Domestic policy dominates debate

ACTON -- Democrat and Republican candidates for the Fifth Congressional District seat shared their visions last night for fixing the healthcare system, paying for infrastructure repair, and government support of faith-based initiatives at a debate that focused on domestic policy issues.

Two weeks before the primary, the candidates gathered in the auditorium of Acton-Boxborough Regional High School, where moderator Jon Keller, a political analyst with WBZ-TV News, read questions prepared by members of the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, which sponsored the debate.

Independent candidates Patrick Murphy, a bricklayer from Lowell, and Kurt Hayes, a businessman from Boxborough, offered brief statements, but did not participate in the 90-minute forum because they are not competing in the special primary on Sept. 4. Kevin Thompson of the Constitution Party could not attend. All candidates are invited to participate in future league-sponsored debates, members said.

The candidates are vying to replace former US representative Martin T. Meehan, who held the seat for 14 years before stepping down to run the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, where he is expected to moderate a debate between the candidates on Monday.

On immigration, most candidates supported a path to citizenship for undocumented or illegal workers. State Representative Barry Finegold of Andover said he would work to secure America's borders and "get tough" on employers who hire undocumented workers. However, state Representative James Miceli of Wilmington said he would not work to secure citizenship for any "illegal" immigrants and chided his fellow candidates for calling them "undocumented."

"As they appear on the radar screen, they should be deported," Miceli said.

Republican candidate Jim Ognowski, a Dracut farmer and retired Air Force lieutenant colonel said illegal workers should follow the law and apply for citizenship, just as his relatives did.

Eileen Donoghue, a city councilor in Lowell who supports an earned pathway to citizenship, said Congress had failed to help the undocumented come out of the shadows and become active members of the community. "Doing nothing is the de facto amnesty," Donoghue said.

State Representative Jamie Eldridge of Acton criticized Niki Tsongas, dean of external affairs at Middlesex Community College in Lowell, for serving on the board of a health maintenance organization. Eldridge said he believes in a system of universal single-payer healthcare. "I'm someone that sees HMO's as part of the problem," Eldridge said. "Profits should not be a part of healthcare."

Tsongas countered that she favors a system of shared responsibility between employer and individual. She said she serves on the board of a nonprofit healthcare provider that's the fourth largest in the state.

GOP candidate Thomas P. Tierney, a consulting actuary and consumer activist of Framingham, also said he supports Medicare for all and reducing the eligibility age by one year every month starting in January 2008.

April Simpson can be reached at asimpson@globe.com