BEVERLY — As first-time candidates for public office, Jerry Parisella and Brett Schetzsle have no legislative record for voters to scrutinize.
Based on recent interviews and an examination of the candidates' campaign platforms, however, there are clear differences on the issues between Democrat Parisella and Republican Schetzsle in the race for state representative.
Schetzsle and Parisella, who are competing to succeed four-term Democratic incumbent Mary Grant in the Nov. 2 election, differ on one of the state's hottest issues, a ballot question that would reduce the state sales tax from 6.25 to 3 percent.
Schetzsle, a 33-year-old former marketing executive, said he sympathizes with voters who are seeking tax relief. But instead of cutting the sales tax to 3 percent, he prefers a cut to 5 percent in combination with reductions in personal income and business taxes.
"It's a much more effective way to spark economic growth," he said. "A cut in the sales tax will only impact the economy in a narrow number of sections. A lot of people realize that passing (Question 3) might be their only chance of getting some tax relief. They know the Legislature, left to its own devices, is not going to do it."
Schetzsle said he is undecided on how he will vote on Question 3 as a voter, but as a legislator he said he would honor however the people of Beverly vote on the question.
To make up for the lost tax revenue, Schetzsle said he would reduce spending on Medicaid and public welfare programs and eliminate tax breaks for certain industries that are getting "special deals."
If he's elected, Schetzsle said the first piece of legislation he would file calls for automatic reductions in legislative and leadership pay raises if the Legislature gives the governor the power to make emergency budget cuts rather than make the decisions themselves.
"Our No. 1 job (as legislators) is to pass the budget," Schetzsle said. "... The leadership pay cuts will be very unpopular (on Beacon Hill), but that's the type of stuff taxpayers look at and say makes sense when individuals and households are making sacrifices and taking pay cuts."
Parisella, a 47-year-old attorney, opposes cutting the state sales tax. If Question 3 passes, he said, the state would lose about $2.5 billion in revenue on top of a predicted $2 billion deficit.
"That would be a very difficult financial burden on the state and Beverly," he said. "There would be larger class sizes, cuts in public safety positions and teachers. I'd like to see it go back down to 5 percent eventually, but the question is 3 percent. We just can't afford that."
Parisella did say that he would honor the will of the voters if Question 3 does pass and follow through with the budget cuts.
"We'll have to figure out a way to live within the budget," he said. "I think it would be difficult."
Instead of tax cuts, Parisella said he would focus on raising revenue by supporting the licensing of three resort-style casinos in the state. He said Massachusetts residents spend $1.1 billion per year in casinos in Connecticut and Rhode Island.
"I'd like to keep that revenue here," he said.
Schetzsle said he is "generally in favor" of casinos but is concerned about how a possible casino at Suffolk Downs in Revere would affect transportation for North Shore residents heading into Boston.
The two candidates also disagree on whether Massachusetts should adopt national standards for testing public school students. Parisella said he supports the change as long as it does not lower the state's current standards.
Schetzsle said the state is leading the country in education achievement and should not cede control of its standards "to Washington bureaucrats and other states that have not made the same investment in education that we've made."
Both candidates agree that changes must be made to relieve the burden of employee health care benefits on cities and towns. Parisella said Beverly could save $1 million per year by allowing municipalities to renegotiate benefits or by moving municipal employees to the state plan.
But he said he does not yet know which is the best solution.
"We can't just ignore collective bargaining agreements (between cities and employee unions)," he said.
Schetzsle said he has consistently advocated for giving cities and towns the authority to "recalibrate benefits with the reality of the marketplace and to free up dollars for use in schools and on public safety and other critical needs."
Staff writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2675 or by e-mail at pleighton@salemnews.com.
Candidates to meet in debate, forum
Beverly state representative candidates Jerry Parisella and Brett Schetzsle are scheduled to participate in a debate sponsored by The Salem News tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at the Memorial Building, 502 Cabot St.
On Thursday, the Cove Improvement Society and the Beverly Citizen will co-host a town hall-style forum with the two candidates at 7 p.m.
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