HYANNIS – Republican Cape and Islands State Senate candidate Tony Schiavi held a press conference on Tuesday in Hyannis to outline his public safety action plan if he’s elected.
Schiavi’s plan includes tackling the opioid crisis, homelessness in Hyannis and safe communities.
“I think I have a lot of skills that will help to be a unifying force for all of the Cape delegation because I’ve worked with and I’ve known all of the State Reps,” said Schiavi.
The Harwich resident and former Brigadier General is competing against Democrat Julian Cyr for the position.
On the opioid crisis, Schiavi said that he wants to crack down on drug trafficking, help those with addictions get access to treatment beds, improve treatment options and enact innovative local strategies.
On homelessness, Schiavi believes that a permanent supportive housing model will help tackle the issue.
With safe communities, Schiavi wants to take a stand against sanctuary cities and against giving drivers’ licenses for illegal immigrants and wants to give law enforcement the tools that they need.
Those tools include enhancing wiretapping laws to crack down on drug dealers and other dangerous criminals.
State Representative Tim Whelan, State Senator Richard Ross, State House Minority Leader Bruce Tarr and Barnstable County Sheriff Jim Cummings attended the event.
Ross said that he would remove himself from the state’s Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security to make room for Schaivi if he is elected on November 8.
“We all look forward to supporting him in his bid, many of us will be able to help him succeed in the senate and I think as one of seven members that he’d be that are republicans in our caucus, he’d be a certain welcome addition, no doubt about it,” said Ross.
State Representatives David Vieira and Whelan also serve on the committee.
By JUSTIN SAUNDERS, CapeCod.com Newscenter
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