The four candidates for Massachusetts governor minced words and took subtle shots at each other's records in a forum on service jobs in the Bay State at Faneuil Hall on Tuesday.
About 185,000 employees work in the human services sector, which uses eight percent of the Bay State's budget, according to the nonprofit Providers' Council for Caring Communities &- something that makes service workers a potentially key voter demographic in the election.
Incumbent Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick emphasized the amount of progress the state has made, saying that Massachusetts is increasing jobs at twice the national growth rate. He suggested not cutting taxes back immediately, something Republican candidate Charlie Baker supported, and instead adding funding for health care.
The state needs to invite "providers to think of themselves outside of their own name," and to instead "think about the individual client," Patrick said.
Green-Rainbow party candidate Jill Stein maintained a firm stance against what she saw as unnecessary spending cuts during Patrick's term.
"There are so many good programs that have been cut," Stein said about community-based human service systems.
She cited the $12 million spent on shopping malls and parks as evidence that the state is misallocating its funds.
Baker emphasized throughout the forum his goal to simplify the entire health and human services industry, using it as the most basic solution in many of his answers.
"[Health and human services] is a very, very complicated &- and many times bureaucratic &- operation," Baker said. "It should be a system where people succeed because of it, not in spite of it," he said.
The state needs to spend its money wisely as it loses extra funds granted from the federal stimulus, independent candidate Tim Cahill said.
"We have to get tougher about how we spend that money and how we deliver those services," he said.
Candidates also addressed funding for increased opportunities for those with disabilities.
"I think everyone in this room knows I have fought for these funds and supported them," Patrick said.
He suggested a model-employer initiative, in which disabled people will get the opportunity for work. This, Patrick argued, may help to put aside the fear and unease that other workers may have of being around the disabled.
Stein said that the state-administered tests that are part of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System prevent students with disabilities from graduating high school, which sets them up for a life of poverty. She argued that the test should be moved out of the way for these students.
Cahill said the government needs to continue to help disabled people beyond the age of 22, he said. when their education stops and they are left on their own he said.
"What the government can do is lead by example," he said.
According to a Sept. 17 Rasmussen Report, a telephone survey of Massachusetts residents shows Patrick retaining a slight lead with about 45 percent and Baker coming in a close second with about 42 percent.
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