9th Bristol state representative candidates Pacheco and Tam answer five questions before Tuesday's vote

DARTMOUTH Voters in Dartmouth and three New Bedford precincts will choose a new state representative for the 9th Bristol District on Tuesday, Nov. 3, and the ballot gives them two candidates from Dartmouth: Democrat Edward M. Pacheco and Republican Chester M. Tam, according to the Secretary of the Commonwealth's list of candidates.

The seat is open. Rep. Christopher M. Markey, the Democrat who holds it, is his party's nominee for Bristol County district attorney after winning the Sept. 1 primary without an opponent, the Secretary's election results show. The district takes in all nine Dartmouth precincts and New Bedford's Ward 1, Precincts D, E and F.

Pacheco won the Democratic primary over Stephen J. Medeiros, 2,493 votes to 2,479, and Tam won the Republican primary over Henry George Bousquet, 1,440 votes to 1,150, according to the Secretary's results.

South Coast 360 News asked both campaigns the same five questions, and both answered Monday, Nov. 2. Their answers run below word for word, as each campaign submitted them, in the order the candidates appear on the ballot, and every claim in an answer is the candidate's own.

Polls in Dartmouth are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, the town's election warrant says. Polling places for Dartmouth's nine precincts, and what to bring, are in SC360's Election Day guide. Each campaign's money raised and spent through Sept. 30 is in our look at the contested South Coast legislative races.

Edward M. Pacheco, Democrat, of Dartmouth

1. What is the first thing you would work on in this office for people on the South Coast?

One of the reasons I ran for State Representative is because I believe our communities deserve someone who is willing to tackle the difficult issues, bring people together, and turn conversations into meaningful action. I don't intend to wait months to get started. My first priority will be to reach out to current State Representative Chris Markey, our area delegation, and the legislators and community leaders I have built relationships with throughout this campaign to develop a unified legislative strategy supporting the Coastal Commission bill. This is about much more than Dartmouth and New Bedford. Communities across Massachusetts are facing serious wastewater infrastructure challenges that affect their ability to grow, protect the environment, and meet the needs of their residents. We can't continue to talk about affordable housing, economic development, and stronger communities without addressing the infrastructure that makes those goals possible. Wastewater capacity is not a secondary issue; it's got to be the foundation upon which so many of our other priorities depend. We need to fix the foundation before we can start building. I'm committed to making this a priority from day one, because our communities can't afford to keep waiting for solutions.

2. What, if anything, would you do in this office about the cost of living here (energy bills, housing, property taxes)?

Property taxes are largely a local responsibility, but the amount of state aid a community receives has a direct impact on what residents pay and the services they receive. When Dartmouth and New Bedford are underfunded by the state, that shortfall doesn't stay on a government balance sheet; it eventually finds its way to people's front doors. It can mean higher property taxes for homeowners, greater pressure on small businesses, difficult decisions about school resources, delayed road and infrastructure repairs, and fewer resources for the police, fire, and municipal services residents count on every day. It means families and seniors can end up paying more while receiving fewer of the services their tax dollars should support. The state-aid formulas need serious review because they have to reflect the actual financial demands and needs of our communities today, not outdated calculations that leave Dartmouth and New Bedford struggling to make ends meet. I'll work with our area delegation and fellow legislators to examine those formulas, identify where Dartmouth and New Bedford are falling short, and advocate for a fairer distribution of state resources. This isn't about taking funding away from another community or asking for special treatment. It's about ensuring our communities receive their fair share, so the burden doesn't continue to fall on the same homeowners, working families, seniors, and small businesses who are already stretched thin. State funding may be decided at the State House, but the consequences of getting it wrong are felt at kitchen tables, in classrooms, on our roads, and on our monthly bills.

3. What is one South Coast issue you think deserves more attention from this office, and what would you do about it?

I believe affordability has to be about more than just property taxes. For working families, seniors on fixed incomes, and small businesses, the rising cost of electricity, heating, water, and other essential utilities is becoming increasingly difficult to manage. People shouldn't have to worry about whether they can keep their homes warm in the winter, run their businesses, or pay their monthly utility bills without sacrificing other necessities. As I've mentioned before having to choose between am I heating or eating is unacceptable. I'll work with fellow legislators to examine not only utility rates but also the additional fees and infrastructure costs being passed along to consumers, while pushing for greater transparency and accountability from utility providers. We also need the state to invest in modernizing our local infrastructure so that communities can support future growth without passing every added cost down to residents and ratepayers. Affordability means making sure people can afford to live in the communities they call home, and that starts with bringing the everyday costs of living under control.

4. How can voters reach you or your campaign before Tuesday?

The best way to reach us right now is by text or phone at 774-328-4688. We're in the final stretch, juggling all the last-minute preparations for tomorrow's Election Day, so things are a little hectic around here (and that might be an understatement!). Our access to email will be very limited, so quick text or call is the best way to get in touch. We thank everyone for their patience as we get everything ready for our volunteers tomorrow.

5. Is there anything else you want South Coast voters to know?

I believe I'm the most prepared for this role because I've spent my life in these communities. I grew up in New Bedford, where I spent the majority of my youth and young adulthood, and have called Dartmouth home for most of my adult life with my wife and our 6 daughters. I understand both communities because I haven't just visited them or studied them; I've lived here, worked here, raised my family here, and experienced many of the same challenges that residents face.

I have no intention of becoming a groundhog politician, someone who pops up once a year for a parade, shakes a few hands, and then disappears until the next election. Over the past 10 months, I've made myself available, knocked on more than 8,000 doors, spoken with thousands of residents, and consistently discussed not only the problems facing our communities but specific, real solutions. That's the kind of accessibility and accountability I intend to bring to the State House.

I also believe something very simple: everybody likes to have "a guy." When your car breaks down, you need a plumber, or you have a problem you can't figure out, you call someone you trust and ask, "Do you know a guy?" I want to be that guy for Dartmouth and New Bedford. Someone residents can call, someone who will listen, someone who will get involved, and someone who will work to find answers rather than pass the buck. I don't believe representation should be about party labels, political talking points, or radio-show rhetoric. It should be about relationships, accessibility, hard work, and results. I would sincerely appreciate your vote, and I look forward to the opportunity to spend the next two years working hard and fighting for the people of Dartmouth and New Bedford.

Chester M. Tam, Republican, of Dartmouth

1. What is the first thing you would work on in this office for people on the South Coast?

The first thing I will do as state representative is schedule meetings with all of the district's elected officials to identify the most urgent needs facing Dartmouth and the New Bedford portion of the 9th Bristol District. From those conversations I will put a clear plan together and start working on practical solutions that put local concerns ahead of political agendas.

2. What, if anything, would you do in this office about the cost of living here (energy bills, housing, property taxes)?

Hardworking families are struggling to live here and raise a family, and people are leaving our state at a rapid rate. I will fight the insane taxes, high energy bills, high cost of housing and childcare, and unnecessary mandates that are driving the cost of living up. That means pushing for more unrestricted local aid to ease property-tax pressure, reducing ratepayer-funded energy mandates, and making sure large housing projects account for local sewer, water, roads, and school capacity instead of overriding local input. Our tax dollars must be spent responsibly, with local needs prioritized.

3. What is one South Coast issue you think deserves more attention from this office, and what would you do about it?

Local control versus one-size-fits-all decisions from Beacon Hill, especially on development, energy policy, and how state aid is distributed. Residents of Dartmouth and the North End of New Bedford understand their own needs better than distant legislators. I will work to return more decision-making and more unrestricted funding to the local level while supporting first responders and practical infrastructure upgrades.

4. How can voters reach you or your campaign before Tuesday?

Voters can reach the campaign through the phone number and contact email listed on the campaign website at chestermtam.com.

5. Is there anything else you want South Coast voters to know?

I am focused on lower costs, accountable government, and real support for working families, seniors, veterans, and first responders. This open seat is a chance to bring common sense, affordability, accountability, transparency, and a fresh perspective to Beacon Hill. If you want someone who will listen, put the district first, and work for practical results instead of politics as usual, I ask for your vote on November 3.

After the polls close

Dartmouth posts unofficial results on its Election Results page. Mail ballots postmarked by Election Day still count if the clerk receives them by 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, under state election law, so the first numbers Tuesday night may not be the last.

Label: Reported by us, from the town's posted records.