Gallo: Wrong time to ask for increase

LYNN – The topsides of his shoes are polished to a shine, but the hole worn through a sole gives an indication of how much state representative candidate Charlie Gallo is working. And walking.”We’ve been knocking on a lot of doors,” he said, pushing his finger through the heel of his shoe. “I’ve gone through a couple of pairs so far.”Gallo, who is in his second term on the School Committee, is seeking to fill the 11th Essex district seat left vacant in March by Steven Walsh. He said his primary focus is jobs and education, but it is not supporting the home rule petition that would grant the mayor and the City Council salary increases. A proposal to increase the mayor’s salary from $82,500 to $145,000 and give councilors a raise must be approved by the Legislature. When the legislative session ended last Friday, the petition had not been approved. Gallo said, given the chance, he would vote against the measure.Gallo, 31, said he and challenger Brendan Crighton are good friends and only six weeks apart in age, but they differ on several areas, including the pay raise.”This year they cut, by 2 to 4 percent, every city budget,” he said. “I think it’s the wrong time to ask for an increase.”The right time would be if the schools were fully funded and department budgets restored, he said. When asked if he was worried about standing apart as a freshman legislator by voting no, he said, “I’m a grassroots guy. I answer to the people.”A lifelong Lynner and the first in his family to go to college, Gallo said he understands first-hand the importance of education. He worked his way through his undergraduate years, went to law school nights and now works full-time representing senior citizens and retirees.”I’m the only candidate with experience working with seniors,” he said.Gallo said he believes the city needs more training programs and that, in turn, would attract businesses to the city. He supports casinos in the state and said if one comes to Revere there should be training opportunities, such as in the hospitality industry, to prepare people for the jobs that will come with them.He is also a supporter of the bill that will increase minimum wage to $11 but said, “I think it should be indexed to inflation.” He believes it should be up to municipalities to increase or decrease its number of liquor licenses and that those charged with domestic violence should not be given the courtesy of having their crimes withheld from public police logs, which is what a new bill would allow.He is also not against a little government intervention when need be. In terms of the Market Basket saga, Gallo said he wasn’t bothered by the fact that Attorney General Martha Coakley stepped in to warn the feuding company that it better do right by its employees because she is watching.”It’s her job to protect and advocate for people in the commonwealth,” he said. “I think sometimes the government should get involved.”Gallo said, if elected, he would also work to find state resources to fund community policing efforts.”It really broke my heart to see the city cut the CLT program, the bike cops,” he said.The hallmark of his career has been the fact that “I’m a constituent services guy,” Gallo said, and he doesn’t plan to change that.He said he was the first School Committee member to make his email public, he will always return a phone call, he not only seeks to comment on city issues but he looks for comment from residents as well.”I got to every school during the school day to see what’s going on, and I go to a number of community meetings,” he said. “I’m responsive.”Gallo and his fellow contenders face a particular challenge in that since they are all Democrats, their race will be decided by the primary, which is Sept. 9. That means they need to capture the public’s attention while it’s on summer vacation.”We’re engaging the public, taking it to the streets,” Gallo said, adding that, if elected, he will run his office with the same work ethic that he’s run his c