John O'Leary

The thirteenth the Norfolk district which is Dover -- field in the media Needham native Tim and joining us is John -- John are we welcome John O'Leary.

Hi good morning John good morning John how are you doing.

We doin' great job we elect this data off by asking all the candidates. Give us about one minute to you know kind of snapshot of John O'Leary and what you -- to bring to the officer.

Well I have the opportunity to head up three different state agencies for governor Mitt Romney. So I saw from the inside just how. The legislature. Came to work against effective government and efficient government and I'm also an engineer by training them a process engineer. So when not Deval Patrick suggested I find a new line of work. I went and actually got a grant from the national academy of public administration. And spent about two years writing a book about. The government and what's working and what doesn't work it's called if we can put a man on the moon. Getting big -- stunning government. It basically tried into the question how can the nation to put a man on the moon one world ports you. We establish democracy in Japan does the Berlin airlift those. Federal highway system. How we get to play were doing Iraq Katrina the big big cash for clunkers we've got to the point where. -- government is not seen as a positive and that's especially true here in Massachusetts.

John give us the one ought perhaps to if you wanna be a bit just give us the 12 big things big thing this. He would bring to Massachusetts based upon that book a network you don't.

and an understanding all of sort of the limits of the ability of government to achieve big things and basically they had.

But I never vote for common sense in the state legislature the one pot party monopoly has not been healthy.

The fiscal irresponsibility put the future risks so really we're number one priority. It to hold the line on spending hold a line on taxes to try to establish Massachusetts -- an environment where people can. Start businesses grow businesses that we can have jobs.

But they you know messages is a good example because it's so extreme with a one party controlling everything but even where you have mixed power in Washington. There's an inability to get things I think it has to do with the influence of money that that. People need so much money to run for office and they spent all the time. The kowtowing to the sources of revenue rather to the needs of voters. Did you agree with that assessment and does that make it a different environment if you do agree from the well of the sixties when we're able to coalesce the nation around a single goal like that.

Did there's no no question that. The prevalence of money in politics is getting it took to a point where.

Everyone -- sort of look -- government says is government working for us there's important for the insiders and I think that.

The pension system in Massachusetts is just a poster child for that I remember.

When I was. Working for Mitt Romney goes up I'll beat the legislation would get past. And I was on. That Barack commission which oversees pensions in some way and vivid this -- said. Well you've worked for the federal government for you nine years between 1975. And 1990 and any -- now work for an authority or liking your left handed. And I went just someone that that the commission they said how many people is that why gonna cover and they said I would imagine at least one commissioner. And the point was good plot had been passed for one particular guy and this happens all the time that. And and a pension.

I've been expanded to cover.

If you -- town moderator or on the board of library trustees you can count a year of service. For these volunteer positions that meet. You know I if you history afford even -- year he's getting yeah or state servers to boost your pension out of control and it's those insider deals -- that -- Government working for those were connected. For government serving the special interest that is really getting people I think angry and I think there's some things we can do to change it.

John -- with a -- WR they're running for state wrapped in Needham. John what's your view on should education in Massachusetts what's working what's not what are your ideas about education.

Well actually one the other thing they did after I left. -- run the administration I ran successfully for school committee India on my on my what you're working on the school to lay out -- recent story. Provide just a few days ago we have a school in town that actor Patrick who wanted to put on a couple of modular schools. We thought would cost a few 100000 dollars we found out that there is induced state law. As of January 1 2010. If we put a modular yeah which is basically a trailer hooked up on the back of the building and parking lot. That if we put a -- virtue of the fact that building that we would have to install a sprinkler system through the entire building. It was gonna cost -- 750000. Dollars. That this building is sixty years old. It makes absolutely no sense for us to try to put a sprinkler system and it's a -- face with a daycare OK we don't have enough room for the kids but we sure as heck can't spend. The million and half dollars to buy a modular so we're we're stuck with trying to figure out something else to do. And I don't know who or what these state mandates are are trying to benefit.

John I thought I shall speculate I was -- up there and it was passed but I would bet dollars to donuts it was passed in the aftermath of the Rhode Island fire. And that's when all sorts of buildings old as well as obviously of new construction. Have to meet new coast because of the disaster down there what was the name of that play as a nightclub the -- of the station the other stationed down -- Donna Rhode Island the horrible nature -- that. Created that literally coast to coast reaction are you -- let's -- position be rash.

Cool and common sense if it's I mean you know it just it just violates common sense that -- I went to that school in 1970 didn't have sprinklers stands up and if you put -- throughout the parking lot it's. It's not doing too. You know it felt like we're having pyrotechnics. Going on in the classroom. During a rock show this June. You know I think it was similar but the retrofitting so we get another building and it. You know it's it's it's put in -- new HVAC system ends up costing it point five.

Million dollar sound very intelligent and reasonable how do you see yourself fitting in -- in that building if you are elected would you just be such an odd character that they would know how to relate to.

When you know I mean you know -- Very very good folks in the legislature and they're good folks can govern I don't wanna come a crisis sort of government. Basher and the government does a lot of important things I think what I would bring -- is. A reasonable data driven approach. -- tries to. Articulate. Basically this minority viewpoint at times bad. We we have to change the way we're operating we have to change the culture. Or going to be. To be heading in a bad direction I think that there's some folks up there who are we're trying to do the right thing and I wanna be another vote for common sense I'm hoping that. Charlie Baker will be up there in the corner office and I think it's very important that there are people who are in the legislature who can. Support that common sense station and add another point to the -- then there what you hear what -- the most destructive things I think it's. With all due respect yourself mr. sit there and the strength of the speaker out there. Makes it extremely difficult even in the majority party. To have open debate on issues.

Don't fall for the health we already John were you do is about to fall for that baloney anybody Republican -- Democrat wants to debate any issue. Is free to do so it doesn't guarantee a victory questioned why before we go -- don't speak it to Leo has proposed on the house has passed. Casino build your predecessor in the though the woman who's not represented the district you hope to service -- she voted for a few new state senator. Richard -- he voted fared as well. Which you -- a casino gambling.

Well I think casinos gambling is not going to be.

The answer to our problems I would probably vote for it in the sense that I've I've not in to trying to control lot of people's behaviors. I think we're living a fantasy world we think that casino money is gonna -- a enable us. Do. Put off the real day of reckoning which is what we start to look at the fiscal responsibility. And that's spending probably have we don't have a revenue problem we have a spending problem -- I would probably vote for their casinos but. Don't don't don't put yourself into thinking that's going to be. I cared for for what ails our state.

Understood good stuff John O'Leary thank you for calling -- thanks Serbian part of this. Hiatus programs Todd and I don't in conjunction with pioneer and good luck in the campaign.

Thank you very very much.

Thank you sir John O'Leary Republican running for syrup out in Needham yeah which is the same district the Richard Ross just.