September 17, 2004

LESE LINES UP ROMNEY'S FULL SUPPORT FOR THE HYANNIS YOUTH AND COMMUNITY CENTER
Persuades Romney to fully-fund $3.5 million line-item

Hyannis, MA - Dr. Gail Lese, candidate for State Senate in the Cape and Islands district, today spoke with Governor Romney and lined up his commitment to sign a $3.5 million line-item to fund the youth and community center to be located in Hyannis. Lese impressed upon Governor Romney the importance of the project for the Cape's youth and the state's contribution as a part of the public-private partnership that has been forged.

"After lobbying Governor Romney for several weeks on this project, I am pleased to announce his full commitment to funding the Hyannis youth and community center," said Dr. Lese. "We both share a common concern about our youth on the Cape and this project will help us provide for their best needs."

Lese continued, "The Governor and I are both committed to investing in our children and agree that this project sets a good example of how we can best leverage our tax dollars to benefit our community."

September 10. 2004

STATE SENATE CANDIDATE DR. GAIL LESE ANNOUNCES HER OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED WIND FARM IN NANTUCKET SOUND

Hyannis, MA - Candidate for State Senate Dr. Gail Lese today announced her opposition to Cape Wind's proposed wind farm in Nantucket Sound. The project, the largest ever proposed, would consist of at least 130 turbines, stand 426 feet high and would cover 24 square miles in an area that is known worldwide for its prodigious environmental and ecological resources and wildlife.

"While I am in favor of renewable energy, I have some very serious concerns about the proposal to construct wind turbines in Nantucket Sound as it stands now," Lese stated. "Nantucket Sound is inextricably linked to the Cape and Islands' economy and quality of life. The developers of the project suggest that a wind farm in Horseshoe Shoal would positively affect tourism, fishermen, and residents. Unfortunately, the wind farm is likely to have a significant negative impact on the constituents it is intended to serve."

If successful, this project would hand control of a national public resource to Cape Wind, a private, for-profit venture. The proposed wind farm would be mostly unregulated since federal standards are lacking for offshore wind power plant placement. In addition, the developers are asking for taxpayers to foot the bill for a large portion of the project. They are banking on receiving almost $250 million in government subsidies to finance it.

"I will work with our federal delegation, national leaders and Governor Romney to advocate for the regions' concerns about the proposal," pledged Dr. Lese. "We need to protect our oceans and wildlife from foreseeable circumstances such as oil spills from the transformers or diesel fuel leaks from backup generators."

"I believe that the Cape and Islands' important environmental and ecological resources must be protected," Dr. Lese added.

September 7, 2004

LESE LAUNCHES NEW RADIO AD

Hyannis, MA - Candidate for State Senate Dr. Gail Lese today launched a new sixty-second radio ad, which focuses on the need to fix the health care system in Massachusetts. "On the Cape" with Dr. Gail Lese is scheduled to run on radio stations across the Cape and Islands starting Tuesday, September 7. The ad can also be heard at www.leseforsenate.com.

"Our state spends nearly half of its budget every year on health care and human services, yet fifty thousand residents on the Cape and Islands are without insurance and prescription drug costs continue to rise," said Dr. Lese. "I think it is time to elect someone who has first hand knowledge of the medical system and a business background to our state legislature to fix this."

The commercial features Dr. Lese discussing how health care has been handled on Beacon Hill. It highlights her background as a physician, which gives her the knowledge to provide real solutions for the health care system in Massachusetts. Currently, there are no medical doctors serving in the Massachusetts Legislature.

Today's ad is the second in a series titled "On the Cape" with Dr. Gail Lese. A previous ad ran in June and discussed Dr. Lese's background as a financial professional and her desire to ensure taxpayers' dollars are spent efficiently.

September 6, 2004

LESE RAISES OVER $100,000 FOR STATE SENATE RACE
--60% OF DONATIONS FROM CAPE AND ISLANDS--

Hyannis, MA -- Candidate for State Senate Dr. Gail Lese today announced that her campaign finance report, to be filed with the state's Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) on September 7th, will show $108,323 in contributions. Since opening her campaign account in February, Lese received over 553 donations averaging $195 each; 331, or 60%, were from Cape and Island residents. Lese raised the money without accepting a single dollar of special interest PAC money, in contrast to the 16% of Senator O'Leary's 2003 contributions, all from special interest PACs outside of the Cape and Islands District.

"I am sincerely grateful for the generosity of the many people who have contributed to my campaign and the overwhelming support of the hundreds of volunteers who are working to get me elected so that I can make a difference" said Lese. "It is inspiring to see so many citizens motivated to change the self-service status quo on Beacon Hill."

Among the prominent Cape Codders donating to Lese are District Attorney Michael O'Keefe and Barnstable County Sheriff James Cummings. But the biggest contributor has been Lese herself. In addition to the $108,323 raised from individual contributors, Lese loaned $50,000 to her campaign and donated $25,000.

"I feel so strongly that it is time to elect people who care about public service, not self service, and that special interest money should be kept out of our political system that I am willing to personally invest in this cause," said Lese. "This district deserves a State Senator who will work full time to ensure that its needs are met and positive changes are made. Our broad group of local contributors makes clear that a large number of Cape and Island residents believe this as well."

August 30, 2004

LESE ACCEPTS DEBATES, CHALLENGES O'LEARY TO DO THE SAME

Hyannis, MA - Dr. Gail Lese, Candidate for State Senate, today announced that she has agreed to participate in three upcoming candidate forums. She called on her opponent Robert O'Leary to join her in two additional debates in order to discuss the issues that affect the Cape and Islands.

"The citizens of the Cape and Islands deserve a discourse on ideas and solutions, not rhetoric." said Lese. "I think it is extremely important that the voters have the opportunity to hear what needs to be done and solutions to problems that have been overlooked."

The three debates, all to be held in October, are being hosted by the Cape League of Women Voters, the Cape Organization for Rights of the Disabled, and the Brewster Ladies' Library.

August 18, 2004

STATE SENATE CANDIDATE LESE SIGNS NO NEW TAXES PLEDGE
Lese calls for reforms to help end wasteful spending in government

Promising to be the voice of the taxpayers, State Senate candidate Dr. Gail Lese today signed the Citizens for Limited Taxation's "no new taxes" pledge. Lese, a strong advocate of reforming state government to better serve the needs of people, is the first candidate in the Cape and Islands Senate District to sign the pledge.

"We should always be looking for ways to stop waste and abuse in state government, not asking taxpayers to foot the bill for inefficiency," said Lese. "By spending the taxpayers' money in a responsible way, we will be able to fund important priorities like health care, education, and local police and firefighters."

Lese supports several common sense reforms such as merging the Mass Highway Department and the Turnpike Authority, ending outrageous pension payouts and stopping legislators from giving themselves backdoor payraises.

"As the next State Senator for the Cape and Islands, I promise to be the voice of the taxpayers, not the special interests," said Lese. "Massachusetts' high taxes put us at a competitive disadvantage for attracting jobs. The best way to improve our economy and keep the Cape and Islands competitive is to lower our taxes and make our government more efficient."

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Lehigh University, Lese, 35, earned an M.D. from Cornell University Medical College, and did her medical internship in Pediatric Medicine and training in Pediatric Neurological Surgery at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. She practiced medicine in Los Angeles as a pediatric physician, treating children in private practice and as a physician for the Los Angeles County Juvenile Court Health System. She also served as a volunteer physician at the Los Angeles Free Clinic, providing health care and social services to homeless and indigent children and families. Dr. Lese's research has been published in leading medical journals including Neurosurgery and Archives of Neurology, and she has been invited to present her medical and policy research at national and international scientific meetings.

As a doctor caring for indigent families, Lese developed a strong desire to find a way to do more to serve the comprehensive economic, social, and health care needs of children and families. Realizing that her goal of widening access to health care for children and families would require in depth knowledge and professional experience in business as well as medicine, Lese earned an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and went on to become a financial analyst at Fidelity Investments. As a member of Fidelity's health care team, Lese made investment decisions and conducted research on health care companies and health care economic policy.

From January, 2001 until January, 2003, she was Fund Manager of the $100 million Fidelity Select Food and Agriculture Portfolio. Lese raised her fund's 3-year Morningstar performance rating from three stars to the highest rating of five stars, and the fund under her leadership was recognized by Business Week as one of "The Best Mutual Funds" (October 8, 2001).

Dr. Lese has a long-standing commitment to public service and volunteerism. She has volunteered with the Los Angeles - Teens On Target/California Youth-Alive Program and the Make A Wish Foundation, and has been a volunteer tutor and mentor to students in the Boston, Los Angeles and New York public school systems. She also established a scholarship program to help economically disadvantaged students attend college. She was recently a National Finalist for the White House Fellows Program - the nation's top program for leadership and public service.

Aug 3, 2004

CANDIDATE, GAIL LESE, M.D., ANNOUNCES STAUNCH OPPOSITION TO O'LEARY'S NEEDLE-ON-DEMAND LEGISLATION
--Calls O'Leary's Legislation a Dangerous Public Health Risk--

Hyannis, MA - Candidate for State Senate Dr. Gail Lese today announced her staunch opposition to Senator O'Leary's proposed needle-on-demand legislation that would make it legal for anyone over the age of 18 to buy hypodermic syringes, needles, or any other instrument adapted for the administration of controlled substances by injection. Senator O'Leary's bill would make needles available over-the counter, without a doctor's prescription or any medical care or supervision, in any pharmacy.

"O'Leary's legislation would exacerbate a very serious public health problem by increasing the number of needles in our communities without dealing with the social or health risks that would result. I believe we should be working to decrease the number of needles in our communities, in our streets and on our beaches, not increase them," said Lese.

Dr. Lese noted that dangerous consequences of the legislation include the potential significant public safety hazard of accidental contaminated needle sticks, resulting from needles not properly disposed of, ending up in trash collection sites, transfer stations or public streets and beaches, and the likelihood that minors, who cannot lawfully drink until the age of 21, will have easy access to needles for drugs of abuse like heroin.

"One can envision a scenario in which an individual walking down the beach accidentally steps on a carelessly discarded needle obscured by the sand. Such accidental needle sticks pose a significant public health hazard and are a cause of the unintended spread of life-threatening diseases," said Lese. "I am staunchly opposed to this legislation."

Senator O'Leary's needle-on-demand legislation is in striking contrast to needle-exchange programs which exchange used needles with clean needles and which provide important and potentially life-saving interventions with individuals struggling with drug addiction to get them involved with drug treatment.

June 30, 2004

LESE LAUNCHES AD CAMPAIGN

Hyannis, MA - Candidate for State Senate Dr. Gail Lese today launched an ad campaign scheduled to run in newspapers and on radio stations across the Cape and Islands over the next ten days.

"On the Cape" with Dr. Gail Lese features Lese discussing how as state senator, she plans to bring sound business practices to Beacon Hill. The ad highlights her background as a physician and financial professional dedicated to fighting for the needs of people and managing tax dollars more effectively.

"I want the people of the Cape and Islands to know early on that they have a choice this election year. A new voice with a business and medical background can do a much better job for them on Beacon Hill," said Lese.

June 24, 2004

LESE NOTES O'LEARY'S U-TURN ON EXIT 6 ½

Hyannis, MA - Candidate for State Senate Dr. Gail Lese today calls on Senator Robert O'Leary to support the proposed Exit 6 ½ traffic-friendly Cape Cod construction project. The proposed Exit 6 ½, located between Exits 6 and 7 on Route 6, will ease traffic congestion and create easier access to health care facilities and businesses in the community.

O'Leary has been opposed to the project and recently proposed spending $650,000 in taxpayer money to study the project despite the fact that several studies have already looked at it, and the local community overwhelmingly supports the new exit. However, during an Exit 6 ½ Committee meeting on Wednesday, an O'Leary aide said the senator may now support the project. Meanwhile, Lese has been unwavering in her backing of the project and has made public statements accordingly.

"I am pleased the threat of my support is forcing O'Leary to take a position that benefits his constituents," said Lese. "We need a senator who will get this project funded and take action, not someone who stalls it by creating additional bureaucracy."

Exit 6 ½ will directly connect to Bearses Way and Independence Drive providing easy access to Cape Cod Hospital facilities, Cape Cod Mall, Independence Plaza, and businesses in the Industrial Park, alleviating many of the heavy congestion issues that currently exist.

"This is a valuable project and O'Leary needs to be responsive to the people of this community and help Exit 6 ½ move forward," said Lese.

June 16, 2004

LESE ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR TAX CUT OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED FOR BY CITIZENS OF CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS

Hyannis, MA - Candidate for State Senate Dr. Gail Lese today announced her support for the proposed state income tax rollback from 5.3 to 5 percent. In 2000, this initiative was overwhelmingly approved by the citizens of the Cape, with nearly 70% of voters in the Cape and Islands district voting for it.

"It's time to put people in the Legislature who have real-world financial expertise; not career politicians who are part of the problem, not the solution," said Lese. "To make sure that we are funding our vital health and human service, educational and social programs, we must stimulate the burgeoning economic recovery and reform our government to eliminate wasteful spending," said Lese. "It is appalling to me that our legislators on Beacon Hill are unwilling to make the vital reforms that would free up hundreds of millions of dollars, like, for example, merging the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority into the Highway Department, yet look the other way when Big Dig contractors waste money that could be spent paying our teachers, educating our children, and providing essential health care to those in need."

Lese, a former financial analyst and fund manager for Fidelity Investments, said the tax cut is the right thing to do. "The people of the Commonwealth voted for this rollback. I believe that our elected officials should do their best to honor the clearly expressed wishes of the people who elected them. This tax rollback is also the right thing to do economically. Working families need tax relief to compensate for rising health care and energy costs. Delaying this tax rollback risks stifling the current economic recovery and hurts working families. As the economy recovers and companies look to hire more employees and invest in new projects, it is important that Massachusetts is able to compete successfully for these jobs."

In addition to the income tax roll-back, Lese, a medical doctor, has advocated the implementation of tax credits to small business owners who provide health insurance to their employees. "The significant number of individuals on the Cape and Islands who lack health insurance is a real problem that needs to be fixed," declares Lese, "it is high-time that we do something about this."

May 21,2004

LESE TURNS IN SIGNATURES TO QUALIFY FOR STATE SENATE BALLOT

-- Cape Cod Republican to run against Democrat incumbent O'Leary --

Hyannis, MA - Candidate for State Senate Dr. Gail Lese today officially qualified for the Cape and Islands State Senate seat.

"I would like to express my gratitude to the residents of the Cape and Islands who are supporting my candidacy for the Massachusetts State Senate," said Dr. Gail Lese. "The Cape and Islands now have a clear choice to elect someone who will focus on putting their needs first by working full time to serve them and getting Massachusetts back on track."

Dr. Lese collected nearly 1,000 signatures, more than triple the amount required to be put on the ballot. "This level of support demonstrates that voters in this district are ready for a change. I want to thank the residents who signed on the dotted line for me. I will work tirelessly to improve health care for our families, improve our schools, and to help businesses and our economy by bringing reform to Beacon Hill, eliminating wasteful spending, and lowering taxes."

May 20, 2004

LESE ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR TRAFFIC-FRIENDLY EXIT 6 ½ CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

--Says costly traffic study will simply delay project at taxpayers' expense--

Hyannis, MA - Candidate for State Senate Dr. Gail Lese today announced her support for the proposed Exit 6 ½ located between Exits 6 and 7 on Route 6. The exit will directly connect to Bearses Way and Independence Drive providing easy access to Cape Cod Hospital facilities, Cape Cod Mall, Independence Plaza, and businesses in the Industrial Park. The traffic project would alleviate many of the heavy congestion issues that currently exist plus increased traffic affiliated with future business development.

"This is both a public safety and a quality of life issue that directly impacts our community," Lese said. "Creating Exit 6 ½ would make traveling easier for residents, visitors, and commercial and emergency vehicles who suffer from significant traffic congestion, and it's beyond time to move forward." Local officials, business groups, community leaders, and the Barnstable Town Council support the project, recognizing the public safety, community, and economic benefits of improving access and reducing congestion. However, Senator Robert O'Leary recently proposed spending $650,000 in taxpayer money to "study" the project despite the fact that several studies have already looked at it and the local community supports the new exit.

"This is another example of waste and inefficiency in the Legislature," said Lese. "This project will allow easier access to businesses, restaurants, and health care services and help people conduct their lives more conveniently--I don't see why we need another study to support this plan. We need a Senator who will take action and get this project funded and underway without wasting over half-a-million dollars in the process."

May 18, 2004

DR. GAIL LESE PLEDGES TO FILE LEGISLATION TO HELP UNINSURED

--Rising number of Massachusetts residents lacking health coverage--

Hyannis, MA - On the heels of national Covered the Uninsured Week, candidate for State Senate Dr. Gail Lese today pledged to file legislation to help the uninsured residents of the Cape and Islands should she be elected. Covered the Uninsured Week, observed May 10 - 16, highlighted one of the most pressing issues on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. Lese said that as a state senator she would be committed to expanding health insurance coverage by making it easier for small businesses to provide health insurance and addressing rising health care costs.

"Many small business owners have told me that they need assistance in order to provide health benefits to their employees," Dr. Lese remarked. "They realize that offering health benefits would increase productivity and employee retention plus they are acutely aware of the harmful effects that not having health insurance has on their employees and their families."

Lese, a physician and financial professional, said that people without health insurance coverage face an increased risk of poor health outcomes and financial crisis due to health care costs. Uninsured individuals are also more likely to delay medical care or forego preventative care, increasing the severity of illnesses. "The number of uninsured has a negative impact on society as a whole. These societal costs include deleterious effects on public health, premium increases due to the cost of uncompensated care, and diminished economic vitality in our communities," said Lese.

Dr. Lese is working to develop a comprehensive program to increase health insurance coverage and will file legislation, if elected to the State Senate, which would include the following provisions:

The use of targeted state tax credits to small businesses to encourage these businesses to offer health insurance benefits. Businesses with less than 50 employees, the vast majority of businesses on the Cape and Islands, would be provided tax incentives to make covering their employees more appealing and affordable.

The formation of an insurance exchange that would allow small employers to be pooled together. This exchange would negotiate lower health insurance rates and offer a number of insurance options, including options designed for the service industry and seasonal employees. This exchange would make insurance more affordable to small businesses and allow small businesses, working with insurance brokers, to offer their employees increased choice of health insurance plans.

State government reform that reduces government waste and provides Massachusetts with additional financial flexibility to reduce the number of uninsured.

Reinvigorated marketing and other efforts to ensure that eligible children are enrolled in public health insurance programs.

Lese said her plan is badly needed as more than three quarters of the uninsured are in working families and many small businesses are unable to offer health insurance benefits due to rising health insurance premiums. This is especially an issue on the Cape and Islands due to the prevalence of the service industry and small businesses. Also, with small businesses more likely to offer only one insurance option, Lese's plan would expand coverage as the insurance exchange would offer more plans and more carriers. Providing employees with a choice of health plans increases enrollment, affordability, and the likelihood that employees will obtain health insurance that meets their needs.

"The status quo on Beacon Hill has not provided the solutions required to lower the number of uninsured on the Cape and Islands and in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts," said Lese. "It's time for somebody who knows how to get to work and get it done."

March 19, 2004
Contact: Jim Cummings

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY
TO SUPPORT STATE SENATE CANDIDATE
DR. GAIL LESE
AT OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS OPENING

Event: Lese for State Senate Campaign Headquarters Opening

When: March 22, 2004 at 12:00 P.M.

Where: 349 Main Street, Hyannis, MA 02601

Governor Mitt Romney will join State Senate candidate Dr. Gail Lese when she officially opens her campaign headquarters in Hyannis. Governor Romney will give remarks to express his support for Dr. Lese as she campaigns for the Cape and Islands state senate seat.

Physician and financial manager Dr. Gail Lese announced her candidacy on March 8, 2004.