PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Republican Christine Canning-Wilson says her campaign platform centers on the economy and reduction of state taxes.

 

The Lanesborough businesswoman is running for state Senate against Democratic nominee Adam Hinds. The seat is open after Sen. Benjamin Downing opted not to run for re-election. Canning-Wilson had no opponent in the primary while Hinds had a tough three-way race. Now, Canning-Wilson and Hinds will face each other in the general election this November.

 

Canning-Wilson says her campaign is focused on the economy, education, and taxes and fraud. The majority of her platforms listed on her website center on reducing taxes across all levels of income earners, which she says will help spur jobs.

 

"A lot of businesses aren't attracted here because we have a three-tier tax system. If you have a corporation, what happens is feds will take their tax money out of the corps, Massachusetts has its own layer of embedded taxes so you are paying that. Plus paying FICA and everything else. Financially it isn't profitable for a business," Canning-Wilson said.

 

Her platform includes eliminating nearly all corporate taxes, reducing or eliminating the income tax, reducing the estate taxes, and eliminating taxes on hotels, alcohol and tobacco. Should all of those be closed, the state's budget would be close to halved, she said.

 

"I believe it could be achievable. Do I think it is possible? I don't think they are going to work with me right away. But do I think I can get some of those through? Yes. I think you have to work step by step and phase by phase. Nothing happens overnight but if I can get in there and start to be a little more fiscally fit and spend the taxpayers' money as if it were my own, then I did a good job," Canning-Wilson said. 

 

She says Massachusetts has the eighth highest income tax, which she finds unacceptable. Meanwhile, New York State will offer companies 10 years of tax-free operations.

 

"Why would someone come here when they can go to the Albany area and get a better tax break and make a better profit? The next thing I'd like to see is that we really have to look at fixing our infrastructure," Canning-Wilson said.

 

With lower taxes, she believes more businesses will move to Massachusetts. She particularly sees a potential growth area if voters pass recreational marijuana on the ballot in November. Canning-Wilson said hemp and marijuana industry provides jobs for multiple skill levels and growth in that sector will help offset the other reductions in taxes. Another sector she is looking at helping is farmers. 

 

"They don't have a simple slaughterhouse anywhere in the Berkshires. They have to go 60 miles and I think it something we really have to put on the table, working with animal rights activists, work with the farmers, and find what is in the best interest for the animal. With the amount of Muslims coming in, they are going to want their food halal. I worked in the Middle East, it is the least painful way you kill an animal," Canning-Wilson said. 

 

Meanwhile, she said she'd be revisiting the bypass, a project that expanded the Massachusetts Turnpike through Berkshire County. She said funding that project will help attract businesses which need to transport products.

 

When asked how the candidate would achieve both investing in infrastructure while at the same time cutting the state' revenue sources, Canning-Wilson said she would work toward reallocating spending priorities and cutting down on fraud.

 

"I think really holding accountable where the state is getting the money and where it is going, really right auditing and oversight is needed. Secondly, I think we can apply for a lot more grants than we do. I think we can also look at more federal funding for projects that will pay for these," Canning-Wilson said. "I look at Chapter 90 and I look at something and I see waste. If you go through, you can see what was bought; $32,000 on a statue. That's $32,000 that can go toward filling potholes."

 

She particularly cited examples of people "working the system" to take advantage of Section 8 vouchers or selling off assistance benefits for drugs. She feels deceitful practices throughout various state programs could be stopped, allowing for the state to reduce its expense on programs.

 

"People shouldn't be working two or three jobs and not making it, not getting vacations, while other people do nothing and take everything," Canning-Wilson said. "I believe in a hand up and during a hard time, a handout. But not all day in a hammock. I just have an issue with that. When I see people who cannot afford a vacation, who have saved up to give something to their families, and the state takes the money. They need to be able to give something to their families. New Hampshire thrives, they don't have a state income. There are things we can do."

 

She added, "I think fraud is wide, widespread in this state. I think there is more and more of it."

 

She also says she would like to dig into the budget and reallocate spending. Such an example, she said, is a $5.6 million allocation for family planning programs. That fund, which Gov. Charlie Baker attempted to cut by $600,000 but was overridden by the Legislature, provides comprehensive family planning services including reproductive health, counseling, education, testing and discussions of sexually transmitted diseases and access to free contraceptives. Some of the organizations providing those services also perform abortions. MassHealth insurance will also pay some of the cost for such a procedure for policyholders.

 

Canning-Wilson also says she would end "state-funded abortions."

 

"I'm not against abortion. I am for a woman's right. I am not pro second or third semester. However, $5.6 million last year was given to tax-funded abortions. They asked for a $600,000 cut from that to put other places and it was voted down. I don't feel for that particular things except for rare cases that we are spending $5.6 million of our tax dollars a year. That money can go toward infrastructure," Canning-Wilson said.

 

"I'm for women's health, always have been. If it was one time, I can understand it. There are things that do happen. But, there are people this is repeated."

 

(Her remarks refer to the Family Health Services budget, which also covers birth control, education, counseling and HIV testing for low-income individuals. This year's budget is up slightly.)

 

She said she would also change procurement laws to become more transparent, which she says will lower the costs because all aspects of the bid would be required to be public.

 

"I want a transparency board with the winning bid, how much their expenditures were for, what they listed, has to go public. So anyone can click on it and read that bid," Canning-Wilson said.

 

She'd like to eliminate the room occupancy taxes on hotel stays as well to help fill the hotels, instead of operating with vacancies. She feels that surcharge keeps people from visiting. (A number of communities have enacted a local taxes as well; Lenox brings in some $2 million, mostly from lodging and meals.)

 

"It kind of gives people the idea that our hotel prices are higher and they may choose other areas. I'd like to see us at full occupancy," Canning-Wilson said.

 

She'd like to have a go-card system, which would give visitors discounts on visiting a number of attractions, which she feels will increase tourism. And she wants to rebrand the Berkshires.

 

"I really want to remarket ourselves. We have a crime problem. When I read MS-13 was here, that is a huge issue," Canning-Wilson said.

 

With the arrest of a Boston-area man who was linked the MS-13 gang and running from an indictment, being found in Pittsfield, Canning-Wilson says she fears there are a lot more from that international gang here. She is calling for the federal government to open a Drug Enforcement Agency office.

 

"I really want to work with the federal government, they are the ones with the deep pockets, to see a DEA office. Every day our Police go out, and I feel sorry that their families really don't know if they are coming home with the amount of shootings and stabbings. I want that law and order, safety and security," Canning-Wilson said.

 

And she wants judges investigated. She says often the local judges are handing out very limited punishments which aren't equal to the severity of the crime. She wants the federal government to step in and find out why judges here are letting some people off with lesser sentences than others.

 

With education, she wants to work with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to get schools to use professional development money to get all teachers special-education certified. She also wants to improve school security and start sending more money to those in poorer cities and towns.

 

"I'd like to see more equity in the public schools," Canning-Wilson said.

 

She wants to eliminate extra taxes on alcohol and tobacco to entice residents to buy in-state rather than make purchases over the border.

 

"The problem is Massachusetts is losing money by doing it. A lot of people buy from the Indians in New York State or go to Nashua, N.H., and buy your cigarettes a lot cheaper and then drive them home. What a lot of people are doing is, they are bootlegging them. They are selling them cheaper and making a profit we are losing the tax money anyway," Canning-Wilson said. "I'd like to see a way where we are getting our tax but we haven't outpriced ourselves so much that it is worth driving to New Hampshire."

 

And she believes all of this is achievable, despite being one of just a few Republicans in the Legislature. 

 

"The first thing you do is be nice to everybody and don't burn bridges. But you stand up when you need to stand up. You have to have that rich and deep discussion. Secondly, because I am Republican, I can serve on as many committees as I need to serve on," Canning-Wilson said.

 

"Everything I suggested is what can be done. If we do do it, there are other ways to bring money in. So let's say we make these reductions in taxes. Businesses will be attracted here."

 

While she is a Republican, she has adopted what many see as Democratic ideals, such as single-payer health insurance and a progressive income tax. She also would like to expand renewable energy and promote more solar.

 

"I would like to see it lower in certain brackets. I think if you are making less than $125,000 a year, then you should be cut some slack. If you are making over $125,000 then progressive [taxes] is alright because you are really not going to be missing it that much," Canning-Wilson said.

 

Meanwhile, she is a strong gun advocate and would like to loosen restrictions on gun ownership, such as a provision disallowing felons from getting gun licenses.

 

In explaining those conflicting viewpoints, Canning-Wilson says, "My father is a very left-wing Democrat. My mother is a right-wing Republican. Maybe I am the byproduct. My sister is a Libertarian. My brother is an independent. When I was going to college, I filled out the paperwork and I think my mother, despite my father, checked Republican and turned it in. So I've always been a Republican but I don't always agree with the party. I am about people. I will put a human being first."