Candidate profile: Susan Williams Gifford

Oct 26, 2018

After more than 15 years as representative for the 2nd Plymouth District, Susan Williams Gifford (R-Wareham) is asking voters to send her back to Beacon Hill in the Nov. 6 election.

Gifford, who was first elected in 2002, said while she’s proud of her legislative accomplishments, there’s still more work to be done.

“People want a representative who will spend tax dollars wisely and makes sure government lives within its means just like you and I have to do,” said Gifford. “Over the years, I have made one promise to the people of the second Plymouth District: I will represent you to the best of my ability.”

Gifford, who holds a degree in business administration from Western Michigan University, was first elected as representative in 2002 after a career as an insurance consultant. A resident of Wareham for more than two decades with her husband Mark, she served as a Selectmen for three years prior to becoming a legislator.

At the state level, Gifford said there are some key issues important to voters she will continue to focus on. Among them is Wareham’s ongoing efforts to have mobile homes classified as affordable housing. Officials have lobbied unsuccessfully since 2013 to have mobile homes counted as affordable. Doing so would meet a state requirement and force restrictions on affordable housing developers looking to build locally.

“I’m going to continue my fight to change the antiquated affordable housing law to give our towns the affordable housing we really need,” she Gifford. “At this point in time, we need to take a different approach.”

Since 2013, Gifford has submitted legislation which would allow mobile homes to be counted as affordable housing if approved. That would put the town over the state’s 10 percent threshold and place restrictions on incoming 40B projects. However, each time the bill has not made it out of committee.

Now, Gifford said she’s going to call for creating a special commission that would study the issue of designating mobile homes as affordable. Based on the commission’s findings, Gifford she she’s hopeful Wareham will find relief.

“Instead of remaining the target of 40B developers we should come to an agreement and count mobile homes to everyone’s satisfaction,” said Gifford.

During her tenure, Gifford said lawmakers have worked to address the opioid crisis. She said she voted to approve landmark legislation in 2016 that placed restrictions on opioid prescriptions and provided education.

“The bottom line is Massachusetts is the only state that has seen a decrease in the number of opioid-related deaths,” said Gifford. “What we’re doing in the commonwealth is working. This crisis didn’t start overnight and we’re not going to fix it overnight.”

Recently, she noted the house passed a bill that classifies fentanyl, a substance 50 times stronger than heroin, as a Class A substance and provides harsher sentences for dealers.

Locally, Gifford said she’s worked to secure funds for Wareham. Specifically, she touted earmarks she’s earned for the Wareham Council on Aging, the Wareham Veterans Council and $130,000 for the town to establish a emergency operations center.

If reelected, Gifford said she anticipates working to change how the state awards education and local aid funds for cities and towns in a bid to bring more dollars to Wareham.

“We are struggling there’s no question about it,” said Gifford. “I was pleased to see local aid increase three percent compared to the previous fiscal year, but it’s still not enough.”