The North Shore Chamber welcomed members of the business community for a timely and informative October Breakfast Forum on October 7, featuring a discussion of three ballot questions. The morning gave attendees the opportunity to hear directly from speakers representing different perspectives and learn more about the key considerations surrounding each issue.
The program covered Question 1, which asks voters whether Massachusetts’ public records law should apply to the Legislature and Governor’s Office. State Auditor Diana DiZoglio spoke in favor of voting “yes” on Question 1. No speaker represented the opposition, as there was no registered opponent. However, to ensure a balanced representation, the “no” position was read from the 2026 Big Red Book.
The program also featured Question 5, which asks voters to change the limit on Massachusetts state revenue. Chris Keohan, Founding Partner of Shawmut Strategies Group, presented in favor of a “yes” vote, while Phineas Baxandall, Director of Research & Policy Analysis at MassBudget, presented in favor of a “no” vote.
The final question discussed was Question 7, which asks voters whether local zoning restrictions should be overridden to allow additional single-family home construction. Attendees heard from Andrew Mikula, Chief Housing Economist with the Legalize Starter Homes Coalition, who presented the PRO position, and Adam Chapdelaine, Executive Director and CEO of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, who presented the CON position.
Each discussion provided attendees with valuable information and perspectives to help them better understand the questions appearing on the ballot. We are grateful to our speakers for sharing their time, expertise, and viewpoints, and to everyone who joined us for a thoughtful morning of conversation and civic engagement.
A huge thank-you to our Presenting Sponsors, Rockland Trust, Johnson & Johnson, and Wellpoint, as well as our Title Sponsor, Constitution Financial Partners, for their generous support and continued partnership.
We would also like to extend a special thank-you to Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School for hosting us at The Larkin, and to the students who helped throughout the morning and played an important role in making the event such a success. We truly appreciate their hospitality, hard work, and support.
Please consider joining us for our Annual Salute to Veterans Breakfast on Friday, November 6, at Danversport. Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, particularly Wellpoint, veterans are invited to attend free of charge. To learn more about the Salute to Veterans Breakfast, click here!
