January 10, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE….
Contact: Candace Ouillette Gaumond: 413.599.4785

MASSACHUSETTS AUDOBON SOCIETY GIVES CANDARAS HIGH MARKS ON ENVIRONMENT POLICIES

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Audubon Society released its 2000 Legislative Report Card recently ranking Massachusetts legislators on their environmental protection voting record. State Representative Gale D. Candaras received a grade of 97% for her dedication to environmental protection policies.

House members were evaluated upon roll call votes pertaining to issues that affect the Massachusetts environment and land preservation. Candaras voted favorably on sixteen environmental and preservation roll call votes. Candaras also participated in the enactment of The Community Preservation Act, which is a landmark piece of legislation that has been debated in the legislature for over fifteen years. The act provides local communities a permanent state matching grant program for open space protection, historic preservation, and affordable housing.

Candaras pointed to her history of environmental clean ups of former contaminated properties such as the former Art Cement Factory on Boston Road, which is now Western Mass Recycling, and the clean up of the Wilbraham dump site and the blighted conditions at the former State owned game farm property, now Fountain Park.

Candaras said she feels strongly about environmental issues: “Land is finite – they’re not making any more - we owe it to future generations to preserve it and clean it up where necessary.”

Candaras looks forward to the 2001/2002 legislative sessions where she can continue to advocate for the protection of the environment through policy-making efforts.