ERVING — “One of the things I love about all of us — I’m going to just say I know this is true for everybody in this room — is that we have always believed we can overcome any challenge if we put our mind to it and work for it,” said Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jay Gonzalez.
He came to Erving, he said, because he wants to be governor of the entire state of Massachusetts, not just Boston.
“I am demonstrating the way I would govern – the whole state of Massachusetts,” Gonzalez said on Sunday during a campaign stop to a crowd of about 25 in the French King Restaurant. “I want to understand the challenges of every part of the state and engage with people, talk and listen to them.”
After speaking, Gonzalez answered questions from attendees.
Gonzalez, a Needham resident, spoke about the challenges his parents faced — his mother, a college dropout and his father, a Spanish immigrant who didn’t know English, raising three sons and working toward their goals.
“They were just little guys who believed and because of their example, I believe too. So I set my sights high and with the help of hard work and lots and lots of wonderful people I’ve done okay,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez was a CEO of a health insurance company as well as a cabinet secretary for ex-Gov. Deval Patrick. In June, Gonzalez received the endorsement of the Democratic Party.
He said his goal is to help “little guys,” whom he claims Gov. Charlie Baker has neglected.
“We have always believed in the little guy. We’ve always fought for the little guy, we’ve always understood that the little guy is us,” Gonzalez said. “But not Charlie Baker. He’s done nothing to help the little guy get ahead and as a result we’re all falling behind.”
One of Gonzalez’s campaign promises is to provide people with access to high quality affordable childcare and preschool by the end of his first term as well as a single-payer health care system that is cheaper.
Following his speech, Gonzalez heard from several people in the audience.
Athol resident Mare Hawthorne asked about where Gonzalez stood on LGBT+ issues.
“I have a transgender daughter who has mental heath issues so we have kind of a double whammy, I need to know that she will be represented,” Hawthorne said. “There is a transgender bill out there that I am concerned about. I have a gay step-son and lesbian step-daughter, we are an extremely LGBT family. How inclusive are you going to be? Because one day I am going to die and my daughter is going to be out there alone.”
Gonzalez said he is inclusive to LGBT+ people because government needs to be representative all people.
Tupper Brown of Gill asked how Gonzalez intends to help fund schools in western Mass.
“This part of the state, and a lot of other places, education issues are fundamentally funding issues, I am wondering about what ideas you have about increasing state revenues that would support educational funding problems we have out here,” Brown said.
Gonzalez said he will propose an alternative to the “Millionaire’s Tax” to find a way for “those who are doing very well in this state to pay more so we can make some of these critical investments we need to make.”
Vicki Citron, executive director of the Musica Franklin after-school program, said she has concerns about funding for the Mass. Cultural Council, which pays for a third of the program she directs.
Gonzalez replied that the Mass. Cultural Council is critical.
Denise Andrews of Orange, who helped get Gonzalez to come to Erving, said she did so because she wanted to help inform people about who the candidates are and where they stand.
“Gonzalez came out to hear people’s needs from across the state and people need to learn about the candidates so they can make an informed vote,” Andrews said. “It’s imperative that people vote. My goal or dream is get a 90 percent voter turn out.”