Wong touts successes, looks ahead

SAUGUS – State Rep. Donald H. Wong, R-Saugus, said he?s proud of what he?s accomplished representing the Ninth Essex District during the past two years, but noted he has “unfinished business” to tend to, which he hopes to tackle during a second term.Wong formally announced is candidacy for re-election earlier this week at the Hammersmith Inn restaurant in Saugus. During a phone interview on Tuesday, Wong said lingering issues like Chapter 70 education funding and Chapter 90 transportation funding still need to be looked at, and pointed to increases in local aid to the district as one of his biggest accomplishments.?The governor took away $65 million in local aid last year across the state,” said Wong. “In June we found out we had a $200 million surplus ? We got both parties in the House and the Senate to agree to ask the governor for the $65 million back and he agreed in October.”The result of that increase saw Saugus and Wakefield receive more than $200,000 each in state aid with an additional $1.2 million for Lynn.Wong also said he was happy with the $2 million in state funding he helped steer to Saugus to repair old water mains along Route 1.?Working with both the House and Senate and the governor, we finally agreed that Route 1 is not just a Saugus issue, it?s a whole North Shore issue,” said Wong.The first term lawmaker said the state money combined with an $800,000 grant and $300,000 from Walmart, which is building a new store on Route 1, will finally replace the aging water mains.If re-elected, Wong said he wants to push a bill he?s been working on called Protect Mass. Children, a three-strikes law that would give pedophiles life in prison for a third conviction.?I would like to see that pass,” said Wong. “One time is bad enough. If you haven?t learned the first or second time, you?re not learning.”As gas prices continue to soar, Wong blamed speculators for the dramatic increases, and said he would be opposed to any additional gas tax, which he called unfeasible.?I don?t think gas prices should be going up right now,” said Wong. “Nothing has caused it to go up. They?re speculating because of Iran or other foreign countries something might happen.”Wong went on to say he would like to see residents in the Northeast get a break on oil because they have to deal with heating oil prices too.While Wong said he?s been able to work with both parties on certain issues, he pointed to one area in which he disagrees with Gov. Deval Patrick: illegal immigration.?He has proposed that illegals, or unregistered as he says, should have a right to higher education,” said Wong. “What I believe is we should take care of our own first on higher education before we talk about letting illegals have higher education. I?m a little selfish, I have three granddaughters and I don?t want them to have to compete against illegals.”When it comes to casino gambling in Massachusetts, Wong said he would leave it up to the residents to decide whether or not a casino should be built at Suffolk Downs in Revere.?I think it will help Massachusetts,” said Wong. “It will be a piece of the pie for the economy, but it won?t be the solution.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].