Although the election isn’t until next November a Hull Democrat, who has already announced he is running against Republican State Senator Bob Hedlund of Weymouth, is criticizing one of Hedlund’s votes, while the incumbent, who was re-elected in November says he cast the vote to protect local aid.
Democratic candidate Steve May says Hedlund’s vote on a lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender anti-bullying initiative is shameful.
“It’s a budget vote on a $100,000 expenditure to start up the state’s LGBT anti-bullying effort,” said May.
Hedlund, when reached by phone Tuesday afternoon, responded:
“Who’s Steve May?”
Hedlund says that the account that May cites is already sufficiently funded, which is why he voted no.
“It was a politically correct statement that no one obviously voted against, and the bullying prevention programming in the schools is sufficiently funded now, and any additional amendments that are added to the bottom line of the state budget will come back to cut into local aid,” said Hedlund.
“I took a disciplined approach to protecting local aid.”
May criticizes Hedlund for being the only no vote.
“I think it’s really disappointing,” said May. “Budgets are moral documents–they are about our values and aspirations and I think this just shows just one more time, that Bob Hedlund is completely out of touch and out of step with people on the South Shore.”
May say he would have not only voted for it, but would have co-sponsored the amendment.
There is also reportedly a third candidate, Tim Schaeffer, who is considering a run as well.
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