Blaisdell set to challenge Ehrlich in November

MARBLEHEAD – There were more candidates running in a special election to fill the unexpired term of former state representative Douglas Peterson than there will be on the ballot for the 8th Essex District seat in November.The 8th Essex District is comprised of Swampscott, Marblehead, and Ward 3 Precinct 4 and Ward 4 Precinct 4 in Lynn. The seat is currently held by State Rep. Lori Ehrlich (D-Marblehead), who was elected in a special election on March 4 to fill the remainder of Petersen’s term.There were five candidates jockeying for Petersen’s seat in the special election this year but only Republican John Blaisdell is running against Ehrlich this time around.Although neither campaign has held kickoff events, the debates between the two candidates have already started raging over casinos, slots at racetracks and new taxes.Blaisdell said he expects to kick his campaign into gear within the next couple of weeks and Chapter 70 funding for the schools would be a major issue in his campaign.Blaisdell said the state has to find a way to increase revenue without raising property taxes.”I think of all the money going to casinos in Connecticut,” he said. “I am in favor of casinos here for the purpose of raising revenue and creating jobs.”Blaisdell said he would also like to see slot machines at the racetracks.”The racing industry in Massachusetts is in serious decline,” he said. “There are a lot of good union jobs at the racetracks that we need to protect. These people have families. Slot machines at the racetracks would raise revenue for the state and help tracks save jobs.”Ehrlich said she voted against the casino plan because it did not address inadequacies in the state infrastructure.”I became very concerned because the issues we would face on Route 1A were not addressed in the casino plan. We need to address these issues before we run into severe traffic problems due to casino traffic. “Blaisdell also promised to vote against new taxes.”We need to find sources of revenue other than going to the taxpayer,” he said. “Ehrlich already voted to raise the cigarette tax and voted for a corporate tax package. I am afraid small neighborhood stores will suffer because people will drive over the border (to New Hampshire) to buy cigarettes and I have to wonder if more businesses will leave Massachusetts because of the tax package.”As for the $1 per pack cigarette tax, Ehrlich defended her vote and said it could help curb smoking.”It’s never popular to raise any tax,” she said. “But funding from this particular tax could potentially go toward health care. It could potentially be used to make sure people who previously didn’t have health care receive it. “Ehrlich, who has been a CPA for 22 years, is also an environmental activist and a founding member of HealthLink.Ehrlich won easily in all three communities in the March 4 special election. She received 3,469 votes, Blaisdell garnered 2,120 and Independent Mark Barry received 537 votes.Blaisdell, who is Vietnam Veteran and a retired Marblehead police officer, said he believes this election would be different.”I believe a lot of Democrats will not vote along party lines in November,” he said. “There is a presidential election and I think we’ll see a lot of people coming out to vote who did not vote in the special election.”