The Eagle-Tribune
---- — LAWRENCE – State Rep. Marcos A. Devers and his challenger in next week’s election, Jose Luis Santiago, agree that education, public safety, lowering the unemployment rate and strengthening the economy are the priorities for Lawrence’s 16th Essex House District.
“We have to continue bridging the education gap by not just teaching more math and sciences, but by implementing plans to work with community colleges where graduates can start working and strengthen the middle class,” said Devers, a Democrat.
Santiago, who is running as an unenrolled candidate and has been out of politics for 10 years, said he has talked to many parents with mentally challenged, educationally impaired and autistic children who prefer to home school them instead of sending them to public schools because of the number of students in the classroom is too large.
Santiago said reducing the number of students in the classrooms from 35 to 20 children is one of his goals, if elected.
In September’s Democratic primary elections, Devers defeated Chally Ramos by an overwhelming 83 percent to advance to Tuesday’s election. Devers received 1,482 with Ramos getting 278 votes.
“I decided to run because of the way the city is going. This administration has done an injustice to the community compromising public safety and the school system while state officials have remained silent and our state representative has done nothing about it,” said Santiago, a former Lawrence City Councilor and State Representative.
“I want to be an independent voice representing the community equally,” he said.
The 16th Essex District was expanded in the last redistricting effort to include parts of the south side of the city, with seven precincts in the north and six others in South Lawrence.
Santiago has accused Devers of refusing to have a public debate, but Devers disagrees.
“I would had, but there was no appropriate avenue for it which was formerly organized with a moderator,” he said.
Santiago said public safety goes hand in hand with bringing new companies to Lawrence.
“We need to create jobs in service areas and small businesses” while companies such as Porlatech and New Balance with roots in the city remain here, Santiago said.
“The only way of bringing and keeping jobs to the city is providing public safety, good education and trained employees,” Santiago said.
Devers said the Ibrahim El-Hefni Health and Technology Center being built by Northern Essex Community College is one way to train residents in the growing medical field.
“We need to help the private sector and educate residents to establish a capable labor force so we can lower the unemployment rate under 10 percent,” Devers said.
Devers said he would roll back taxes only if the economy stabilizes.
“When we have a surplus and all the services are assured, then the roll back can be done by lowering taxes to the middle class and the poor and raising it for the reach.
Both Devers and Santiago are against the Death with Dignity initiative and the legalization of marijuana.
“We should not be playing God,” Santiago said. “We should leave it to the creator who knows when to call us home.”
About the legalization of marijuana, Devers said: “To vote in favor of it is to give others access which may lead to addiction,” he said. “As much control as we put on it, we don’t want to play with fire. It’s better to find other ways.”
As a former police sergeant, Santiago is opposed to making marijuana legal.
“To legalize it, it will be a double edge sword. It may help people with stage 3 or 4 cancer, but it’s going to hurt young people who will have access to it and with drug testing required at jobs, they won’t qualify,” Santiago said. “As a legislator we’re supposed to write the law, not break it.”
They also back giving drivers the option of servicing their cars at garages and not just the dealership.
“Big businesses should share the wealth,” Santiago said. “This will help small businesses grow.”
Devers agreed. “We should avoid a monopoly and give the option and freedom to choose where they want to take their cars for service.”
Marcos Devers
Age: 62
Address: 16 Woodland St.
Family: Wife, Victoria E. Devers Vargas; four children and four grandchildren.
Occupation: Registered civil and structural engineer
Political experience: Lawrence City Council at large, 2000-2002, vice president; served as interim mayor Sept. 2001 to Nov. 2001; Lawrence City Council president, 2002-2004; City Councilor at large, 2004-2006. State Representative, 2010 to present. As representative he is vice chairman of the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities; served on the following Joint committees: Economic Development and Emerging Technologies; Education; Transportation and Redistricting.
Party: Democrat
Jose Santiago
Age: 53
Address: 391 Chestnut St.
Family: Separated; five children and four grandchildren.
Occupation: Unemployed; former Methuen Police sergeant
Political experience: Elected as state representative for the 16th District in 1998 and re-elected for a second term in 2000. He served on the Lawrence City Council.
Party: Unenrolled
Marcos Devers Age: 62 Address: 16 Woodland St. Family: Wife, Victoria E. Devers Vargas; four children and four grandchildren. Occupation: Registered civil and structural engineer Political experience: Lawrence City Council at large, 2000-2002, vice president; served as interim mayor Sept. 2001 to Nov. 2001; Lawrence City Council president, 2002-2004; City Councilor at large, 2004-2006. State Representative, 2010 to present. As representative he is vice chairman of the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities; served on the following Joint committees: Economic Development and Emerging Technologies; Education; Transportation and Redistricting. Party: Democrat Jose Santiago Age: 53 Address: 391 Chestnut St. Family: Separated; five children and four grandchildren. Occupation: Unemployed; former Methuen Police sergeant Political experience: Elected as state representative for the 16th District in 1998 and re-elected for a second term in 2000. He served on the Lawrence City Council. Party: Unenrolled
