incumbent, Patricia Jehlen (D-Somerville) for the Second Middlesex District, which serves Medford, Winchester, Woburn and Somerville.

"I don't agree with Senator Jehlen's politics," Carnevale said. "I don't feel as though she is accurately representing the district. A lot of people are looking for a change."

As with most politicians, Carnevale is promising, if elected, to increase jobs and lower taxes. But specifically, Carnevale is focusing on the 6 ½ percent sales tax increase from a year ago.

According to Carnevale, being a small business owner himself, he understands how tough it is to own and operate a business. One of his main goals would be to roll back taxes across the board.

Not just decreasing the sales tax to five percent, but also lowering the income and property taxes.

It's not just that he feels businesses are overtaxed in the state. He also understands the importance of job creation, which is why he is a big proponent of the casino bill.

"Those casinos are going to bring in revenue that the state desperately needs," Carnevale said. "We need those 12 – 15,000 jobs. And my opponent is against it."

Even though he has never run for public office before, Carnevale feels as though his experience as a small business owner will give him an advantage on how to handle the state's economic troubles.

"I understand what it takes to create and stay within a budget," Carnevale said. "I will spend the money responsibility, and, most importantly, I will listen to my constituents."

Carnevale believes that his stance on lowering the taxes, increasing incentives and tax credits for small businesses and supporting illegal immigration reform, making it tougher for immigrants to be awarded money from the state, will be the incentive he needs to win the senate seat.

"When the economy went down two years ago we all felt the impact," Carnevale said. "I just don't feel that increasing taxes is the way to go. Right now, we're doing well. A lot of people don't know that Senator Jehlen is their state senator. She has name recognition in Somerville, but as far as Winchester goes and some of the other areas, she doesn't. We have a real good chance to beat her come November."

For more information on Carnevale's campaign be sure to visit his website.