The four rivals offered their views on a range of issues during a candidates forum last week, and another one is planned for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Brighton Elks Lodge on Washington Street.
Tolman last week gave his endorsement to retired Watertown firefighter Robert McCarthy, who served for 23 years as president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts, and 10 years as vice president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO.
McCarthy, who said he lives on a firefighter’s pension and, if elected, would give up half his Senate pay to programs helping senior citizens and children, sees protecting and creating jobs as his biggest challenge.
The lifelong Watertown resident also said he supports raising the gas tax to boost state revenues.
“We can create jobs - good jobs, jobs that have benefits, jobs that have a pension, jobs that have health insurance,’’ he said at the candidates forum Tuesday. “One penny in the gas tank generates $25 million to $30 million.’’
The other candidates said they were not surprised by Tolman’s endorsement, since he and McCarthy have strong union ties.
State Representative William Brownsberger, a Belmont Democrat and former selectman who has worked on Wall Street and as a lawyer, said he has been endorsed by a number of local officials.
Brownsberger, who has been in the Legislature for five years, also said during the forum that he supports an increase in the gas tax, and is pushing for improvements in the education system to ensure “every child is guided into the workplace.’’
State Representative Jonathan Hecht, a Watertown lawyer and former Town Council member, said he has had endorsements from Watertown town councilors, state Representative John Lawn of Watertown, and Cambridge Vice Mayor Henrietta Davis. Hecht said he would like to see the state investing more in infrastructure to create jobs and long-term business growth.
