Democrat Hannah Bowen and Republican Medley Long are the two candidates on the ballot to represent the 6th Essex District.
BEVERLY, MA — The two candidates on the ballot to represent Beverly and Wenham in the special election for state representative shared contrasting views on the role of state government when it comes to businesses, housing and services during a Greater Beverly Chamber of Commerce forum ahead of the May 13 vote.
Republican Medley Long said his priorities on Beacon Hill would include lowering the tax, utility and regulation burden on small businesses, as well as advocating for more affordable housing, while Democrat Hannah Bowen talked about the role of government in using tax revenue to provide necessary services while promoting sustainability and other initiatives that benefit the collective of residents.
“We are losing so many businesses in Massachusetts right now,” said Long, a small business owner who is also the president of Beverly Homecoming and former Director of the Chamber of Commerce, “where they would rather go 20 miles north to New Hampshire where they don’t have the tax burden that small businesses are facing right now in Massachusetts….