Three battling for Middlesex House seat

The ballot question to repeal the state income tax and who could best reduce partisanship on Beacon Hill are among the issues drawing differences as a wide open race for state representative in the 31st Middlesex District heads into its final days.

Democrat Jason Lewis, Republican Brian P. O'Connor, and independent Chad Riley, all of Winchester, are vying in the Nov. 4 election to succeed retiring 10-term Democrat Paul C. Casey of Winchester. The district includes Winchester and all but one Stoneham precinct.

In interviews, Lewis and Riley spoke in opposition to the proposed income tax repeal, ballot Question 1, while O'Connor said he favors the measure.

"I understand a lot of people are feeling financially insecure, and people understandably want to see their government as efficient and fiscally responsible as possible," said Lewis, a Winchester finance committee member. But he said repealing the income tax is "irresponsible and very risky," warning that it could cause deep service cuts and increases in property and sales taxes.

Riley said he "totally understands the sentiment that we need to send a message to Beacon Hill, and why people would vote for it," noting the frequent headlines about waste and fraud in state government. But he said abolishing the income tax would "wreak havoc." And, like Lewis, he believes it could result in higher sales and property taxes.

O'Connor, a Winchester selectman, said he supports the ballot question.

"What we have right now is not working," he said. "There are a lot of abuses in the system and people are frustrated by it." He anticipates that if the question passes, the Legislature will prevent it from taking effect. But if not, he said he would work to find solutions to the revenue loss, "and I think there are solutions."

Meanwhile, Riley, highlighting his unenrolled status, said, "I'm the only candidate in this race not beholden to the partisanship that has paralyzed Beacon Hill." He also noted his policy of refusing all donations from political action committees and lobbyists.

Responded Lewis, "I'm running to represent the towns of Stoneham and Winchester, and the only interests I'm going to be representing and beholden to are the people who live in these two communities."

O'Connor said that as a selectman, "I vote the issue," not based on any party consideration. He said he would do the same as a legislator. As an example, he said he supported the casino plan offered by the state's Democratic governor, Deval Patrick.

With no incumbent in the mix and three active candidates, the race has no clear front-runner. All three contenders have their strong backers.

Stoneham School Committee chairwoman Marie Christie, a Democrat, supports Lewis.

"He has been strongly committed to education from the time he announced his candidacy," she said, "and being a member of the school committee, that is extremely important to me." She said Lewis is also committed to local aid, "and that is crucial, especially in this financial crisis."

Winchester Selectman Jim Johnson, a Republican, backs O'Connor.

"It's an asset to have someone who has experience in municipal government and is willing to take that knowledge and apply it at the state level," Johnson said, calling O'Connor such a candidate. He also praised him as "sincere" and "fair and deliberate" in his decision-making.

Former veteran Stoneham selectman Cosmo M. Ciccarello, a Democrat, is in Riley's corner.

"He seems to me in the same category as Paul Casey, someone who is going to go up there and try to fight as much as he can for the district," Ciccarello said. "He seems more moderate, more my way of thinking on different issues."

O'Connor, 63, is chief operations officer for a software firm and a former sales and marketing executive for Polaroid Corp. He said he wants to bring his business talents to bear on the state's economic and fiscal troubles.

"You need someone who knows how to balance a budget. I have that experience," said O'Connor. As a legislator, he said he would work to "bring some credibility and stability to Beacon Hill. I think people have lost confidence." He said his budget priorities would be "making sure education is properly funded that elderly people are able to keep their homes."

Lewis, 40, is a former senior executive with two Boston-area software companies. He defeated Stoneham Town Moderator Michael J. Rotondi in the primary.

"What I bring is the combination of experience - helping to build two successful businesses and to create jobs - with a strong commitment to community service," he said, calling a business background "more important than ever in these uncertain economic times."

His top priorities would be seeking to secure more local aid for the district, strengthening local schools, and "working to grow our economy both locally" and across the state.

Riley, 38, is a former Essex assistant district attorney who now has a law practice with his father, Charles H. Riley Jr.

"The job of state representative is to make the best case she or he can on behalf of the district," he said, noting that his experience as a lawyer has prepared him for that role.

As a legislator, he would work to maintain state funding levels for the district.

"In these times of fiscal crisis, the last thing we can afford is a cut in local aid and Chapter 70 educational funding," he said.

Contact John Laidler at jlaidler@comcast.net.