Democrats square off for Senate
By Danielle Ray JOURNAL CORRESPONDENT

The quest to replace retiring state Sen. Robert Antonioni began in earnest Monday with a debate between the two Democratic hopefuls held at First Church in Sterling.

About three dozen people from Sterling and the 10 neighboring cities and towns in the Worcester and Middlesex District attended the debate, which was sponsored by Sterling's Democratic Town Committee. Members of Lancaster's Democratic Town Committee also helped organize the event.

State Rep. Jennifer Flanagan of Leominster and former state Rep. Brian Knuuttila of Gardner were asked questions pertaining to regional and national issues by moderator and committee Chairman Robert Bloom.

Bloom posed questions to the candidates for 45 minutes, and then opened the floor to the public for another 45 minutes. He asked a wide variety of questions to the candidates including how they would handle inter-municipal disputes, what they would do to support local farming and agriculture, how they felt about casinos in the state (both supported them as a way to bolster the economy and employment), and the issue of universal health care in the commonwealth.

"Agriculture is one of the most important businesses that we have in Massachusetts and it is something that has been producing goods for generations. One of the biggest problems that we have is trying to keep the industry alive. We need to look at each individual facet of that," said Flanagan, whose family once owned a working farm in Sterling.

Knuuttila has a military, police, and law background, and noted several times over the course of the evening that if elected he would be the voice of the people and not forget where he came from.

"I'm not into turning the Commonwealth of Massachusetts into one big town meeting. I know we are a republic, and you elect your representatives to go to Boston and represent your interests," said Knuuttila.

Sterling resident Arden Sonnenberg asked both candidates to identify three initiatives on environmental, family and economic issues that they would pursue if elected to the Senate.

"We have to start thinking regionally not only from an aspect of public transportation, but from a pure economic development standpoint," said Knuuttila, who added he would focus on revenue sharing and federal grants to boost the local economy.

Flanagan said the Economic Development Council is working on identifying locations in the district that "are ready to be entered into for different kinds of companies. They are around the state. It's important that we see the fruits of our labor."

Flanagan and Knuuttila are running in the Democratic primary to replace Antonioni, of Leominster, who is not seeking reelection. The winner of the Tuesday, Sept. 16 primary will be unopposed in the general election.

The Worcester and Middlesex district includes the towns of Ashby, Bolton, Clinton, Lancaster, Lunenburg, Sterling, Townsend and Westminster, along with the cities of Fitchburg, Gardner and Leominster.