Family Forum / Parenting / Adoption / July 2004

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/07/25/former_supporter_runs
_against_garry?pg=2

Cuddeback knocks Paulsen on votes

By John Laidler, Globe Staff  |  July 25, 2004

The baby safe haven bill has become an issue in the race between Democratic
state Representative Anne M. Paulsen of Belmont and her Republican challenger
Kevin M. Cuddeback of Arlington.

Cuddeback, a first-time candidate, said Paulsen, a six-term incumbent, "has
been in there a long time and it's starting to show in the kind of votes she's
made this spring."

As an example, he cited Paulsen's opposition to the baby safe haven bill. The
measure, which cleared the Legislature last week and was on the governor's
desk, would allow a parent or their agent to drop off an infant at a hospital,
police station, or fire station, without fear of prosecution. A number of
communities have adopted measures seeking state support to become "safe
havens." Arlington's Town Meeting rejected the idea.

"You have to be in an extreme minority to oppose that kind of common sense
measure," said Cuddeback, who works as a product manager for a Needham dot-com
company.

Paulsen said she regarded the bill as "not a good piece of legislation."

"We already have hospitals and adoption agencies that are perfectly willing to
work with young people" who do not want to keep their babies, she said. "But
this bill would make abandoning babies legal."

Rather than establishing a new safe haven program, she said she would like to
see the state properly fund its social service agencies, many of which have
seen their budgets cut.

"That would go a long way toward making sure we do not have abandonments," she
said.

Cuddeback also chided Paulsen for her vote "against strengthening the sex
offender laws," referring to her vote against the "Ally Zapp" bill. The
measure, which became law this past spring, was named after Alexandra Zapp, who
was murdered by a convicted sex offender in 2002.

Paulsen said she supported the provisions of the bill that closed loopholes in
the sex offender laws. But she said she voted against the bill because it
contained "other provisions I felt should have been in separate legislation."

In her campaign, Paulsen said, she will point to her record as a "very hard
working and well-informed legislator."

She said she will note in particular her involvement in social policy and
transportation issues, including her advocacy for bicylists and pedestrians.
Paulsen said she will also highlight her support for bringing a more open
atmosphere to the House.