BURLINGTON — The candidates offered sharp contrasts on Question 1 on the November ballot (whether to repeal the state income tax) and casino gambling, as the two vying for the state Senate seat in the Fourth Middlesex District presented their stances Thursday at the Breakfast Rotary.

Arlington resident Ken Donnelly, a Democrat, is running against Republican Brion Cangiamila of Billerica, in the district which consists of Burlington, Woburn (except for Ward 2), Billerica, Arlington, and Lexington (all but Precinct 3).

The election is Nov. 4.

* "I am really concerned with property taxes which have reached a 25-year high, and that is why I stand opposed to Question 1," said Donnelly.

"We need to have a reliable source of income for cities and towns, and not rely on property taxes," Donnelly continued. "We need to make our cities and towns more affordable, we need to have our children stay in Massachusetts and build their homes."

Donnelly stated his research shows him that if Question 1 passes, all local aid and state entitlement programs would have to be cut by 71 percent. He said it would take between $12 billion and $13 billion out of the state budget, money that is "already earmarked" to fund programs.

"Anybody who believes this can work is irresponsible," Donnelly said.

He cited the example broached by supporters of the question that property taxes would rise by an estimated $134, and that would not be difficult in a community such as Weston, "but we have to look at communities like Billerica and working families with children."

"This is a tax cap for the rich and it will not work," Donnelly stated.

But, Cangiamila said, "I support Question 1."

"It gives you back $3,700 of your money," he said. "You've had to dig deeper into your pockets, you've had to go without. So I think the government needs to cut back as well. This measure is just letting you keep your money."

Cangiamila went on to say "the latest poll" has 48 percent of Massachusetts voters supporting Question 1.

"The state will realize the revenue back," said Cangiamila. "Let's let people keep their hard-earned money."

Views on Question 1 tied into a question posed by the Rotary on what the candidates would do to increase state aid.

"Revenue-sharing is extremely important with what we have to do in the state," Donnelly stated. "Revenue-sharing will relieve fiscal stress, will relieve increasing property taxes."

"When there has been extra money, the Legislature has always chosen to keep it on Beacon Hill instead of sending it back to cities and towns," said Cangiamila.

"When revenues come in we should pass them back through to the cities and towns," Cangiamila continued. "If not, it shatters the confidence between local government and state government."

"If the money is there, it should go back to the cities and towns, because it is their money," the Republican candidate stated.

* The second question from the Rotary was whether the candidates support casino gambling.

Donnelly answered that he does support it, because "we need to build the economy."

He stated that people travel out-of-state for casino gambling, and with them goes $1.1 billion in revenues.

Donnelly said casino gambling in Massachusetts would generate $1.5 billion in revenues, as well as "5,000 direct jobs, 20,000 jobs throughout Massachusetts, and 3,000 direct construction jobs."

"We need to build the economy, not destroy it," Donnelly stated.

Cangiamila said he supports the concept of casino gambling, but does not think Gov. Deval Patrick's proposals will work.

"I have no problem with casinos being built," Cangiamila said. "But, the message of tying revenues to education is the wrong message to send. Telling children casinos will generate funds for their education is not the message to send."

He said he believes building three casinos at different destinations in Massachusetts will not work economically, that these casinos "would not survive."

"If they're spread around the state, people won't go," Cangiamila stated.

The Republican candidate said he would support casinos together "in maybe an economic zone in the western part of the state."

"But, attracting casino operators to come here right now, it is not going to happen," Cangiamila said.

Pushing their candidacies

Cangiamila is a former selectman in Billerica as well as a former state representative, and is familiar with statewide economic struggles.

"I have been in the trenches before on the heels of bad financial times, I have dealt with budget shortfalls and tough economic times," said the Republican candidate.

About the current crisis, Cangiamila said, "Beacon Hill failed to see the writing on the wall in this case. The worst is not behind us by any stretch of the imagination."

The Republican candidate said he disagrees with Gov. Deval Patrick's proposed measure to lay off 1,000 state employees to help the financial situation.

"Laying off workers does not help the state revenue picture," Cangiamila said. "What we did was furlough employees and cut pay ... Putting workers back into the unemployment market doesn't help anybody, it just exacerbates the problem."

Cangiamila said he believes the Republican Party "hasn't done well in Massachusetts" and that the party itself "needs to take responsibility for that."

* Donnelly told the Breakfast Rotary he is running for state Senate "to make a meaningful difference in people's lives." And, he feels he believes his career as a firefighter has prepared him for that.

"I understand the difficulty in raising families, as a firefighter (in Lexington) I have been inside their houses in their times of need," Donnelly said.

"We need to build jobs and build the economy," the Democratic candidate went on to say. "We need to invest in quality education and clean, efficient energy. We need to rid ourselves of our dependence on foreign oil, and invest in wind, solar, and clean energy."

He blasted the Bush administration, saying at the national level "in this so-called fiscally conservative administration, we have gone from a balanced budget to a $650 million deficit."