To the editor:
The primary election in Massachusetts is drawing very near (Tuesday, Sept. 14) and we, the voters of Massachusetts, are at long last being given a real chance to change the political culture in our state. We can no longer neglect our civic duty by saying "there isn't a dimes worth of difference" between the candidates. There is this year! And one of those different candidates is Jim Lyons from Andover.
Jim is running in the Republican primary for the chance to challenge (and defeat) Barbara L'Italien for state representative from the 18th Essex District.
Jim Lyons is not a career politician although he has been a supporter and tireless worker for conservative candidates for years. He has been active in his hometown and with the youth sports activities there. His children attend the public schools in the town.
Jim Lyons is the owner of a small family business and is intimately aware of the challenges facing small businesses in Massachusetts, and particularly in the Merrimack Valley. Like many of us, he is also aware of the current state of affairs in Massachusetts and the affect it is having on individuals and families in our district and our state.
Jim is running to help turn the ship of state around in Massachusetts. He will start by championing the reduction of the income tax back to 5 percent, reversing the recent 25 percent increase in the sales tax, and new 6.25 percent tax on alcohol, and the increase in the meals tax. In addition to reducing these taxes, Jim will look to creative ways to control and reduce state spending so that local aid cuts can be restored.
By reducing taxes, thereby allowing taxpayers to keep and spend more of their own hard-earned money, the private sector in the state will benefit and much needed jobs will be created for those who are currently unemployed.
Jim Lyons is "one of us." He is a good, hard-working, fair, and honest person; he identifies with, and cares about the average taxpayer in his district. In short, he is exactly what we need in the Legislature.
I respectfully ask Republicans and independent voters in the 18th Essex District to visit Jim's website www.jimlyonsstaterep.net and to cast your vote in the primary for Jim Lyons for state representative.
Thomas F. Joyce
Methuen
