XIARHOS CRITICIZES ACTION TAKEN BY MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATORS ON POLICE REFORM, REGIONAL TAX INCREASES

July 15, 2020

BARNSTABLE — Steven Xiarhos, Republican candidate for State Representative in the Fifth Barnstable District, called today for the House of Representatives to send the Police Reform Bill (S. 2800) recently passed by the Massachusetts Senate back to a legislative committee for a public hearing and further deliberation.

“This is an important piece of legislation. As much as the topic of police reform deserves consideration and action, this bill also deserves not to be rushed through the Legislature,” said Xiarhos. “This bill did not have a public hearing, leading many important constituencies to complain that they did not have a seat at the table during the bill’s formation. Aside from certain problems with the original bill, there were several significant policy changes added to the bill by Senators, without any public input. These provisions deserve to have public comment before legislators decide behind closed doors whether to include them in a final bill.”

“This is an unacceptable way for our legislators to govern, especially when it comes to important issues like this,” said Xiarhos.

In recent days, Xiarhos has proposed that the current legislative session (set to conclude on July 31), be extended by three weeks until August 21. This extension would give legislators additional time to debate important pieces of legislation which remain before them for action, including a state budget for the new fiscal year which began on July 1.

“Now, during the end-of-session rush, we see some of the problems with one-party rule come to the fore on Beacon Hill,” said Xiarhos. “Legislators are proposing to ban schools from sharing information with police about gang members who pose a public safety risk. They are also proposing to allow cities and towns to band together and raise taxes on Massachusetts residents regionally, in contravention of Proposition 2 ½. Policies like this undermine the public safety and economic security of Massachusetts residents, and I oppose them. Amidst all of this, our state still does not have a spending plan in place for this year. It’s time for legislators to start listening to the people they represent, do their job, and do what’s right for Massachusetts residents and taxpayers.”

About Steven Xiarhos

Steven Xiarhos is a resident of Barnstable and a Republican candidate for state representative in the Fifth Barnstable District (Sandwich, Barnstable Pcts. 11 & 12, Bourne Pcts. 1, 2 & 7, and Plymouth Pct. 9).

Steve spent forty years serving the people of Cape Cod as a member of the Yarmouth Police Department, retiring in late 2019 from the position of Deputy Chief of Police. Throughout his career, Steve attended numerous specialized training courses and is a graduate of the Babson College Command Training Course and the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar. He is the recipient of 22 various police department awards and decorations including Officer of the Year, Yarmouth Area Chamber of Commerce Person of the Year, Rotary Club of Yarmouth Vocational Service Award, Mothers Against Drunk Driving Officer of the Year, and the Barnstable County Human Rights Commission Rosenthal Award.

Steve also remains active in many charitable and civic causes. This includes, but is not limited to, the Nicholas G. Xiarhos Memorial Fund (which was created in memory of Steve’s son, Nick, who was a Marine killed in combat in Afghanistan in 2009). Currently, Steve serves on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Iraq and Afghanistan Fallen Heroes Memorial Fund and the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation; as well as a Volunteer for Wounded Warrior Project Cape Cod Soldier Ride.

Endorsements

Steve Xiarhos is proud to have his candidacy for State Representative endorsed publicly by:

  • State Representative Randy Hunt (R – 5th Barnstable District)
  • State Representative David Vieira (R – 3rd Barnstable District)
  • Barnstable County Sheriff James M. Cummings
  • Jeff Perry (former State Representative and Cape Cod Republican activist)
  • Barnstable Town Councilor Matthew Levesque
  • The Massachusetts Coalition of Police
  • The Massachusetts Police Association
  • Bob Avila, Sandwich Resident and Owner of Captain John Boats

For more information about Steve Xiarhos and his campaign, please visit his Website, www.Xiarhosforrep.com.

About the Fifth Barnstable District

The Fifth Barnstable District in the Massachusetts Houses of Representatives consists of the entire town of Sandwich, plus precincts 11 and 12 in Barnstable, precincts 1, 2, and 7 in Bourne, and precinct 9 in Plymouth.

The Republican primary is Tuesday, September 1. The general election is on November 3.

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