Gobi and Comtois disagree
Spencer rep, challenger stake out opposing positions

By James F. Russell, Worcester Telegram & Gazette

September 28 , 2006

In the 5th Worcester District race, voters will have a clear choice, as state Rep. Anne M. Gobi, D-Spencer, and Republican challenger Stephen J. Comtois II, R-Brookfield, hold opposing views on several issues, including the death penalty, abortion, gay marriage, MCAS tests as a high school graduation requirement and whether the state should immediately reduce the income tax from 5.3 percent to 5 percent.

The candidates stated their views in interviews with the Telegram & Gazette.

“I do not agree with gay marriage. Marriage is between a man and a woman,” Mr. Comtois said. “I believe in the sanctity of marriage. Marriage is between a man and a woman, and not between partner A and partner B, as a marriage certificate now reads.”

“I am in support of gay marriage,” Ms. Gobi.

In November 2003, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that barring same-sex couples from marrying is unconstitutional. The court’s landmark 4-3 decision made same-sex marriage legal in the state beginning in 2004.

On capital punishment, Ms. Gobi said, “I am against the death penalty.” Mr. Comtois said, “I am for the death penalty.”

Regarding abortion, Mr. Comtois said, “I am pro-life,” adding, “That is more of a federal issue.”

“I am pro-choice; I am not for abortion,” Ms. Gobi said.

Ms Gobi favors a gradual return to the 5 percent state income tax “as revenues increase,” while Mr. Comtois said he wants the income tax put at 5 percent “immediately.”

Mr. Comtois and Ms. Gobi both oppose a primary seat belt law that, if enacted, would allow police to pull over an adult solely for not buckling up. They also think an undocumented immigrant should not be allowed a Massachusetts driver’s license.

On local aid, Ms. Gobi said, “It should be increased. You have to increase local aid to get away from the undue burden of the property tax. We have to realize that if this (a local aid increase) happens, other areas would not get as much funding.”

Mr. Comtois said, “Once the fat is cut out of the budget, we can increase local aid. Most fat is in special interest programs. Once I am elected, I will analyze the budget carefully to trim out any pork.”

Asked why he should be elected, Mr. Comtois said, “I am a small-business owner. In a majority of the 2,000 doors I have knocked on, they want change. I will fight hard for what this district needs, true changes.”

Ms. Gobi said she should retain her seat because “I have worked well within the communities. You have to be part of the community and I have done that. People appreciate that.”

On MCAS, Ms. Gobi said, “It should not be the one and only way to decide if a child should move on and graduate. I would like to see the test modified to truly show the children’s strength’s and weaknesses.”

Mr. Comtois said, “I truly respect MCAS. There have been a lot of intelligent people that have spent a lot of time on this.” The MCAS test should continue to be “a graduation requirement, but special needs students should not have the MCAS as a graduation requirement,” he said.

Mr. Comtois , 34, of 35 Webber Road, Brookfield , owns a carpentry business, Custom Changes, that employs three people and is chairman of the Brookfield School Committee. Married in 2002, Mr. Comtois and his wife, Tracy A. Comtois, have two children. Mr. Comtois is pursuing an undergraduate degree in business administration at the University of Massachusetts at Boston.

Ms. Gobi, 43, of 98 Mechanic St., Spencer, is a three-term incumbent who previously ran her own law firm. Ms. Gobi is single and has no children. She earned a degree from the Massachusetts School of Law in 1995 and passed the bar exam the same year. In 1986, she earned a history degree from Worcester State College.

The 5th Worcester District consists of Barre, Brookfield, Hardwick, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Petersham, Phillipston, Spencer’s Precincts 2 and 3, Templeton, Ware’s Precinct A and West Brookfield.