State Sen: Regionalization Of Public Safety

As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the two candidates for State Senate five questions that focused on topics affecting Marblehead.

There has been talk at the local and state level of implementing greater regionalization of services. One possible area is regionalizing public safety. Do you support regionalizing public safety?

Sen. Thomas McGee (D)

With the economic challenges we face, it is important for communities to work together to find solutions. Communities should discuss ways in which they can come together to provide the public services we all depend on.

As co-chair of the bipartisan Northeast Legislative Caucus, along with Senator Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) and Representative Bob Fennell (D-Lynn), I have worked with my colleagues to address the important issues we face on the North Shore with a focus on transportation, economic development, and transportation.

We have had a number of successes, including infrastructure improvements on Route 128 and the development of a new regional technical high school in Danvers that will serve students from 18 communities, including Marblehead.

Through my service on the board of the North Shore Alliance, a group of business leaders, legislators, and local elected officials, I am working on a number of issues that require a regional approach.

While it is important to consider the individual needs of each community, options like the regionalization of certain public services merit consideration.

Christopher Dent (R)

The regionalization of public safety is an intriguing idea that I am open to. Regionalization is a concept that could potentially result in cost savings and improvements in service through the economy of scale.

On the fire protection side, the small size of many of the local fire departments results in de facto regionalization at present. Any move toward regionalization should be conducted in a way that does not politicize the appointment of public safety leaders, maintains or exceeds current service levels and results in cost savings for taxpayers.