BEVERLY — In what the moderator described as a "conversation among friends," the two Democratic candidates for Beverly state representative agreed on virtually every issue in a forum last night at the library.
Scott Houseman and Jerry Parisella even painted similar personal stories, touting their working-class upbringings and long records of community service as the reason voters should choose them in Tuesday's primary election.
"It's been a very cordial race," Parisella said in his opening remarks. "We've both been very respectful of each other."
Houseman and Parisella, who are both lawyers, are running for the seat being vacated by incumbent Mary Grant, who decided not to run for re-election after eight years in office. The winner of Tuesday's primary will face Republican Brett Schetzsle in the Nov. 2 general election.
About 70 people filled a downstairs room at the Beverly Public Library to watch the debate, which was hosted by the Beverly Democratic City Committee and moderated by committee member Rinus Oosthoek.
Parisella, 47, talked about his "humble beginnings" as one of five children raised in Beverly by his mother, who worked at Sears after the children grew up, and his father, a construction worker.
Parisella worked as a laborer before putting himself through college and law school, he said. He joined the U.S. Army Reserve at age 30 and has served in Bosnia, El Salvador and Germany.
Houseman, 55, grew up in Michigan as the son of a schoolteacher and a bricklayer. He has lived in Beverly for 25 years and is a partner in a Salem law firm with his wife, Debbie DelVecchio.
The only disagreements over the issues were slight. Both candidates said they oppose a ballot question that would roll back the state sales tax from 6.25 percent to 3 percent.
If the measure does pass, Parisella said he would support the will of the voters, while Houseman said he would make that decision based on whether there was "sufficient public education" about the consequences of the rollback on the state budget.
"It's important to honor the will of the people," Houseman said. "But part of leadership is educating the public."
Both candidates stressed the importance of reducing the cost of health insurance for businesses and for cities and towns. Houseman said he supports "plan design," which gives cities and towns the option of moving their public employees into the less costly state insurance plan.
Parisella was not as specific, saying, "We have to do something. It's just what version are we going to pass?"
Both candidates support allowing three resort casinos in Massachusetts while opposing slot machines at racetracks. They also support charter schools, although both said Beverly does not need one because it provides a good public education.
Parisella said the state could become more attractive to businesses by streamlining the permitting process. He pointed to the former Fort Devens, which is now run by a redevelopment authority and permits new businesses more quickly.
"That place is booming," he said. "It's a model for the rest of the state."
Houseman and Parisella also agreed that the state should adopt national education standards, as long as it does not sacrifice its standing as one of the highest-performing states.
Houseman said the standards are needed so that Massachusetts can more accurately measure itself against other states.
"It makes sense to do that on the condition that the standards are no less stringent than MCAS," he said.
Staff writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2675 or pleighton@salemnews.com.
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