Representative Don Humason



PROMISES KEPT December 19, 2009 By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. My shopping list is almost finished. There is snow on the ground. Last Sunday I got to go Christmas caroling with some friends from my church at Western Massachusetts Hospital. Then on Monday the Westfield Evening News sponsored the annual caroling on the Green. I have to say: I am really in the Christmas spirit. At the risk of sounding a bit self-serving I wanted to use my column this week, so near to the end of the year, to report that I kept the promises I made to my constituents. I recognize that most people think politicians never keep the promises they make. I learned long ago that the best way to avoid breaking promises was not to make them in the first place. But if you did make a promise you were honor bound to keep it. Honor, character, and integrity are very important to me, in this job as Westfield’s State Representative and in my personal life. Let me take you back to the beginning of 2009. As you may have heard in the news media, Massachusetts legislators were granted an approximately $3,000 increase in our annual salary. This increase was established by a voter-approved Constitutional amendment. In January I wrote in my column about the issue of legislator pay raises: “Just so you know I will not accept the 5.5% Constitutional legislative base compensation adjustment (a.k.a. the Legislator’s pay raise) that Governor Deval Patrick certified on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 for this calendar year. “In light of the current economy, further budget cuts, and fiscal realities facing Massachusetts this year I cannot in good conscience personally accept an increase to my legislator salary. “Instead, throughout the year, I will donate the amount of the pay raise to 10 charities and groups in my district that benefit the people of Westfield. I would rather the money go to help the children, seniors, veterans, environment, and quality of life in Westfield than the state’s general fund. I want my constituents to know I fulfilled that promise. The local charities and groups that I donated the pay raise money to are: Westfield YMCA Greater Westfield Boys and Girls Club Marine Corps League Cancer House of Hope Westfield River Watershed Association Westfield Council on Aging Stanley Park Westfield Arts on the Green Noble Hospital Amelia Park Children’s Museum Westfield Athenaeum Carson Center/Kamp for Kids Westfield on Weekends Furthermore, because of my part as a member of the Dan Kane Singers I was able to designate that $1,000 of the proceeds from our Christmas Concert goes to the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. In total the Dan Kane Singers donated $2,000 to the Soldiers’ Home and another $10,000 to other local charities. I have already volunteered to take a five day unpaid furlough for next year. Yay. I maintain my District Office for the convenience of my constituents at 64 Noble Street, as promised. I produce a bi-monthly cable show called “From the State House to Your House” on the Westfield Community Programming Channel 15 (My guest included Judge Velis and Justice Greaney, Senator Mike Knapik, Holyoke State Representative Mike Kane, Bob McKean from Stanley Park, Jim Wiggs from Westfield Emergency Management, and Melissa Trzasko from the US Census). I write this column weekly as another way of keeping my constituents informed about what I am doing in Westfield and on Beacon Hill, as I promised I would. I completed another Legislative year with a perfect roll call record. I spent 96 days in 2009 at the State House in Boston. Despite that, I still endeavored to be present for as many events and activities in my district as humanly possible, again, as promised. My goal from the beginning of my tenure has been to be available, accessible, approachable, and accountable. As promised, I offer internships to Westfield residents (I want to say thank you to my 2009 interns Amanda Lemon, Marcus Rodriguez, Wanda Szafranski, Pat Healy, Shawn Burke, and Kimmi Smith, and, of course, to my Chief of Staff Sarah Latour). As an additional way of saying “Thank You” to the people of Westfield for giving me the privilege of representing my city in the House of Representatives I am again sponsoring a FREE ice skating party for the families of Westfield this Saturday, December 19, at 7 PM at Amelia Park Ice Arena. I will provide free refreshments. Bring your skates and one non-perishable canned item that will be donated to the Westfield Food Pantry. I can promise you that next year I will work just as hard for Westfield as I did this year. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, and all the blessings of this holiday season to you and your family! *** Representative Don Humason and his Chief of Staff Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us Website: www.donhumason.org
This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group

PROMISES KEPT

December 19, 2009
By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

My shopping list is almost finished. There is snow on the ground. Last Sunday I got to go Christmas caroling with some friends from my church at Western Massachusetts Hospital. Then on Monday the Westfield Evening News sponsored the annual caroling on the Green. I have to say: I am really in the Christmas spirit.

At the risk of sounding a bit self-serving I wanted to use my column this week, so near to the end of the year, to report that I kept the promises I made to my constituents.

I recognize that most people think politicians never keep the promises they make. I learned long ago that the best way to avoid breaking promises was not to make them in the first place. But if you did make a promise you were honor bound to keep it. Honor, character, and integrity are very important to me, in this job as Westfield’s State Representative and in my personal life.

Let me take you back to the beginning of 2009. As you may have heard in the news media, Massachusetts legislators were granted an approximately $3,000 increase in our annual salary. This increase was established by a voter-approved Constitutional amendment.

In January I wrote in my column about the issue of legislator pay raises:

“Just so you know I will not accept the 5.5% Constitutional legislative base compensation adjustment (a.k.a. the Legislator’s pay raise) that Governor Deval Patrick certified on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 for this calendar year.

“In light of the current economy, further budget cuts, and fiscal realities facing Massachusetts this year I cannot in good conscience personally accept an increase to my legislator salary.

“Instead, throughout the year, I will donate the amount of the pay raise to 10 charities and groups in my district that benefit the people of Westfield. I would rather the money go to help the children, seniors, veterans, environment, and quality of life in Westfield than the state’s general fund.

I want my constituents to know I fulfilled that promise. The local charities and groups that I donated the pay raise money to are:

Westfield YMCA
Greater Westfield Boys and Girls Club
Marine Corps League
Cancer House of Hope
Westfield River Watershed Association
Westfield Council on Aging
Stanley Park
Westfield Arts on the Green
Noble Hospital
Amelia Park Children’s Museum
Westfield Athenaeum
Carson Center/Kamp for Kids
Westfield on Weekends

Furthermore, because of my part as a member of the Dan Kane Singers I was able to designate that $1,000 of the proceeds from our Christmas Concert goes to the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. In total the Dan Kane Singers donated $2,000 to the Soldiers’ Home and another $10,000 to other local charities.

I have already volunteered to take a five day unpaid furlough for next year. Yay.

I maintain my District Office for the convenience of my constituents at 64 Noble Street, as promised. I produce a bi-monthly cable show called “From the State House to Your House” on the Westfield Community Programming Channel 15 (My guest included Judge Velis and Justice Greaney, Senator Mike Knapik, Holyoke State Representative Mike Kane, Bob McKean from Stanley Park, Jim Wiggs from Westfield Emergency Management, and Melissa Trzasko from the US Census).

I write this column weekly as another way of keeping my constituents informed about what I am doing in Westfield and on Beacon Hill, as I promised I would.

I completed another Legislative year with a perfect roll call record. I spent 96 days in 2009 at the State House in Boston. Despite that, I still endeavored to be present for as many events and activities in my district as humanly possible, again, as promised. My goal from the beginning of my tenure has been to be available, accessible, approachable, and accountable.

As promised, I offer internships to Westfield residents (I want to say thank you to my 2009 interns Amanda Lemon, Marcus Rodriguez, Wanda Szafranski, Pat Healy, Shawn Burke, and Kimmi Smith, and, of course, to my Chief of Staff Sarah Latour).

As an additional way of saying “Thank You” to the people of Westfield for giving me the privilege of representing my city in the House of Representatives I am again sponsoring a FREE ice skating party for the families of Westfield this Saturday, December 19, at 7 PM at Amelia Park Ice Arena. I will provide free refreshments. Bring your skates and one non-perishable canned item that will be donated to the Westfield Food Pantry.

I can promise you that next year I will work just as hard for Westfield as I did this year.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, and all the blessings of this holiday season to you and your family!

***

Representative Don Humason and his Chief of Staff Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us Website: www.donhumason.org

This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group