Ehrhard takes stance on welfare, immigration, gun laws in Templeton
Joseph BenavidezNews Staff Writer
TEMPLETON — Saturday afternoon republican candidate and state senate hopeful James Ehrhard found himself at Templeton’s Country Mischief restaurant on Baldwinville Road for a “coffee with the candidate” meet and greet. Mr. Ehrhard is running for the Worcester Second District seat, currently held by Sen. Stephen Brewer.
Nearly 50 people from Templeton, Winchendon, Hubbardston, Royalston, New Braintree, Barre and Rutland joined Mr Ehrhard as he disussed his views on a wide range of issues from immigration laws, government spending, abortion, gun rights, the gas tax, school safety, to the overall responsibilities he would take on if he were to be elected.
“The Worcester second district senator has two responsibilities. One, to be available to the citizens of the 28 towns that he represents and two, to use the power of his vote to push policy that helps this district. This district has needs, very different needs from the districts near Boston and our voice can get lost in the House. It would be my duty to stop that from happening,” Mr. Ehrhard said.
The meet and greet began with citizens asking Mr. Ehrhard’s to discuss his stance on immigration. Mr. Ehrhard said that laws are laws and not following them should have consequences. He also told attendees that he believes the “boarder should be tightened” but that it should also be easier to come to this country legally.
“Massachusetts is a magnet for illegal immigrants,” Mr. Ehrhard said. “We have to change the way things are done.”
During the event Mr. Ehrhard noted that he is both pro-life and gun rights. “The state government has fallen out of touch with the average citizen in this area,” he continued. “When you talk policy, you have to talk generalities, and you have to go back to the principle right.”
When asked to share his thoughts on the Department of Children and Families, which has recently come under fire after reports of a missing Fitchburg boy under the local offices auspices surfaced, Mr. Ehrhard said the state has a responsibility to care for its children but the rights of the parents should not be violated.
In regard to current aid and benefit policies, Mr. Ehrhard said he believes there is much work to be done. There “should be a safety net but it should be a government hand-up and not a hand-out,” he said.
If elected, the candidate said he would not accept the allocated per diem and instead plans to continue practicing law in his Sturbridge firm.
“I am not a life-time career politician,” Mr. Ehrhard said. “I just want to make a change.”
Yeah right ! They all want to make a change, but when they come up against our "one party state government" nothing changes. We've heard it all before. They tell you what they think you want to hear. Until we get a balanced state government, it will continue to be business as usual.
ReplyDeleteI hate to sound cynical, but take a look around and convince me I am wrong.
We only have to look at Denise Andrews for an example of a 180-degree-out-of-phase-with-the-voters representative. Ms. Andrews is a sponsor of "An Act Relative to Safe Driving", a cute title. This act will, if passed, give driver's license to "people who are ineligible for Social Security cards." In other words, illegal aliens. Why would a person who represents a poor district sponsor a bill that hurts her constituents? Her constituents are citizens and voters, not illegal aliens whose demands on our social services will be paid for by Gov. Patrick's recent tax-grab.
DeleteReality is, there are more people in this country that are minorities, and pretty soon we will be the minority. I know people who pay into Social Security and taxes, that will not collect them. Who do you guys think will pay the way for the baby boomers who retire, once they are all retired ?? I know of people who came to this country as young children and and they contribute to the economy just like anyone else. Immigration needs to be fixed and that is something that should happen now. I think if you did a study you may find getting social services is not as easy to do as you think. Bev.
DeleteJust for the record, I went to this meeting to see what this man had to say. The reporter has a problem if he saw fifty people in the room. It would be a stretch to say there were fifteen people that came to see this guy. I see no need to inflate the number of people who attended. The Gardner News has had a history of credibility issues, so now would be a good time for them to clean up their act. Bev.
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