Representative Don Humason



TOP 10 OF 2007 By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. December 29, 2007 The annual “Top 10” list. It’s become an annual exercise as the waning days of the old year drop off the calendar and the new year waits, tensely coiled like a new spring, to jump at us before the last sounds of the noise makers fade and the final bits of confetti hit the ground. Everybody’s doing it. I’ve heard people in the news media talking about their Top 10 news stories of the year. The entertainment industry has dozens of Top 10 lists: Best dressed, fashion disasters, biggest comebacks, best movies, greatest songs, and most memorable lines (my favorite is “Don’t taze me, bro!”). Here is my Top 10 List of events of 2007 that pertain to my district of Westfield and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 10. 2007 was a great year for Massachusetts sports teams. The Boston Red Sox won the World Series, again. The New England Patriots had a historic perfect season. Even some of our Westfield sports teams had a great year. 9. Deval Patrick’s first year as the “together we can” governor. The first democrat governor in Massachusetts since 1991 had a rocky start to his term when he bought new curtains and furniture for his office, hired a public-funded social secretary for his lawyer wife, and upgraded his vehicle to a Cadillac. Since then he’s butted heads with the legislature, especially House Speaker Sal DiMasi, more frequently than anyone could have predicted. 8. An early winter hit the Bay State, driving up oil and natural gas prices. There was more snow in December of 2007 than all of last winter. And we’re not through yet. It’s tough on snow removal budgets, as well as winter heating costs. 7. On January 2, 2007, the House and Senate met in a Constitutional Convention and voted on the question of whether to advance the citizens' initiative amendment to the state constitution defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. 50 members out of the 200 in the Convention needed to vote in the affirmative to move the question forward to the next session. The final vote was 62 yeas to 134 neas. Later in the year, we met again. This time the measure failed to gain the required 50 votes, effectively killing the question. 6. Presidential politics began in earnest in 2007, earlier than ever before, even though the election would not take place for many months. Being a neighbor to New Hampshire, with the nation’s earliest primary elections, Massachusetts was treated to an endless parade of democrat and republican political candidates and a constant barrage of news stories and ads. I work in politics and enjoy it as both a hobby and a job; even I’m getting tired of hearing about the presidential election! 5. For the second year in a row, a Westfield tree donated by a local family graced the front lawn of the State House as the Commonwealth’s official Christmas tree. 4. 2007 marked my fifth year as Westfield’s State Representative, and I earned another 100% voting record for the session by not missing a single one of the 243 roll call votes held in the House of Representatives. 3. The A-10’s left Barnes and the F-15’s began to arrive in 2007 as the 104th Fighter Wing, in accordance with the BRAC recommendations worked to change its mission from one of close ground support to air superiority and national defense. I’ll miss the warthogs, but I welcome the Eagles and the new mission at Barnes. 2. Westfield elected a new mayor for the first time in 14 years. Rick Sullivan left after he was appointed by Governor Patrick to head the Mass Department of Conservation and Recreation. In November the city elected Mike Boulanger as its new mayor. 1. Construction on the new bridge over the Westfield River finally began in 2007. Can you think of other big stories for 2007? Let me know what you think by dropping me a letter or emailing me. May you all have a safe, happy, and prosperous New Year 2008! Representative Don Humason and his new aide Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Their Boston address is State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us
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TOP 10 OF 2007

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

December 29, 2007

The annual “Top 10” list. It’s become an annual exercise as the waning days of the old year drop off the calendar and the new year waits, tensely coiled like a new spring, to jump at us before the last sounds of the noise makers fade and the final bits of confetti hit the ground.

Everybody’s doing it. I’ve heard people in the news media talking about their Top 10 news stories of the year. The entertainment industry has dozens of Top 10 lists: Best dressed, fashion disasters, biggest comebacks, best movies, greatest songs, and most memorable lines (my favorite is “Don’t taze me, bro!”).

Here is my Top 10 List of events of 2007 that pertain to my district of Westfield and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

10. 2007 was a great year for Massachusetts sports teams. The Boston Red Sox won the World Series, again. The New England Patriots had a historic perfect season. Even some of our Westfield sports teams had a great year.

9. Deval Patrick’s first year as the “together we can” governor. The first democrat governor in Massachusetts since 1991 had a rocky start to his term when he bought new curtains and furniture for his office, hired a public-funded social secretary for his lawyer wife, and upgraded his vehicle to a Cadillac. Since then he’s butted heads with the legislature, especially House Speaker Sal DiMasi, more frequently than anyone could have predicted.

8. An early winter hit the Bay State, driving up oil and natural gas prices. There was more snow in December of 2007 than all of last winter. And we’re not through yet. It’s tough on snow removal budgets, as well as winter heating costs.

7.         On January 2, 2007, the House and Senate met in a Constitutional Convention and voted on the question of whether to advance the citizens' initiative amendment to the state constitution defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. 50 members out of the 200 in the Convention needed to vote in the affirmative to move the question forward to the next session. The final vote was 62 yeas to 134 neas. Later in the year, we met again. This time the measure failed to gain the required 50 votes, effectively killing the question.
6.         Presidential politics began in earnest in 2007, earlier than ever before, even though the election would not take place for many months. Being a neighbor to New Hampshire, with the nation’s earliest primary elections, Massachusetts was treated to an endless parade of democrat and republican political candidates and a constant barrage of news stories and ads. I work in politics and enjoy it as both a hobby and a job; even I’m getting tired of hearing about the presidential election!
5.         For the second year in a row, a Westfield tree donated by a local family graced the front lawn of the State House as the Commonwealth’s official Christmas tree.
4.         2007 marked my fifth year as Westfield’s State Representative, and I earned another 100% voting record for the session by not missing a single one of the 243 roll call votes held in the House of Representatives.
3.         The A-10’s left Barnes and the F-15’s began to arrive in 2007 as the 104th Fighter Wing, in accordance with the BRAC recommendations worked to change its mission from one of close ground support to air superiority and national defense. I’ll miss the warthogs, but I welcome the Eagles and the new mission at Barnes.
2.         Westfield elected a new mayor for the first time in 14 years. Rick Sullivan left after he was appointed by Governor Patrick to head the Mass Department of Conservation and Recreation. In November the city elected Mike Boulanger as its new mayor.
1.         Construction on the new bridge over the Westfield River finally began in 2007.
Can you think of other big stories for 2007? Let me know what you think by dropping me a letter or emailing me. May you all have a safe, happy, and prosperous New Year 2008!

Representative Don Humason and his new aide Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Their Boston address is State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us

This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group