Comtois kicks off campaign for state rep

By Ashlee Picard, SPENCER NEW LEADER

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

     Brookfield – Stephen J. Comtois II of Brookfield has kicked off his campaign for the 5th Worcester District state representative seat by handing in more certified signatures than any other candidate for state representative in Massachusetts, according to a press release.
     “Just as I worked hard to collect the most certified signatures on my nomination papers, I will work hard and go the extra mile for the citizens of the 5th Worcester district,”  Comtois said in an e-mail.  “I will work to honor the will of the voters and roll back the income tax to 5 percent as was voted in 2000.”
     The candidate turned in 572 certified signatures to the Secretary of State’s office on May 10.  He was required to collect 150 signatures to get on the ballot for the election.
     Incumbent Anne M. Gobi (D-Spencer) currently holds the seat for the 5th Worcester District, which encompasses 11 towns and includes Brookfield, West Brookfield, North Brookfield and two precincts in Spencer.
     Born and raised in Charlton, Comtois has lived in Brookfield for four years.  He has also previously lived in West Brookfield.  For 16 years, he has owned a small business called Custom Changes, which offers construction services.
     After being appointed to fill an open seat on the Brookfield Elementary School Committee last year, Comtois won a three-year term on the committee.
     Since then, he said, he has strived to maintain a fourth-grade band program at the school and to bring full-day kindergarten and after-school programs to Brookfield.
     Comtois said he decided to run for state representative because he believes the Statehouse has become ruled by one party and is not addressing the concerns of all its constituents.
     “The one-party system is not being held accountable and that’s why they constantly thumb their nose at the voters such as with the tax roll-back initiative petition and the marriage petition in 2002,” he said.
     As a state representative, he said, he would return balance to the system as well as a much-needed fiscal conservatism.
     In addition to working to reduce the income tax, Comtois said he would fight for more Chapter 70 funds for the district and try to curb un-funded mandates from the state if he is elected.
     “We must trust that our communities, our schools, our teachers and, most important, our families will be able to determine what is appropriate for our children,” Comtois said.
     If elected, he would also work to allow Massachusetts residents to vote on the definition of marriage, he said.
     “I will fight for traditional family values beginning with marriage,” he said.  “I believe the four judges on the Supreme Judicial Court overstepped their constitutional authority and took on the role of legislator.”
     Comtois will holding a meet and greet session tonight from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the North Brookfield American Legion, 163 North Main St., North Brookfield.  For more information about the candidate, visit www.stephencomtois.com.