In his own words: Dru Tarr, candidate for state representative

Andrew "Dru" Tarr of Gloucester is one of three candidates for state representative in the Fifth Essex District, which covers Gloucester, Rockport, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea. The Democrat won the seat in the March 31 special election. On the Nov. 3 ballot he faces Republican Christina Delisio of Manchester-by-the-Sea and Gil Frieden of Essex, running under the Transparency Inclusion Environment designation.

The Cape Ann Current sent all three candidates the same questionnaire with the same deadline, 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16. Tarr's responses appear below in quotation marks, as he wrote them. The Current reports each candidate's positions and does not endorse anything a candidate says. Gil Frieden's answers ran Oct. 6, and all three candidates appear side by side in our Fifth Essex voter guide. You can read the exact questions every candidate received.

Campaign website: votedrutarr.com

About the candidate, in his words

“For ten years — the past six months of which as your representative — I have worked on Beacon Hill and in our communities to make sure that Cape Ann has a seat at the table. As a lifelong Cape Ann resident, I'm running to continue that work to ensure that these communities remain great places to live.”

On the issues

Housing. Year-round housing on Cape Ann is scarce and expensive. What would you do at the State House to change that? Name one specific bill or policy.

“Housing affordability is one of the biggest challenges facing Cape Ann, and it's something we need to tackle together as a region. Our communities share many of the same challenges, and I believe regional cooperation can help us develop solutions that work for Cape Ann.

“While part of our housing challenge is supply, we cannot simply blindly build our way out of the crisis. Promoting various tiers of affordable housing should be our priority, whether they are dedicated developments or inclusionary units as part of a market-rate project. We also need to encourage starter homes, accessory dwelling units, and other housing options that help working families, young people, and seniors remain in our communities.

“Ultimately, we need to increase our housing supply while respecting what makes each of our communities unique.”

Working waterfront. Gloucester's fishing industry and the jobs tied to it are under pressure. What can a state representative do for fishermen and waterfront businesses?

“Gloucester's working waterfront is central to our economy and identity, and I believe we have an opportunity to make it an even stronger regional hub for the fishing industry. As fishing activity changes in other communities throughout New England, Cape Ann has the infrastructure that fishermen across the region depend on: marine railways, fuel facilities, welders, and other essential services.

“One issue is accessing capital to maintain and improve these facilities. We've established a fund for improvements to Designated Port Area properties, but it still needs funding. Capitalizing that fund is one of my priorities. I've discussed this directly with Governor Healey, including during her visit to Fisherman's Wharf.

“By investing in our piers, wharves, and maritime businesses, we can preserve existing jobs, attract additional activity, and ensure Cape Ann remains a working waterfront for generations to come.”

Coast and climate. All four towns face storm damage, flooding and erosion. How would you get state money for seawalls, culverts and roads, and which project would you push first?

“Our coastal communities are already experiencing the consequences of flooding, erosion, and increasingly severe storms. We need to make investments now rather than waiting until infrastructure fails.

“I will continue working directly with our municipalities to support priority projects and secure funding through the state's Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program, coastal resilience grants, and transportation infrastructure funding.

“The state is already partnering with Essex on a study of the town's bridges, an important step toward identifying infrastructure needs and long-term solutions. The work is being done through state budget earmarks, supported previously by Rep. Ferrante and Sen. Tarr last year, and by myself and Sen. Tarr this year.

“These projects are expensive, and our municipalities cannot reasonably be expected to shoulder the costs alone. I will continue to advocate for the state, as well as the federal government, to be reliable partners.”

Town budgets. Cape Ann towns are weighing tax overrides, school costs and state aid. What would you do about local aid and school funding?

“Our municipalities are facing tremendous financial pressures, and too much of that burden is being passed along to local property taxpayers. We need to make sure the state is doing its part.

“Especially with schools making up such a significant part of our municipal budgets, I've supported increases in Chapter 70 education funding, including raising minimum per-pupil aid to $160 this year. The school funding formula still needs work, particularly for communities experiencing declining enrollment and increasing costs. To that end, the Legislature passed a bill this year to revive the Foundation Budget Review Commission, which will review how we fund local educational aid.

“I will continue advocating for stronger Chapter 70 funding and Unrestricted General Government Aid, while examining reforms that better reflect the actual cost of providing municipal services and public education.”

Getting around. What is the one transportation fix Cape Ann needs most, and how would you get it done?

“Our communities are closely connected economically, but residents without reliable access to a car can have difficulty reaching jobs, medical appointments, and essential services.

“We are extremely fortunate to have CATA here on Cape Ann to assist with the transportation needs of our residents. We have bolstered that ability at the legislative level by continuing to use Fair Share funding to make regional transit authorities like CATA fare-free, apart from their On Demand service.

“One significant transportation issue I hear from folks around Cape Ann, particularly in downtown Gloucester now that Shaw’s is no longer there, is transportation to the grocery stores. CATA has service to Market Basket, the remaining Shaw’s, and Stop and Shop, but sometimes the time between buses is burdensome for travelers, particularly seniors. I will continue to work with local residents and CATA to support solutions that strengthen our regional transit.”

Your first bill. If you win, what is the first bill you will file or co-sponsor, and why?

“There are a number of bills that Rep. Ferrante supported that I look forward to continuing to support.

“Filed by Sen. Tarr, one would create a statewide fund for innovation schools like O’Maley to fund projects like Science Central, which is a fantastic program giving middle school students a hands-on approach to science. Another, originally filed by Rep. Ferrante and now led by Rep. Hannah Kane, would establish a secretary-level office for food in the Commonwealth, to prioritize growth in the industry and security for our food system.

“As for new bills, I will need to see what is filed in the new session, but I am very interested in expanding health care access in Massachusetts. I firmly believe that the pathway to doing that is through true universal health care and I look forward to working with my colleagues on bills that forward that goal.”

The nine ballot questions

Each candidate was asked for a position on every statewide question, with an optional one sentence reason.

Question 1, Public records for the Legislature and Governor: Yes.

Question 2, Union rights for public defender staff: Yes.

Question 3, One open primary, top two advance: No.

Question 4, Register to vote on Election Day: Yes.

Question 5, New cap on state tax revenue: No.

Question 6, Nature for All Fund: Undecided.

Question 7, Single-family homes on smaller lots: Yes.

Question 8, End retail recreational marijuana: No.

Question 9, Keep or repeal the 2024 gun law (Yes keeps the law, No repeals it): Undecided.

Want to know what each question would do? Our voter guide explains every one, with who is campaigning on each side. You can also read what all three candidates said in the League of Women Voters of Cape Ann interviews. The Current does not endorse candidates or ballot questions and does not accept political advertising.

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