Owen R. Broadhurst has announced his candidacy for the Third Hampden District seat being vacated by six-term State Rep. Daniel Keenan (D-Southwick).

Broadhurst intends to call attention to several issues throughout the course of the campaign. Active in both the GRP Lavender Caucus and National Lavender Green Caucus, Broadhurst was instrumental in the creation of the GRP's Equal Marriage Rights taskforce and promises that opposition to the proposed ballot initiative against equal marriage rights shall be one major focus of his campaign.

"Attorney General Thomas Reilly violated his oath of office in certifying Petition K", Broadhurst argued. "If the Supreme Judicial Court does not invalidate the petition, I will fight it tooth and nail in a door to door campaign throughout the district."

Observing how tax loopholes for lobbying interests, massive cuts in income taxes, and tax breaks for mutual fund companies and defense contractors within the state has resulted in higher property taxes, regressive fees, and an oppressive burden on cities and towns to maintain municipal services and schools, Broadhurst is also calling for tax fairness. "Those earning the least now pay the most to maintain state and municipal services. The state can increase revenue by more than 15% while lowering the tax burden for more than 80% of its citizens. The wealthiest 1% pays only 4.6% of its income in taxes, so why should 80% of the population pay more than 8%? The Commonwealth is starving its communities to provide welfare for Raytheon and Fidelity. Presently the less one earns, the larger the bite on one's paycheck through property tax, sales tax, and fees."

Noting how monstrous cuts to MassHealth have led to staffing shortages in hospitals and nursing homes, and have an adverse impact on care, Broadhurst also promotes single-payer health care. "Declining vigilance in infection control, greater falls, and malnourishment in nursing homes is not a fable. It is a fact of life. Single-payer health insurance, higher staffing ratios, and the proposed affordable health care Constitutional amendment must be mandated and implemented immediately for the sake of the most vulnerable, and for the sake of us all. Health care's a human right. We need affordable, equitably financed health insurance. We require universal coverage, a Health Care Trust."

"Rosemary Sandlin and Joe Mineo, two candidates for the Democratic Party nomination," Broadhurst noted, "are both exceptional public servants who have each served the Town of Agawam well. I consider both to be good friends, and it is has been my pleasure to support and vote for both in their prior campaigns. I have urged Mrs. Sandlin to seek the Mayor's office in Agawam on several occasions, and I would certainly be thrilled if Mr. Mineo someday sought that office. For both, I confess immense respect and admiration. I strongly believe, however, that their party has failed our state and is beyond reform; and I strongly believe no Democratic candidate from this district shall endorse the program for social and economic justice that I champion."