XIARHOS CALLS FOR PASSAGE OF A STATE BUDGET THAT SUPPORTS LOCAL AID AND DOES NOT IMPOSE ADDED COSTS ON TAXPAYERS AND BUSINESSES

September 29, 2020

WEST BARNSTABLE – Steve Xiarhos, candidate for State Representative in the 5th Barnstable District, issued a call today for the Legislature to pass a state budget for the current fiscal year that does not raise taxes, funds Local Aid amounts at or above their current levels, and does not increase unemployment insurance rates on employers.

State lawmakers have yet to pass a long-term spending plan for FY2021, which runs until next July, because of uncertainty early in the budget process regarding the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on state tax revenues and expenses.

“This year has been very difficult for everyone in Massachusetts,” said Xiarhos. “Aside from public health effects, COVID-19 has caused severe economic disruption felt by working families and small businesses. The last thing people need as we try to move past the pandemic is for the state to make it even less affordable to live and work here. We should not raise taxes on our residents, and we should not impose additional costs on business owners.”

“I believe we need to ease burdens on families and businesses struggling to make ends meet,” continued Xiarhos. “We also need to provide adequate support to our communities as they continue to deal with difficult situations. Essential local services, including first responders and education, need our help. That’s why I am proposing that Local Aid be funded at levels which are at or above current funding going forward.”

Xiarhos has made fiscal responsibility a central focus of his campaign for State Representative, and has previously voiced his support for Local Aid and his opposition to tax increases (including but not limited to opposing an increase in the state gas tax).

About Steven Xiarhos

Steven Xiarhos is a resident of West Barnstable and the Republican candidate for State Representative in the Fifth Barnstable District.

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 Tim Whelan (R – 1st Barnstable District)
State Representative Will Crocker (R – 2nd Barnstable District)
State Representative David Vieira (R – 3rd Barnstable District)
State Representative Mathew Muratore (R – 1st Plymouth District)
Barnstable County Sheriff James M. Cummings
Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph McDonald
Jeff Perry (former State Rep. and Cape Cod Republican activist)
Barnstable Town Councilor Matthew Levesque
Bourne Selectman Jared P. MacDonald
Sandwich Selectman Michael J. Miller
Sandwich Selectman Robert J. George
Sandwich Selectman David Sampson
Sandwich Selectman Charles Holden
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) MA PAC
The Massachusetts Police Association
The Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Coalition of Police
The Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union (MCOFU)
The Fraternal Order of Police
The New England Police Benevolent 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 House 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 general election is on November 3.

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