Letter to the editor: Justin Thurber is committed to fiscal responsibility, lowering taxes, reducing spending and increasing transparency in government

This is an opinion letter that was submitted to Fall River Reporter and was not written by us as we do not endorse candidates.

An open letter to the residents of the 5th Bristol District of the Massachusetts Legislature:

As we, the voters of Somerset, Swansea, Dighton and Taunton, begin heading to the polls to cast our ballots in this November’s election, each of us is faced with a critical decision: continue to elect a Representative who has repeatedly supported policies and initiatives that do not adequately reflect the needs of our district OR embrace a candidate who offers a chance to bring balance back to the political landscape in order to ensure that we, the residents of the 5th Bristol District, have a representative at the State House who most closely shares our viewpoints and priorities. I choose the latter, and it is for that reason that I enthusiastically endorse the candidacy of Justin Thurber for Massachusetts State Representative!

Justin Thurber is committed to fiscal responsibility, lowering taxes, reducing spending and increasing transparency in government. He will advocate for shifting valuable resources to programs that matter most to the people of our district; housing security for seniors and veterans, critical infrastructure improvements to our roads, bridges, water and sewer systems and public safety initiatives designed to reduce crime, battle the opioid epidemic and strengthen our children’s education.

As a law enforcement officer for more than 32 years, I swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights. Today I remain committed to ensuring these rights are preserved. In my opinion, Justin Thurber is by far the candidate most dedicated, in both word and action, to protecting the rights provided to us by those documents. If elected he will prioritize personal freedom over government mandates. He will oppose those that wish to erode the protections provided by the First and Second Amendments and most importantly, will work to safeguard our elections.

When elected, Justin Thurber will bring to residents of the 5th District strong leadership qualities honed during his 28 years of service in the United States Air Force. Having risen to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant, the highest enlisted rank attainable, he has a proven ability to lead by example and a willingness to accept responsibility for himself and others. He has vast experience in working with diverse teams, under pressure and ever changing, many times hostile environments. Above all else, Justin will bring a proven commitment to public service and personal sacrifice to the State Legislature. His strong sense of duty will not only resonate with his constituents but also, in due time, with his collogues on both sides of the aisle.

You can help to end the political stagnation so evident in the legislature. You can encourage bipartisan cooperation. You can ensure that our government serves all of its constituents, not just the special interests and powerful political idealogues of Beacon Hill. You can and I respectfully request that you do by joining me in voting to elect Justin Thurber as our next State Representative.

Sincerely,

Chief Todd V. Costa (Ret.)

Somerset Police Department