Nat Fortune to run for State Representative
Wednesday February 11, @02:37PM, by Jamie O'Keefe
Subject : Recruiting Candidates
Summary :
Nat Fortune has decided to seek election on the Green-Rainbow Party ticket for State Representative in the 1st Franklin District. This district covers parts of Franklin and Hampshire Counties. More about Nat ...
Text :

"stronger schools, fairer taxes, and real change in government"

Nat Fortune is a scientist, educator, local school committee member and local cultural council member from the town of Whately in Franklin County. Nat and his family are also shareholders in a local organic CSA farm in Sunderland; he strongly believes in protecting farmland, preservation of open space, and strengthening the local farm economy.

Nat is an associate professor at Smith College, where he teaches courses in physics and renewable energy. Nat is also a volunteer science teacher at Whately Elementary School, where his children attend 3rd and 5th grade. He has successfully advocated for the introduction of no-fee full day kindergarten and the introduction of certified teachers as general aides to provide quality individualized instruction in the classroom. He is currently leading the Whatley school committee's efforts to correct the state Chapter 70 school funding formula to eliminate unfair burdens placed on rural school districts.

Nat believes that the massive federal and state tax cuts enacted in recent years have shifted an inordinate share of the burden for schools and local services onto local property taxes, creating a lose-lose situation where property taxes are too high and schools are underfunded. Compounding this problem is the 50% decline in the share of state income taxes paid by corporations since the introduction of ed reform. These radical changes now mean that the lower your income, the more you pay in taxes as a percentage of your income, placing still larger burdens on residents of rural towns.

To change this, he calls for lower user fees, fairer taxes, and making sure that corporations that benefit from increased spending on education pay their fair share of the cost. Nat understands the value of a locally-based economy and advocates instituting tax credits for locally based companies that invest in the community and provide new jobs at living wages. He also recognizes that UMass-Amherst is the leading economic engine of our local economy, considers the state's failure to honor signed contracts with UMass employees to be unconscionable, and calls for the legislature to provide full and immediate funding of all contracts.

You can reach Nat Fortune at nfortune@mac.com / 413-665-6739

• Re: Nat Fortune to run for State Representative
  Saturday April 24, @01:43PM, by Nathanael Fortune
  the campaign website is now online. Please visit http://aGreenerFortuneForAll.org for more info on Nat's campaign.
  Reply