League of Women Voters of Massachusetts Citizen Education Fund
Dukes, Barnstable, Nantucket Counties, MA November 4, 2008 Election
	Jacob D. Ferreira Answers Questions Candidate for State Representative; Barnstable, Dukes & Nantucket District

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Massaschusetts and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. What proposals do you have to increase employment opportunities in Massachusetts?

I believe our investment in innovation and technology must continue to expand in order to keep our jobs. We have some of the greatest universities in the world, and we have countless leaders in technology and life sciences here in the Bay State. At the state level, we should look to export our goods, not our people. We must retain talent through supporting small businesses and creativity. We must continue to emphasize our competitive advantage in technology and life sciences, but invest more time and effort in new business areas such as renewable energy.

2. How will you rectify problems with aging Massachusetts infrastructure, especially bridges and tunnels?

Municipal Bonds can be used to fix many of our state's aging infrastructure. If designed properly, these debt instruments will hold the state more accountable for their projects.

3. Governor Patrick has proposed a wide-ranging plan to transform education in the Commonwealth. What do you see as the top priorities in his plan and what funding mechanism do you feel will enable their successful implementation?

The need for continual improvement in our public education system exists from the early childhood education experience through adult education opportunities. There is significant work to be done to close achievement gaps that still exist for our K-12 students. We must ensure all students receive the tools to succeed at every level of public education. Governor Patrick's Readiness Project will continue to face criticism due to its estimated cost, but the statistics prove that early childhood education can make a significant difference. All children need a strong knowledge base and the skills necessary to succeed in today's society, and I will work to ensure those needs are met at the state level.

I am also dedicated to providing affordable higher-education programs to all citizens in Massachusetts. In every community, our law enforcement officers, educators, and health science personnel need higher education in order to advance in their careers. Greater access to affordable higher education programs will improve our communities' ability to provide quality services to all Massachusetts citizens.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' responses are not edited or corrected by the League.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: November 3, 2008 10:18
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