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Democrat Kafka withstands GOP challengeFacing first opposition in decade, wins ninth term over newcomer Wiener State Rep. Louis Kafka turned back his first challenge in a decade, sweeping to his ninth term over political newcomer Lydia Wiener of Sharon. Kafka’s vote total was nearly three times that of Wiener, a nurse who campaigned on shoe leather and a shoestring budget. “I think people have looked at my record and have given me a loud message to continue what I’ve been doing,” said Kafka after hearing the results. “People across the board appreciate the work I’ve done at the State House. It’s a very good feeling.” The district consists of Sharon and portions of Mansfield, Stoughton and Walpole. In his campaign, Kafka, a Democrat, stressed his work assisting local officials and constituents at the state level and his efforts to bring in state and school aid to the district. “When I was first elected, I pledged to the voters that I would be accountable, accessible and responsive to their needs, and now I have the chance to do that for two more years.” Wiener, a Republican, criticized Kafka for approving wasteful spending, supporting in-state tuition at state colleges and universities for the children of undocumented immigrants and his vote in favor of a law against repeat drunken driving that was considered by some to be weaker than one that was adopted. “I’m disappointed in the vote, but the people have spoken,” Wiener said last night. “I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. He had the name recognition, but I worked very hard.” Wiener spent about $2,000 on her campaign, with much of the money coming from her own pocket. She concentrated on going door-to-door to meet voters, estimating that she stopped at more than 4,000 homes. Wiener said she plans to run for the seat in 2008, with the benefit of the lessons she learned as a first-time candidate. A long-time Sharon resident who now lives in Stoughton, Kafka spent about $5,700 on his re-election campaign. Kafka said that after a decade of running unopposed, “I had to reconstruct a campaign organization, which we did in all of the towns. I give a lot of credit to them for the results.” Fred Hanson may be reached at fhanson@ledger.com.
Wiener challenging Kafka in 8th Norfolk For the first time in a decade, eight-term state Rep. Louis Kafka is facing a challenge. Political newcomer Lydia Wiener said Kafka has lost touch with the average people of the district and she decided to run for the office after seeing an incumbent unopposed for so long “and not really representing the people.” “He’s spent 16 years doing nothing, especially for the people of the 8th Norfolk,” she said. She took issue with Kafka’s vote backing a “watered-down” version of Melanie’s Law, which targets repeat drunken drivers before also voting in favor of the final version. Wiener said she would “never put drunk drivers back on the road as my opponent did.” Wiener also hit on Kafka’s support of allowing children of undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuitions to state colleges and universities. She was harshly critical of Kafka’s work on the budget-writing House Ways and Means Committee. “They’ve spent a $1 billion surplus on foolishness and wastefulness,” Wiener said. Much of Wiener’s campaign is going door-to-door around the district, which includes Sharon and parts of Mansfield, Stoughton and Walpole. Kafka said he is very much in touch with the people he represents and he wants to continue assisting local officials and constituents with their issues at the state level. “I pride myself on being accountable and accessible to my constituents,” he said. Kafka said his priority is to bring back as much local aid and school aid to the communities he represents. As for Weiner’s criticism on his vote on the earlier version of Melanie’s bill, Kafka said he has to vote on the bills that are brought to the floor. The end result is “one of the strongest operating under the influence bills in the country right now.” As for supporting in-state tuition for the children of undocumented immigrants, Kafka said the children would have to attend high school in this state for three years to qualify and college presidents support the bill. “They’d rather have students filling the seats than empty seats, Kafka said. “We aren’t taking anything away from anyone. They aren’t being given something for nothing.” Fred Hanson may be reached at fhanson@ledger.com.
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